Separated case- 9mm

[Starr1der]

I had something happen yesterday at the range that I thought needed to be shared. I had a quantity of 9 mm reloads; 4.9 grains of Power Pistol behind a 124 grain Acme coated "lipstick" RN bullet. I've used literally thousands of this load with no issues whatsoever. The reload brass are various range headstamps, and again, never had an issue before- I generally pick up more at my range than I shoot. I've noticed that some of the brass I get- either at the range, or before I joined this range, purchased range brass- has a "step" in it (photos attached-the ones of the cases sawn in half courtesy of my brother, mongoose33 ). Also attached are photos of what happened to the case I referenced; it split AT THE STEP into two pieces of brass. I keep an eye on case condition when I sort it from the range; I pull all the NATO brass, because I don't want to deal with the crimp in the primer pocket and I get enough that I'm not concerned about the NATO brass. I have also measured the 'step' brass case volume; it lies well within standard variance for different brass headstamps, so I wasn't concerned about that, either. So, not only do I inspect when I pick it up, but also when I deprime, when I tumble them with the stainless pins, when I lay them out on cookie sheet/towels to dry in the oven, and when I count them into containers of 500. Never noticed anything wrong externally, or I would have pitched it. My theory is that the 'step' creates a stress point that flexes, and after several reloads, the case is weakened enough at the'step' that it just splits under pressure. The bottom of the case ejected normally, leaving the top in the chamber, and the next cartridge naturally wouldn't chamber; jammed with the slide partly open, and when I ejected it,
came out with the top of the step case around the bullet of the next cartridge.
Long story short, I am sorting through ALL of my 9mm brass and pitching all of the 'step' brass. The case that split was *IMT*, but there are several other brands that use that same configuration, and I'm pitching them all.

Just got done sorting 3000 cases. Headstamps found with the step are: IMT and *IMT*; the asterisk is the closest I can come to the symbol, looks something like a stylized globe. AMMOLOAD and FM are the other two I found; at least for me, quantities ran around 2-3%; I found some 68 in 3000.

 

[chris in va]

Yikes.

I don't care for those either, messes with my cast bullet seating. They are designed that way to prevent bullet setback but trying to reload them is a real PITA.

 

[Starr1der]

Re: 'Yikes'

I'm not so concerned about that as about the possibility of a jam in the barrel or something similarly catastrophic.

 

[CZ9shooter]

If you have thousands of cases, why even mess with the oddballs in the first place?

When I first started reloading I loaded very 9mm case I came across. But it doesnt take long and a guy has more than he knows what to do with. Nowadays there are only four brands I pick up. The other dozen or so headstamps that I encounter are junk to me.

 

[cali_blues]

This is a pretty well known issue. The brass comes from the parent company of Freedom Munitions and Xtreme. Most reloaders cull that brass.

 

[DudeRick]

I've been seeing them for a year or so. I toss them in my scrap brass bin.

 

[Starr1der]

Cali_blues: Just posting a warning...

I just wanted to put it out there to make sure others are aware; if this should happen to someone else, it could end badly, say if their slide did not jam-they might fire
a round with a piece of brass in the barrel
I figure putting it out there hurts nothing and may some day save someone some grief, either minor or major.

 

[cali_blues]

I just wanted to put it out there to make sure others are aware; if this should happen to someone else, it could end badly, say if their slide did not jam-they might fire
a round with a piece of brass in the barrel
I figure putting it out there hurts nothing and may some day save someone some grief, either minor or major.

I agree. The same thing happened to me, that's how I learned lol.

My first post may have come across a little snarky, didn't mean it that way.

 

[Walkalong]

If you are not seating deeper than the ridge, it should be a non issue. It makes sense though that if they are going to fail it would be at that juncture.

 

[hdwhit]

You are quite right that the sharp change in dimension can create a stress concentration that would cause the case to fail at the step.

At the volume you described, if you're culling 2% of your cases, you should bag them up and offer them on Amazon to recoup some of your investment. I have noticed that on Amazon, there are often a number of offers for small quantities at comparatively high unit prices. Might be the start of a sideline business.

 

[FROGO207]

I can't tell how far down the bullet is going into the brass but if it goes in far enough to pinch the brass it could stop the bullet and top piece of brass in place and when the slide goes back rip the back end of the brass off. If you were desperate for brass a shorter or softer bullet might work but with all the 9MM brass around "why bother". I would worry about sticking a bullet in the barrel as well if this actually what is happening.

 

[Starr1der]

Frogo207

The cartridge in question actually fired normally, as far as I noticed- at least it felt normal, and I've fired thousands with this particular load. 4.9 grains of Power Pistol behind a 124 grain coated RN (Acme "Lipstick" rounds) is not a real 'hot' load, either. First clue I had was the slide jamming on the next round, hung up with the top of the IMT case that didn't eject. The 124 bullet I use isn't long enough to catch the 'step'.

 

[FROGO207]

Hummmmm I have over 3 five gallon buckets of OF 9MM brass and have not been bothering to reuse my empties anymore. I just save then for the scrap bucket along with the new ones I find at the range. Might have been a good decision without realizing it. Thanks for spreading the word.

 

[Starr1der]

Found a use for the 'Step' brass

Just thought I'd put this out there, as well- found a use for it; I now use it exclusively for 'dummy' rounds; why use any of my "useful" brass?

 

[ants]

Long time handloaders of 380auto are very aware of 'stepped' brass.

This is how we handle it:

Yes, cull the brass with the step. But instead of tossing or selling to someone else...
Knowing the length of your case, measure the length of the bullet you are loading
and determine the seating depth that doesn't interfere with the 'step'. Load up the 'stepped brass'
to an OAL that doesn't seat deeper than the ridge but still feeds in your gun.
You can do it. We've been doing it for decades. It is one of the skills of handloading.

I think is was our Walkalong (above) who said, "just don't seat deeper than the ridge".
No big mystery here. Inspect your brass (which you should do anyway) and set aside
your stepped brass for OAL not seating deeper than the ridge.

Just make sure it still feeds from magazine up the ramp and into the chamber.

 

[Shaq]

I've never had a problem with my handloads in 43 years. Maybe that's because I only load my own brass - which is Federal, Win. or Speer, most from factory 9mm ammo. For 357 & 44 Mag, I've never had a problem with Federal, Remington, Winchester or Magtech cases (which say "CBC" on them.)

None have that step in them.