Ammo problem

[STAGE 2]

I was at the range today going through some S&B .38 special. I fired all 5 shots, swung out the cylinder and pushed on the ejector. All but one of the casings fell free, and it stuck itself about halfway out of the cylinder. I pulled it out with a little bit of effort to find that there was a fracture in the casing that ran about half the length of the brass, with power burns on the outside of the fracture. I didn't have any troubles before or after this happened. Has this ever happened to you guys, and what caused it.

I use S&B about half the time when I'm plinking and I've never had a problem before. Is this something that happens frequently.

 

[P95Carry]

I wouldn't say frequent but it does occur - more IIRC with aluminum cases.

I regard S&B brass as a tad hard - not very well annealed and so now and again a case will split as it takes up the chamber profile.

I have had numerous 38 cases do this with target reloads, where I was ''pushing'' the cases too long with many reloadings! Brass was work hardening too much. Old scrooge at work!

No worries tho - and it won't harm the gun. Now - back to your shooting!

 

[camp_gunner]

As Chris has said, this is simply a problem of a case that was not properly heat treated to release the case forming work hardening. As you shoot more, you will see this from time to time. In general it is not a problem, but it can be in some of the rifle cartridges. If you decide to start reloading, learn about tempering metals and deal with the potental problem.