Split necks on 7.6x54R

[student]

Out at the range today shooting among other things my scout scoped M44. I was getting good groups (for me) at about 1.5-2 inches at 75 yards using some Polish ~'86 manufacture surplus steel core light ball ammo. The cases and bullets are brass colored but the cases seem to be steel. Several of them had splits along the neck, but not all the way to the tip and to where the larger diameter part of the case started . What does this signify with respect to safety, accuracy, to my gun and my ammo? Thanks.

 

[dm1333]

Search for my thread here

I had the same problem. The consensus seemed to be that it was the ammo and not the gun, and not a HUGE problem. If I were you I would make sure the headspace on your rifle is correct before shooting it again. Mine happened with Polish ammo but not anything else that I have.

Don

 

[student]

Thanks, here is the link if others care to read it http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=180975&highlight=split

My first thought was that the steel was simply not as malleable as brass so it split instead of expanding.

 

[Cosmoline]

Vertical splits down the neck tend to be a sign of cruddy old cases, often copper washed steel. It's not an excess headspace indication unless you see HORIZONTAL splits down towards the rim.

I would just use different ammunition. You could probably keep using the same stuff, but any time the case is busting open it's not a good thing.