Factory ammo cracks when fired

[Slamfire]

Slamfire, not only did you present a wealth of information (I recall that you have shared much of this before), but you also wrote it beautifully. I got a kick out of the apophasis about other unpleasant aspects of gunpowder that you don't want to dwell on (but do a fine job of presenting). Cicero himself would have been impressed. Truly, it was a joy to read.

There are a lot of people who allowed me to use their pictures, they are to be thanked. Pictures are worth a thousand words, love you guys!!! I have written the same material ad nauseam, but, it does not seem to stick. And then, my Team beat its State Rival, so I was in a good mood that day!

 

[Zaydok Allen]

There are a lot of people who allowed me to use their pictures, they are to be thanked. Pictures are worth a thousand words, love you guys!!! I have written the same material ad nauseam, but, it does not seem to stick. And then, my Team beat its State Rival, so I was in a good mood that day!

The info you shared here is invaluable, and I have read it from you before, but you state it well. Threads like this are why I'm now in the habit of writing the month and year I purchased my powder directly on the cap of the bottle and why I refuse to keep a ton of reloads on hand or ammo for too long.

 

[sota]

@Slamfire thanks... now I need to go figure out how to tag my log spreadsheet such that I know the age of my ammo in storage. I already do FIFO rotation anyways, and I'm trying to keep a supply of factory ammo 4 years deep, but I'd guess it wouldn't hurt to have some way of being able to tell if something happens to be older, say 10 years or more. First I need to figure out what the protocol will be for log data.
Interestingly, I just passed my 9 year shooting anniversary, so I know I don't have anything *that* old, yet.
Although taking a quick glance over my log, I can see that my range ammo isn't likely to be problem for the most part; however my defensive ammo stash could be.

eta:


Yea... I'm a freak like that.
(note the age criteria is altered to demonstrate automatic formatting)

 

[Gun Geezer]

Good Lord! And I thought I was bad. SOTA, you got it going on. All I do is mark the boxes and power bottles with a Marks-a-lot and do FIFO. Although, do an annual inventory on New Years day!

I also have a list of everyghing I own with a battery in it. Batteres are usually cheap around Christmas so rotate them all out. An old battery trashed a range finder years ago. I learn the hard way, but I do lean. Never again!!

 

[sota]

you know if you're lean'ing you might be drunk.

I hear ya on batteries; you'd think I'd learn better on that too, but I apparently haven't.

 

[hdwhit]

gun geezer wrote:
Shot my Marlin 336 30-30 Win today using Remington 150gr Cor-Lokts. The first three (only shot 3) brass cracked in the taper from the shoulder up to base of the neck.

We've already addressed age, condition, and storage of the ammunition. If none of that is relevant, then contact Remington.

 

[hdwhit]

Slamfire wrote:
I think the ignorance about gunpowder and thus, ammunition lifetime, is primarily due to two factors: Firstly there is no profit educating shooters that their ammunition/gunpowder has a finite (though unpredictable) lifetime. In an economic system based on consumption, there is no profit to be made educating people on what not to buy. Secondly, no one wants to hear it. Humans have an infinite capacity for self deceit and shooters firmly believe that they are going to live forever, and therefore, so must their hoard of ammunition. Both of these beliefs are quite false.

Even taking all of this for granted, I have 800+ rounds of 223/5.56 that were loaded with IMR-4198, IMR-3031 & Winchester 748 between 1988 and 1992.

I assumed, even EXPECTED, deterioration during the two decades I was away from my guns fighting for my life, yet none of the types of deterioration pictured in Post #13 took place. Cases had no green (or similar) discoloration. Among a sample of pulled bullets, there was no evidence of ANY form of corrosion; much less corrosion consistent with nitric acid.

I will not venture a comment about the smoking skeleton picture in post #25.

Rounds loaded with 1) IMR-4198 powder from 1979, 2) IMR-1948 powder purchased in 1992 and IMR-4198 powder purchased in 2016 all showed comparable velocities (i.e +/- 2%) with comparable loadings.

I think the only appropriate thing to say is that both ammunition and components have a finite life and should be checked regularly for both deterioration from it's natural state and its storage as a component of assembled ammunition.

 

[hdwhit]

243winxb wrote:
Hornady had a powder storage problem back in 2016.

That was a problem with storage of raw materials, not finished product.

 

[bbqreloader]

I have written the same material ad nauseam, but, it does not seem to stick.

However, if you are a student of the forum, just bear in mind someone's ad nauseam material maybe someone's new learning material that wasn't found on the first go around or heck...even thought about. So keep posting it, more things to keep learning.