Please tell me what happened here.

[rick300]

I'm kinda new, about two years, self taught reloader so far so good. Went shooting today and this thing ejected. My first time with photos so I'll hopefully post the pics before I go on.

 

[rick300]

Wow, that took about an hour, so here's my load. 40 S&W 6.8 gns unique 155 gn berry's pfp CCI small pistol primer.I've shot about 3,000 from my sig p229. This is the first issue. Should I be concerned? Thanks Rick

 

[1SOW]

How many times have you reloaded that brass?

I've had 9mm cases split, but with light loads they didn't look so deformed--just cracked/split.

 

[snuffy]

Case partially ejected, then the slide slammed it up against the back of the barrel shroud. Pretty common, that was your first? Must be, or you wouldn't have asked!

Cause could be; dirty pistol, squib load didn't eject cleanly, stuck extractor, the list goes on------------.

 

[1SOW]

Duh. snuffy is right.

I've shot about 3,000

threw me.

 

[ants]

squib [insufficient powder] load didn't eject cleanly

That's the little jewel, I would keep an eye on that.

 

[jfh]

I'll go with Snuffy's and ants' diagnosis--and say that I've seen the same thing happen with a squib load in other calibers, too.

Jim H.

 

[popper]

That's a load near max. Looks like the case was cracked ( when loaded), even at the base. Extra brass on the base, with a dark line (crack) going vertical. Pressure just vented, causing light blow-back and dinged case. Inspect your brass better. I found a couple cracked ones the other day after flaring.

 

[bigedp51]

Be careful and examine your cases with a magnifying glass for defects. Was the rolled edge of the case caused by escaping gas or taking a hit?

While not the same thing below it got the shooters attention, during a mad minute shooting exercise. With a .303 British and firing as rapidly as possible this cartridge had a hang fire or delayed ignition with the bolt partially open.

It also tell a story about safety glasses while shooting and waiting for the "bang" before working the bolt.

 

[mokin]

I'll go with ants and snuffy as well. I've seen that several times with lite loads in my 10mm. Especially with cases that have been used a lot and the rims are starting to wear. The cases don't extract like they should and the mouth gets crushed when the slide slams shut.

 

[Blue68f100]

3000 rounds is the recommended time to replace the recoil spring on Sig's.

 

[Sin City Shootist]

Interesting. I load light on 9,40 and 45 and have never seen that. I guess I don't load light enough.

 

[357 Terms]

I'm gonna say its your gun, extractor problem. Probably gonna do it with factory fodder also.

 

[higgite]

Is that a carbon streak on the side of the OP's case, maybe an indication that it didn't expand enough to seal the chamber?

 

[Steve Koski]

I'm with snuffy. Don't worry about it unless you see it again. Just a gun malfunction.

 

[rick300]

I will first thank you all for your help. I'm not real good at this inanet stuff so please forgive the lack of skills here.
1sow, brass has been fired twice. I'm verry careful about keeping track.
Ants, I don't think it was a squib, I shoot a magazine and then pick up what I can find. It didn't feel any different than the rest. I mark my brass so I know it was mine.
Snuffy, the gun is clean, I know what a stovepipe is but I found this on the floor. How is that? I've had a few stovepipes but they have never landed on the floor.
Popper, thanks for that I'll be looking at brass more.
I can't address all of your replies but I will thank all of you. Rick

 

[medalguy]

liestaylor, do two things. Check the sticky at the top of this forum regarding starting reloading and equipment basics. Then order a copy of The ABC's of Reloading. It's an excellent book and will answer about 95% of the questions you have. Then get a couple (yes several) reloading manuals from Speer, Hornady, Lyman, and others. Which one depends on what you will be reloading. The bullet manufacturers generally have the best information on their bullets in their own manuals. Also look up the powder manufactuers' web sites for more data on specific powder loads.

In short, you gotta do some homework on your own. Reloading is fun and should be safe, but if you don't know what you're doing, and I read into your question that you don't, you can end up wearing your rifle on your face. Be careful and be knowledgable.