CQB45ACP
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What do you mean a fair number? In factory (new) ammo? What brand? Did you contact mfr?
Split cases
- Thread starter Col. Harrumph
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tightgroup tiger
Member
I get some split 9mm cases from the range I shoot at, once in a while. They shoot mostly factory loads there.
I know the split cases are factory because a once fired cases cleans up like new in my Ultrasonic cleaner. There is no scorching inside.
I see very few though, like maybe 1or 2 a year. I can hear them coming down through my case feeder on my LNL-AP, the sound is very distinctive when they hit the shuttle base.
I really hate to hear that sound when I'm dumping empty brass out of a plastic jar because then "I just have to find it". I sort by head stamps and that's as far as I go. I don't keep track of how many times they have been fired. I don't have time for that.
I can feel in my progressive press when a primer pocket is to loose and when the case is harder to resize than the others of the same head stamp.
I sort them there. I find some 380s there also.
As far as OAL, the bullet depth has to fit all my 9mms.
I know the split cases are factory because a once fired cases cleans up like new in my Ultrasonic cleaner. There is no scorching inside.
I see very few though, like maybe 1or 2 a year. I can hear them coming down through my case feeder on my LNL-AP, the sound is very distinctive when they hit the shuttle base.
I really hate to hear that sound when I'm dumping empty brass out of a plastic jar because then "I just have to find it". I sort by head stamps and that's as far as I go. I don't keep track of how many times they have been fired. I don't have time for that.
I can feel in my progressive press when a primer pocket is to loose and when the case is harder to resize than the others of the same head stamp.
I sort them there. I find some 380s there also.
As far as OAL, the bullet depth has to fit all my 9mms.
I can't say annealing handgun cases is a worthwhile endeavor.
Semi auto cases tend to enter the Bermuda Triangle before failing and revolver cases last more than long enough that spending time annealing the cases could be better spent doing other things.
But, whatever floats your boat...
Rifle cases are a different matter but I still do not spend the time to anneal my rifle cases.
.38 Special
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I used to order .38 Special brass 1000 at a time. The first big batch I had went 12 or 13 loadings before a dozen or so cases split. I went ahead and loaded them again, and about a third of them split on that firing. I figured that couldn't be any good for the gun - and probably wouldn't do anything good for my scores, if I happened to be shooting a match. So I tossed them all, and from then on whenever I started seeing a significant number of splits, the whole batch went into the trash.
CQB45ACP
Member
That’s interesting
I don’t closely count but I’ve reused 45acp brass twice as long with just one split so far. Must’ve been a bad batch from Wuhan.
CQB45ACP
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.38 Special
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I don't think I've ever had a batch of brass - of any caliber, from any manufacturer - the went 24 loadings.
CQB45ACP
Member
Okay maybe not 24 but more than 12 easily. And absolutely just one split ever.
Heck so many reloading the “Winchester” head stamp is getting worn out, seriously.
GeoDudeFlorida
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I’ve got a “box” of PMC .357Mag brass I bought in 2004 and have used for wad cutter’s since. I have no idea how many times they’ve been reloaded but it’s easy to guess: at least three times a year for the last 18 years. 3.5gr of Bullseye and a 145gr DEWC every single time. They’re stained and I have lost two but they’re in the queue right now for another go around.
Just pointing out that not all splits are that large and can often me missed when they are just a few thousandths wide/long. Last one I saw was on a 9mm case (mfg?). It was only about 1/8th inch long and just a split, not an open crack (like the pics) and easily missed if I wasn't so anal about case inspection...
CQB45ACP
Member
CQB45ACP
Member
Holy mackerel Andy!
FROGO207
Member
Heck I have some 38 SPL brass that I shot as new ammo in around 1977. It was a case of Winchester WC. I still reload a majority of it to this day. Some of my brass has been shot so much that the headstamps have been peened enough that you can't read them anymore.
Hint here: The more you roll crimp the necks the shorter the case life before splits. If you can shoot a cylinder full without tying it up without a crimp you get long case life.
Hint here: The more you roll crimp the necks the shorter the case life before splits. If you can shoot a cylinder full without tying it up without a crimp you get long case life.
Catpop
Member
My 38 spc and 45 acp philosophy
WHEN it splits, chunk it
UNTIL it splits, reload it
That’s my lie and I’m sticking to it!
WHEN it splits, chunk it
UNTIL it splits, reload it
That’s my lie and I’m sticking to it!
tightgroup tiger
Member
I'm still using brass from 1995 for .357 mag and it gets loaded in full rotation to this day. I only have about 200 .357mags and they go through a rotation of about 1 loading a month.
I don't think but maybe 2 have split in all that time.
These are the old Winchester brass when Winchester was one of the best brands to buy.
I throw them out one at a time for loose primer pockets but not splits.
I dry mine under an inferred heater mounted on the wall over my work bench in the garage. I think it's a little uncanny but I don't have any of my handgun brass split. I find splits in range pick ups and even found a new one that was split, but they don't split from my process. Maybe the inferred heater at 330 deg has a softening affect on them. I usually forget they are under there and have turned some blue before. That doesn't hurt them either.
I don't know, but I'm not changing my routine.
I don't think but maybe 2 have split in all that time.
These are the old Winchester brass when Winchester was one of the best brands to buy.
I throw them out one at a time for loose primer pockets but not splits.
I dry mine under an inferred heater mounted on the wall over my work bench in the garage. I think it's a little uncanny but I don't have any of my handgun brass split. I find splits in range pick ups and even found a new one that was split, but they don't split from my process. Maybe the inferred heater at 330 deg has a softening affect on them. I usually forget they are under there and have turned some blue before. That doesn't hurt them either.
I don't know, but I'm not changing my routine.
AJC1
Member
Well my marlins seem to eat them at will so I never worried about my master blaster crimp... maybe if I bought cases I would feel different. I love a good roll crimp and I never know what it will be shot out of so I always do.
Palladan44
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Yeah, I fired a box of new 38 specials that was 50 Years old and several case mouths split. Never fully understood why.
I also come across split cases (they have the high pitched metallic clank in the batch, you can't miss it) In about 1/100 once fired. About 1/75 fired twice
And the frequency increases as they get older and loaded more times. I think the constant resizing/ fire forming works the metal and eventually they split.
I just be sure that "well loved" brass is used for the lightest pressured target loads as possible. Save the 2400 or WW296 loads for brand new or once fired.... false sense of security, maybe so.
I also come across split cases (they have the high pitched metallic clank in the batch, you can't miss it) In about 1/100 once fired. About 1/75 fired twice
And the frequency increases as they get older and loaded more times. I think the constant resizing/ fire forming works the metal and eventually they split.
I just be sure that "well loved" brass is used for the lightest pressured target loads as possible. Save the 2400 or WW296 loads for brand new or once fired.... false sense of security, maybe so.
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