[IanC]

Hey there

I purchased a 6 inch GP100 this year. It was a new gun produced in 2005. Ive got the wolf spring kit and it is shooting very nicely.
Only problem is so far since ive owned it ive had two burst cartridges.
For sure one was very old brass but the other one that burst came from new
factory loaded american eagle .38 spcl rounds. When the bursts occur
it happens in the middle of the cartridge versus at the end/opening like what has happened to a friend of mine. Inspecting the cylinder there is no dammage and everything seems fine.
Im new to revolvers and just want to know if this does happen fairly often and if it doesnt would it be fair to say it has to happen to one guy a couple of times ?
I dunno
I sent federal an email and they sent me a cheque for the boxes i paid for.
Just wondering if this happens much to you folks.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b273/IanCameron/Burstcases.jpg
IanC

[RecoilRob]

Doesn't happen much or often, but it DOES happen. The manufacturers do a really fine job of turning out the ammo for everyone, but once in a while, the heat-treating or metallurgy goes haywire and the cases end up brittle.....and crack like yours did.

Nothing to worry about, Federal did the stand-up thing and sent you compensation, and your pistol is fine. Shoot the rest and scrap the brass as it probably won't do well if reloaded.

[critter]

Yup, it happens. I shot some .45 Colt ammo (new factory box) in a NEW Ruger Blackhawk and had a similar event. Sent the case in and they determined it to be faulty brass. Again, no harm to me or gun-thankfully!

[spwenger]

...I personally saw something like this, it was in a S&W Victory model, originally chambered for British use in .38 S&W. Apparently one or more unscrupulous importers reamed the chambers so that they would accept .38 Specials. However, since the .38 S&W has a larger diameter than the .38 Special, the .38 Special cases were not adequately supported in the area behind this chamber extension, allowing an occasional case to split in the middle portion, as opposed to the neck, where most overused revolver cases will split. While this is clearly not the case with your revolver, if it was my revolver, I'd have someone with the appropriate measuring device(s) check the inside diameters of all the chambers, at various depths, to ensure that they are not oversize.

[Byron]

Some years ago I was shooting Federal ammo in 32 Mag. I had split cases as you indicated.I did not contact Federal. Federal cases that did not split were reloadable. Byron

[Ratshooter]

I had the same experience with Federal 32 mags. I shot them up and chunked the brass. Twenty two mags from Winchester do that sometimes also. The 22 mag brass is harder than regular 22 because of the higher pressures. Its a fine line between to hard and not hard enough.

Looking at your photos the brass does not seem bulged like the chambers are oversized. Try a higher grade brand and if it splits have the chambers measured as suggested by the other poster. Those aren't once fired reloads are they? I beleive you can get reloaded brass from Black Hills and others.

[HammerBite]

It's good to see that you were able to fight off the Gas Goons!! Nice having you still around.

[_N4Z_]

I've had it happen. CCI Blazer aluminum .357 suffered a blowout in my GP100.

Only once in several thousand rounds, but it did happen.

[jimmyraythomason]

I have never had this to happen in 40 years of pistol/revolver shooting(most brands of ammo).

[IanC]

It has happened twice to me now. Yes that is a factory once loaded round.
Took the revolver to a smith and he didnt seem too concerned with the gun probably the loads. If it happens again i will definatly have it checked out.
Although now ive moved away from factory stuff and am only shooting lighter reloads now. Hopefuly i wont have to post again on this topic.
IanC

[sfhogman]

Yup.
Surplus ammo in my CZ52.

[Ratshooter]

Thank you Hammerbite. Its good to be here. Still on alert though.