PMC Brass splitting in 44 Mag, 1st use

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I recently got a Super Blackhawk in 44 magnum, my first firearm in that caliber, and picked up some factory ammo to shoot so I'd have brass to start handloading for it. My LGS was pretty picked over, the only ammo they had was an older looking box of PMC, 180gr JHP. I fired 10 rounds of this, and each case split from the case mouth about half the length of the case :banghead:

Has anyone else had an issue with PMC brass splitting from factory loads?
 
Gator, generally I've had good luck with both shooting factory rounds of PMC and with reloading their cases.

What you have experienced is clearly a problem and I would contact PMC directly and try to get a replacement box (or two) for your troubles. Don't shoot anymore of those that you have, can't be good for your cylinders.

Also, have you successfully fired any other ammo through that pistol without issue? There is a slight possibility that your cylinder chambers might be oversized.
 
I have to agree that something sounds wrong. I have several rugers and I have the Super Blackhawk Hunter. Never had any issue with any brass including PMC. I would try a different lot of ammo first and if it continues I would call Ruger. You could check the size of the cylinder as well and when you talk to Ruger that could help troubleshoot the issue. If it is the pistol they will make it right.
 
It's the brass.
I've had "issues" with the few PMC factory ammo I've fired. Ditto some of their once fired brass I've picked up over the years.

Some 7mm08 I got in '04 was over-loaded due to excessively thick necks. Reloaded ammo couldn't even be chambered as factory ammo had "drammatic" crimps. Trimmed, neckturned, and annealed, the brass is my finest for my 7mm08, but it didn't start that way.

As regards your .44mag ammo; I suggest that the brass wasn't annealed properly and thats why it is splitting with first firing....
 
Gator, generally I've had good luck with both shooting factory rounds of PMC and with reloading their cases.

What you have experienced is clearly a problem and I would contact PMC directly and try to get a replacement box (or two) for your troubles. Don't shoot anymore of those that you have, can't be good for your cylinders.

Also, have you successfully fired any other ammo through that pistol without issue? There is a slight possibility that your cylinder chambers might be oversized.
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Its not going to hurt the gun. As handloaders thats usually how all revolver brass fails. Just no reloads out of it.

OP you will get brass like that sometimes. Every manufacturer will get a bad lot from time to time. I have seen federals do that too.
 
Thanks folks, I'll pick up some other factory loads when it shows up locally and see if they have the same issues. I have no doubt that Ruger would make it right if it ends up being a cylinder issue, but for now I'm inclined to think the brass is suspect.
 
I have never seen this. With ammo manufacturers going full steam this is not surprising.
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Its really not that uncommon. Its not normal, but not really uncommon. I would say at least five or six times a year someone will post an experience like this on this forum. i dont buy new ammo so it doesnt happen to me, but I have seen it happen first hand to someone. Just a bad lot of brass.
 
Ok, new one for me, too.

I don't get a lot of PMC in 44 mag- but I find a handful or two a month thats once fired, and its never ( to my knowledge) been split.

I've reloaded them a few times, and they work fine- I'd guess something is amiss !

With ammo manufacturers going full steam this is not surprising.
__________________
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Prolly as good an answer as any.
 
It is very frustrating to have brass split right off the bat.

I seldom buy 'factory made' stuff. So much so that I don't remember the last time (my daughter would say that I can't remember what I ate for breakfast). 22 or 24 years ago I got the idea that I needed to load up some 'good' .44 mags to keep on hand. I bought a box of new fresh WW unprimed brass .44 Magnum cases, one hundred count. I loaded them with my standard load of then and now, 240 Grain JHP, CCI 350 LPM primers and my charge of Olin WW630 powder. Boxed them up in nice red plastic boxes and put them away. A few months ago I found those two red boxes in an ammo can and pulled them out. 72 out of 100 had split brass! Never fired and split. :cuss:

I have not fired the remaining rounds. I did reclaim the bullets, powder and primers.

So, it is not just PMC rushing production. It happens. We are fortunate how few problems we have with components.
 
I would definitely measure the cylinders, and then if all is good with them, I would try another lot#, or brand, and see how that goes.
But in all honesty, I've been expecting some indication of this mass increase in production, causing an increase in defect ammunition, no real surprise to me.
GS
 
measure the diameter of the split case. measure the diameter case diameter of a loaded round. take the reading a bit back of the case mouth and just up from the rim. your new cases may be on the skinny side when new.

murf
 
Just to clarify, this ammo doesn't appear to be of recent manufacture, I don't think it indicates anything about PMC's current manufacturing process or slipping standards due to increased output. The box appears to be from the 80's or 90's, just been sitting on someone's shelf for a long time. I'll measure the casings and some new rounds when I can later today. Thanks everyone for the input!
 
Don't use the .44 mag stuff, but I had problems with .45 Colt 45HA ammo they made. Cases were splitting when fired, checked the remaining new rounds in the box and several were split at the neck. Later lot numbered ammo was okay. This was in 2001. Just a bad batch.

Dana
 
That is odd. I've shot a lot of that stuff without issue.

I can tell you that if you shoot .44 Spl. or Mag. out of a .45 Colt cylinder, the cases will split as described. Oops! Is it possible a .45 Colt cylinder snuck into that gun? Or perhaps as someone suggested above the chambers are oversize.
 
I have a Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter in .44 mag, I have loaded PMC brass as much as 15 times without a hint of splitting and the same goes for other headstamps.
Something seems to be amiss here--it could be the brass is that old to cause to splitting, otherwise, boy I hope it's not the .44 cyl.
Please let us know what you find out:)
 
Nope, definitely not a 45 colt cylinder. Unfired rounds measure .454" diameter at the mouth, the split cases measure .456-.457" at the case mouth. Can anyone else with some ammo/cases handy tell me if that seems reasonable?
 
Thanks Floydster, looks like mine are right in line with what you're seeing.....I'm trying to get back out to the range tomorrow, I'll post back up if I can figure out what the problem is. Thank you everyone for the input! That's why I love this place, friendly folks and no shortage of advice
 
Contact PMC about it.
They might want those cracked ones to study.

I've had very good luck with PMC brass.

By the way, I had a similar issue with some factory Goex black powder 45 Colt rounds.
Contacted the seller who got me in contact with the supplier.
The supplier apologized profusely & sent me a whole nother box, even though it was only 2 cases that cracked.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/24...-long-colt-235-grain-lead-flat-nose-box-of-50
 
Well I made it back out to the range today even though I couldn't find any other 44mag ammo to try. Fired another 5 rounds, all split. The fellow shooting next to me had just wrapped up his box of 44mag, shooting a S&W 629, but was kind enough to offer to put a few of my PMC rounds down range to see if it split in his gun. Sure enough, cases split exactly the same way in his revolver, so I think it's safe to say that it's the ammo. I'll be contacting PMC to see what they have to say, and I'll post back here with results when I have them. Thanks everyone!
 
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The brass sounds like it was NOT annealed. It has no ductile properties and is unable to expand while prolonging the incredible pressure pulse, disabling the case from slowly (relative) absorbing the impulse.

Good thing you were able to test in another pistol.
 
I think the equalbrium is not condusive to the expanding pressure of the cartrige when the propertize of the said expanding force is overwhelmed by the exceding impulse of the impending of the explosive charge.

In other words--the brass is garbage:)
 
Federal 9mm, reloaded first time.
Part of it split the first firing when new.

Split9mmCases.jpg

Ship happens!

rc
 
RC - Yikes! I've always had good experiences with Federal brass....goes to show that all manufacturers put out lemons occasionally.
 
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