Glock Doctor
Member
Me thinks you need to learn how to check for 'incipient case head separation'. According to you, you've shot that brass a lot which is something that I taught myself many years ago not to do. A number of my guns are inordinately valuable and would be difficult to replace. With me it's always something up to, or less than, 2 dozen reloads; and, then, I'll donate the brass to 'the range gods'. More frugal than this I don't need to be.
I made my own 'inside-the-case examination pick'. When I was still actively handloading/reloading it used to hang on the wall behind my loading bench. All I did was to cut out a 6 — 8 inch piece of wire coat hanger. Then I bent a small circle in one end for my fingers to hang onto; and I made a right angle bend in the other end. Next I trimmed the smaller arm of the 'L' to fit inside a 9mm case; and I cut and filed a sharp 45º angle into that end.
I used this 'inside-the-case examination pick' to rub up and down an inside case wall in order to check for 'incipient case head separation'. Another reloader's trick I used was to always grab a handful of loose brass and shake the cases vigorously in my hand BEFORE I began working with them. If that handful of brass cases sounded 'off' then I knew there was something wrong with one, or more, pieces of the brass I'd picked up; and, then, I'd take a more careful look before using them.
On a brand new gun like your Kimber I'd suggest using only new ammunition like comparatively inexpensive Remington 'Green Box' (from Wall-Mart) for the first 5 hundred rounds, or so, BEFORE starting to use your own reloads. Personally, I think you've got a combination of: a brand new (and stiff) gun, a possible FTRTB, and some well used brass to sort your way through on this one. I don't think you'll ever know for sure; but I do agree that blown case head in the photos let go directly over the chamber's rebated area.
I made my own 'inside-the-case examination pick'. When I was still actively handloading/reloading it used to hang on the wall behind my loading bench. All I did was to cut out a 6 — 8 inch piece of wire coat hanger. Then I bent a small circle in one end for my fingers to hang onto; and I made a right angle bend in the other end. Next I trimmed the smaller arm of the 'L' to fit inside a 9mm case; and I cut and filed a sharp 45º angle into that end.
I used this 'inside-the-case examination pick' to rub up and down an inside case wall in order to check for 'incipient case head separation'. Another reloader's trick I used was to always grab a handful of loose brass and shake the cases vigorously in my hand BEFORE I began working with them. If that handful of brass cases sounded 'off' then I knew there was something wrong with one, or more, pieces of the brass I'd picked up; and, then, I'd take a more careful look before using them.
On a brand new gun like your Kimber I'd suggest using only new ammunition like comparatively inexpensive Remington 'Green Box' (from Wall-Mart) for the first 5 hundred rounds, or so, BEFORE starting to use your own reloads. Personally, I think you've got a combination of: a brand new (and stiff) gun, a possible FTRTB, and some well used brass to sort your way through on this one. I don't think you'll ever know for sure; but I do agree that blown case head in the photos let go directly over the chamber's rebated area.
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