Split case in my HP-22

[Uncle Alvah]

I bought my Phoenix Arms HP-22 a few years back for a trapline gun, and in that role it has served well enough for an inexpensive pistol.
It has never, however, been a model of reliability, suffering from FTF's and FTE's with some regularity. While shooting a couple of days ago, I had a FTE that required being tapped out by hand with a rod from the muzzle. I lost the case over the railing of the deck I was shooting off and did not try to retrieve it. Now, just a couple minutes ago, I had another stuck case that required a rod to remove. When I examined this case, it's SPLIT! the split starts just ahead of the rim and is about 2/3 as long as the case.
I'm guessing it's necessary to return it to Phoenix for repair/replacement. I've shot more than a few rounds of .22 RF in my life, but if I ever had a split case before, I don't recall it!
Advice/suggestions? (Buying a Bobcat or P22 is already under consideration.)

 

[Majic]

I would look at the ammo since you have had and shot the pistol for several years. I doubt very seriously that the chamber just went bad.

 

[Uncle Alvah]

The ammo could be the problem I suppose, it's just bulk pack Remington copper plated HP's.......
The gun does not have a huge amount of rounds thru it, 1000 at most I'd say, 600-700 more likely.

 

[Uncle Alvah]

I took a closer lok at the case with a magnifiying glass.
-The split is directly in frint of where the fireing pin struck the rim.
-On the oppasite(sp) side if the case, 180 degress from the split, there is a distinct bulge in the case. It is cresent shaped when viewed from the side, maybe 3/16 inch long, maybe 1/16 or so high. It is directly against and above the rim.
I'm confused.........

 

[SDC]

Unless it happens with most of the ammo you shoot in it, the problem was simply a case that was scratched on the inside when they drew it out into a tube. The "bulge" is a ramp they put into the chamber to help it feed without jamming.

 

[Uncle Alvah]

The "bulge" is a ramp they put into the chamber to help it feed without jamming.

Then for the case to conform to that ramp, it must have fired out of battery?

 

[FieroCDSP]

Then for the case to conform to that ramp, it must have fired out of battery?

No, it's just slightly less supported than the rest of the chamber. Same thing as with the Glocks and Sigmas.