686-2 S&W producing "short" brass

[steelwheelrat]

hi guys, first time reader, first time posting, doing a little research and stumbled on thr.

I just got a 686-2 .357 and took it out sunday for some fun. after burning through the first 6, i dumped the cylinder to reload and just happend to look at the brass and noticed a short case. I looked and sure enough there was the other half.....stuck in the chamber. I didnt use the ejector, or any other means of removing the spent brass. the tear is almost perfectly flat, but if you look close, you can see some micro-seration. I know this particular gem fairly well as a friend has owned it for several years and know it has primarilay had 38 specials run through it most of its life. I dont know if i was using was reloads or not as the box was thrown in on a deal a wile back with some one else.

the GunSmith i use has a "Shop Art" 686 with the cylinder and frame blown in half as a result of continous hot-handloads.

should i be worried about my 686 looking like the one the gunsmith has and loosing some fingers? should i buy a new cylinder or am i just being paronoid?

 

[m&m]

If the case in question had been reloaded a couple of times, and fired in a gun with excessive head space a couple times, it could have stretched enough and weakened enough to part.

 

[steelwheelrat]

the case appeared to be very thin compared to 45acp, but i dont usually go cutting them in half to look at the middle. the .357's were in a winchester box, and the ammo appears to match the box description. I know I broke a rule as i pulled the trigger on ammo i didnt know for sure........

are there any other confirmed reports of exploding cylinders?

 

[rcmodel]

it has primarilay had 38 specials run through it most of its life.

Hard carbon ring from shooting .38 Spl in the longer .357 chambers. The longer .357 case crimp can't release the bullet freely, raising pressure.

Clean the .38 Spl crap out of the chambers with a .40 cal bronze bore brush, solvent, and a cordless drill.

As for the broken case?
Other causes might be reloads using cases with a bullet base cannulure crimp in the case wall. That weakens them after several reloads and they will break right at the cannulure ring.

rc

 

[huntershooter]

Clean the chambers with a .30 cal brush wrapped with (copper) "Chore Boy".
Dump the "free" box of ammo.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

They nailed it -- the crud from the .38 Specials is accerbating a headspace problem. The mouth of the case is gripped by the crud which:

1. Raises pressures, and

2. Causes the case (which is held at the mouth by the crud ring) to stretch as pressure forces the head against the recoil shield.

Clean it thoroughly and the problem should go away.

 

[steelwheelrat]

problem solved, you guys hit the nail on the head, i went to see my gunsmith friend and he said the same thing, and the 686 he had was a 7 shot that had been abused with massive ammounts of HOT hand loads. I orderd the lead remover kit that my gunsmith suggested and tore the old girl down for a complete cleaning(with a brush while i wait for the kit) and lubricating.......completly different gun. thanks guys.