What was wrong with this gun

[LennieT]

Can anybody help me diagnose this bunch of 308 brass I found at the range. I was wondering what was wrong, or up with, the gun that fired it. All of the brass was beat up but I have seen gas guns do that, but I have never seen brass with those black lines on them. The lines are not scratches they appear to be fouling that is etched onto the brass. Also, notice how the lines are sharp at the neck but they are smeared at the bottom and the case head has heavy black fouling. If I rub the neck hard with a cloth the lines will fade but not go away completely. Thanks, Lennie

 

[ZeSpectre]

Post some photos of the base of the brass (around the primer).

 

[jinxer3006]

Fluted chamber

 

[MErl]

fluted chamber. gas is allowed to flow around the outside of the case to ease extraction.

G3/HK91/ptr91/CETME all eat 308 and have a fluted chamber (and are essentially identical rifles)

 

[cacoltguy]

I got a bunch of brass from a buddy of mine that all looks like this. I believe he shot it out of an FN-FAL. I used it to load some plinking ammo and it shot fine (as long as the only issue is the impressed lines from the fluted chamber.) After one firing they get "ironed" out.

 

[45lcshooter]

Yep fluted chamber. You can still reload them and shoot them, just start out with a lighter load, and pressure will push against your chamber and smooth it out.

 

[evan price]

FALs don't have fluted chambers. That's an HK thing. Tumble them and as long as they resize fine they are good to reload.

 

[LennieT]

Thanks guys. That would also explain the sharp lines at the neck while the case is in contact with the chamber and the smearing lower down when the case has lost contact with the chamber and the gas can swirl.....man I learn something everyday from this site.

Lennie

 

[Scooter22]

One other thing to consider when shooting a rifle with a fluted chamber like the HKs/CETME is to use 7.62 military ammo/brass. NOT standard .308 commercial. The thinner commercial brass can split.