Rimfire split cases

[Guvnor]

I recently got a marlin .22 mag. I was shooting it the other day when a case got stuck in the chamber and wouldn't extract. I used a pocket knife to pry it out and saw the case was split down the side. It was only in the middle part of the case and not near the rim.

I didnt think anything of it, kept shooting but about 10 rounds later it happened again. This time I got worried that it might be a safety hazard and stopped shooting.

Is something wrong with the gun? Or could it have been a bad batch of ammo? Both rounds were from the same case of winchester ammo.

 

[ThomasT]

I bet you were shooting winchester ammo weren't you? i have this happen before also with winchester. It either splits or the rims are hard and don't fire the first time. Try another type of ammo.

 

[Runningman]

Had that happen about a 1/2 dozen times over many decades shooting 22 LR. It is from bad ammo. My experience is don't shoot it out of your gun get rid of it.

Winchester 22 RF ammunition went down hill in a hurry about 3 years ago after they moved the 22 production to a new plant. I got no desire to buy Winchester 22 RF ammunition anymore after having issues with both Super X Power Points and Xpert 22 bought within 3 months of each other.

This was 2 or 3 years ago now. Each had lot numbers that were recalled by Winchester due to some rounds that had excessive pressure or double charges. One round blew an extractor out of my Marlin 22 bolt gun. I would not wait till you have one blow out at the rear like I have had happen. It is a bummer I lost confidence in Winchester, used to really like their Super X Power Points and the Dyna points.

Had the same sort of issues with 22 RF from the long gone CIL back in the 70s.

 

[jim147]

Would you be using Winchester Supreme 34 grain HP by chance.
I had five out of twenty five do the same thing.
I went back to shooting my very old Winchester and CCI.

jim

 

[Guvnor]

It was winchester 40 grain FMJ.

Im glad to hear its not a problem with the gun. Thanks.

 

[dispatch55126]

I've had nothing but problems with XPert and have refused to shoot Winchester ever since. I'll stick with CCI and Federal bulk packs.

 

[rangerruck]

I would say, when is the last time you cleaned it really well, especially around the boltface/chamber face of the rifle? this sounds like a really dirty weapon, just about ready to fire out of battery, cuz of all the crap built up in the chamber area/face- bolt face.

 

[Guvnor]

The gun is basically like new. Less than 200 rounds through it. So it must be the ammo right? This couldn't be a headspace problem or anything like that, could it?