I was shooting me Delta Elite today for the first time in several years today, when I experienced and "event", I thought I'd get some input on.
The loads were from yesterday, and were WIN 180gr TC bullets, on top of 6.4 gr. N340, with a WLP primer in mixed brass obtained online years ago from one of the surplus vendors. Loaded on a progressive, each charge visually checked. As I loaded the magazine, I noticed the round I was loading at that moment was nickel plated, and a very good looking cartridge overall. I admired its concentricity(sp?) and beauty as I inserted it into the magazine, second from the top, thinking how great it would be to buy 1,000 of brand new nickel-plated brass.
First shot: nice load. Milder than the AA #9 loads from earlier, but definitely more than a target 45 ACP.
Second shot (the lone nickel load): I got a bit of stinging powder in the face, and noticed very mild recoil.
I immediately checked to see what happened, cleared the gun and saw something drop as I locked the slide back. Then I heard something rattle in the gun. The rattle was the case, minus the head, falling out of the chamber. The object I saw prior, was the case head, separated like a button off your shirt! (see pic). Next round in the magazine was flipped 180°.
It wasn't an overload (I used N340 since the charge takes up so much of the case), and there was nothing that would have indicated something was wrong on the outside of the case, like damage or bulging. But it looks like the head was "unscrewed"?...Any thoughts/comment would be appreciated...
BTW gun seems to be completely fine.
The loads were from yesterday, and were WIN 180gr TC bullets, on top of 6.4 gr. N340, with a WLP primer in mixed brass obtained online years ago from one of the surplus vendors. Loaded on a progressive, each charge visually checked. As I loaded the magazine, I noticed the round I was loading at that moment was nickel plated, and a very good looking cartridge overall. I admired its concentricity(sp?) and beauty as I inserted it into the magazine, second from the top, thinking how great it would be to buy 1,000 of brand new nickel-plated brass.
First shot: nice load. Milder than the AA #9 loads from earlier, but definitely more than a target 45 ACP.
Second shot (the lone nickel load): I got a bit of stinging powder in the face, and noticed very mild recoil.
I immediately checked to see what happened, cleared the gun and saw something drop as I locked the slide back. Then I heard something rattle in the gun. The rattle was the case, minus the head, falling out of the chamber. The object I saw prior, was the case head, separated like a button off your shirt! (see pic). Next round in the magazine was flipped 180°.
It wasn't an overload (I used N340 since the charge takes up so much of the case), and there was nothing that would have indicated something was wrong on the outside of the case, like damage or bulging. But it looks like the head was "unscrewed"?...Any thoughts/comment would be appreciated...
BTW gun seems to be completely fine.