.243 Reloads
- Thread starter Skidawg
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badkarmamib
Member
Looks like out-of-battery firing to me. Like the bolt wasn't closed, allowing the head to flow around the breech face.
Sunray
Member
Out-of-battery firing would blow more of the case apart.
Hard to tell what happened from that picture angle. Any more info?
Hard to tell what happened from that picture angle. Any more info?
JimKirk
Member
More photos would be helpful ... also the load used, the gun it was in and any other information you can provide ....
shooter1
Member
With nothing but the one picture to go on, I'd guess excessive head space.
str1
str1
Naw, headspace will not cause a KB like that.
Here is a photo of a 308 fired in a 30-06. Can't get much more excess headspace than that.
No damage to the rounds, just an expanded case.
shooter1
Member
A case fired in a much larger chamber will not create a high pressure spike. It's done all the time when fire forming cases. If the .243 case shoulder were set back excessively in the sizing operation creating excessive head space, it would likely case case head failure as in the picture. A minor case of excessive head space will frequently blow the primer from the pocket, especially with AR platforms. Sometimes the primer gets in the wrong place and ties up the action. Again, this is just conjecture, based on the picture.
str1
str1
Excessive headspace will do a few things, but it will not cause a KB.
If the round is under powered or "weak" the primer will back out and stay backed out.
If the round is of higher pressure the primer will back out and then the primer will be forced back into the case causing a flattened primer giving the false impression of Excessive pressure.
No way a few (K) of excess headspace is going to turn a Safe load into a KB load, not going to happen.
Dog Soldier
member
The short necked .243 WCF has a long history of pressure spikes and damage. The little .243 brass needs be monitored closely for length and neck thickness. Trimming is essential and turning the necks OD to to fit the the chamber throat is very important. The .243 with a long and thick neck fails to release the bullet causing an elevated pressure spike. The pressure escapes through the cases weakest point. The primer pocket. This can cause gas cutting on the bolt face and around the extractor.
shooter1
Member
shooter1
Member
Not my loads, not my rifle. The rounds were loaded by a gentleman, meticulous in his process, (charges weighed and trickled) for service rifle competition. When fired in another competitor's new build rifle. First shot destroyed the case head, virtually welding a large piece to the bolt face. When checked over by the gunsmith the head space was found to be grossly excessive. Head space was adjusted, a new bolt and carrier were installed, all is well. The only other damage was to the magazine. This is one of two such incidents I've either witnessed or have knowledge of from close reliable sources over the past 50 yrs. My intent in this thread is to express my opinion based on my personal experience and observation, nothing more.
str1
str1
Grumulkin
Member
I guess a good reason not to let someone else shoot your reloads.
Service rifle competition? I wasn't aware one could use a 243.
I would agree with steve4102. Headspace wasn't the problem but I don't think lack of freebore was either. I believe the cause was a gross overload despite the "meticulous" process of the reloader.
Service rifle competition? I wasn't aware one could use a 243.
I would agree with steve4102. Headspace wasn't the problem but I don't think lack of freebore was either. I believe the cause was a gross overload despite the "meticulous" process of the reloader.
shooter1
Member
shooter1
Member
Steve, Guess anything is possible. I'm quite willing to accept the opinion of the gunsmith as the most likely cause of the failure. I'm not here to debate, I presented my information as best I could. Agree/disagree as you will.
Grumulkin, I guess I wasn't clear, the rifle was an AR build, 5.56x45.
str1
Grumulkin, I guess I wasn't clear, the rifle was an AR build, 5.56x45.
str1
Dog Soldier
member
The primer backs out under excessive pressure can not reseat. The flash hole is opened and the pocket expanded,
Excess headspace can lead to a ruptured case head, but that isn't what this looks like . If that rifle had excessive enough headspace to do that, it would do it with every round. Something was seriously wrong. Very interesting for sure.
I edited out the confusion on the second rifle.
I edited out the confusion on the second rifle.
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