357 case rupture

broham · Aug 12, 2008

I have some brass that has probably been loaded 5 or six times. My bad 2 bags were new Win and numerous other pieces from the range and the gun shows(used) as I havn't kept track as how many times loaded. Most my loads have been mild Win 232 6.1 to 6.6 Unique 7 to 7.5 AA#5 8.5 to 9.5 as well as some warmer loads AA#9 12.3 to 13.4 2400 12.5 to 13.5 and some H110 14.6 to 15.3. Tonight I was preping my brass (deprime measure and trim as nesasary) and found one piece that had a split down the side about 1 inch long starting about 1/4 inch down from the mouth. How many times do you all usually get out of your brass. What are some of the signs of brass starting to go bad. None have ever been hard to eject out of my cylinder. Maybe I will buy some new brass and keep it seperated for hot loads only,which won't be many. The gun is a GP100 6" and brass is Win. 85% of my reloads were on the medium side. :cuss:

Floppy_D · Aug 12, 2008

Brass splitting is when I know it needs to be removed. I run all of my pistol brass to fail. It splits, I toss it. None of my loads exceed published data, and some of my loads do run on the warm side. I have some 40S&W brass that is likely on its 12+ loading... I will not retire it until it breaks.

Toss the split brass, stick to published data, and run 'em until they crap out.

KeithET · Aug 12, 2008

Split cases can happen for many reasons. Multiple reloadings can cause brass to fatigue and fail. I have seen this happen a lot. I have found that all pieces in a given lot of brass will not fail at the same time. Some will fail with just a few loadings yet some will go for 2 or more times that many before failing. The heavier charges will cause failures sooner though. Incidentally I have had a few rounds of brand new factory ammo in 357mag fail with split cases. This is very rare but it does happen. Brass can fail with a split case on the first loading or it could fail on the 50th loading. All the more reason to keep the load levels within reason.

Keith

jjohnson · Aug 13, 2008

Split Brass Sounds BAD

Yeah, I have this happen sometimes with my .357 nickel plated brass more than anything. I understand the nickel plated stuff tends to be a little more brittle.

I usually notice this when handling the brass after tumbling. "Whole" brass tends to make a little tinkling sound like bells - but a split case makes more of a "clunk" sound. That may not be a scientific description, but if you pass a handful of brass back and forth in your hands and there's a split case in the mix, you can hear it. Toss those away! I don't load mine very hot, either, and will reload one more time on one that's got a little split on the mouth - just a little one - but those long splits need to go, right now.

loplop · Aug 13, 2008

Jjohnson, I haven't noticed that! Thanks for the idea.

243winxb · Aug 13, 2008

What KeithEt said above. And what you said>

Maybe I will buy some new brass and keep it seperated for hot loads only

This is a good idea because different brass gives different pressures.

nambu1 · Aug 13, 2008

I use mine until it splits. I have had factory loads split on me.

machinisttx · Aug 13, 2008

Yeah, I have this happen sometimes with my .357 nickel plated brass more than anything. I understand the nickel plated stuff tends to be a little more brittle

.

The process by which brass is nickeled actually weakens the case and they tend to have a shorter lifespan. I've had factory nickeled .357 magnum split the case. My uncle has a batch of factory nickeled PMC that separates at the base of the bullet when one is fired, leaving a "ring" of the case stuck in the forward portion of the chamber.

Nickeled brass sucks.

CHEVELLE427 · Aug 13, 2008

im on some nickle 50ae 4-5 reloading now and so far no split cases.
and there loaded hot.
i have always heard dont use nickle as they wont last.

Mike Franklin · Aug 13, 2008

99% of my reloads are light target type stuff. The 1% is for hunting. The 1% I load in nickel brass so I can easily tell the difference.

.38 Special · Aug 13, 2008

I tend to get anywhere from half a dozen to about two dozen loadings from revolver brass. Mostly depends on the gun, in my experience: brass that gets used in a gun with large chambers wears out much more quickly.

I use Starline nickel cases almost exclusively.

357 case rupture

broham

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