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An interesting development

Posted: 27 Jun 2017 18:09
by Accadacca
Several years ago, maybe six or seven years ago, I bought 2 boxes of 125 grain JSP. I don't suppose the manufacturer is important since the original box is long gone. I noticed that they seemed to have just very slight roll crimp, and some of them didn't have any perceptible cramp at all but I didn't think much of it at the time. In any case I shot a few and put the rest away.

So I just recently have started shooting again after a break of several years, and I pulled these out to shoot them up and get rid of them, but as I was loading them into the gun I noticed one in particular which the bullet had been pushed back into the case just slightly. Not very much but more than I was comfortable with. I grabbed a pair of side-cutters and used my single stage press to pull the bullet out, but I was quite surprised at how little effort it took. I also was able to reseat the bullet with just slight finger pressure, so I put a little crimp on it and single loaded it just to get rid of it.

I sat down later to go through all the remaining rounds and give them a thorough inspection. I did not find any more with setback. What I did find, thought, is five split cases. five brand new factory made rounds with split cases. now there are only 68 rounds left so I went through my brass bucket to see if I could find the fired brass and I only found 4 cases, one of which was split wide open for half the length of the case.

So now I have 63 rounds of factory ammunition that I really am not particularly comfortable firing. I figure I can either put a slight cramp on all the remaining rounds and fire them single shot, or pull the bullets and either add a light charge of Unique to make plinking rounds, or just salvage the bullets and primers and toss everything else.

Re: An interesting development

Posted: 28 Jun 2017 05:31
by Ranch Dog
What is the headstamp on the cartridge, just curious who made them?
...so I went through my brass bucket to see if I could find the fired brass and I only found 4 cases, one of which was split wide open for half the length of the case.
Given this, I would not shoot them.

Re: An interesting development

Posted: 28 Jun 2017 06:24
by GasGuzzler
I ain't shooting them.

Post a pic of the headstamp.

Re: An interesting development

Posted: 28 Jun 2017 07:35
by Accadacca
Ranch Dog wrote:What is the headstamp on the cartridge, just curious who made them?
I really did not want to do that, since I no longer have the lot number available, and they are several years old so the rest of the lot likely already has been expended anyway. I would not want to badmouth a major manufacturer without giving them some opportunity to rectify the situation. If you want I can send you a message.
...so I went through my brass bucket to see if I could find the fired brass and I only found 4 cases, one of which was split wide open for half the length of the case.
Given this, I would not shoot them.
I get what you're saying, but doesn't the fact that some of the new, unfired cases are already split more alarming? I'm not happy to find one split after firing but that does happen from time to time, albeit rarely.

I will at least say that it is one of the major US manufacturers and an "old" name.

Re: An interesting development

Posted: 28 Jun 2017 07:39
by Accadacca
GasGuzzler wrote:I ain't shooting them.

Post a pic of the headstamp.
I'd rather not because that would reveal the name of the company, and I don't want to do that since they have no opportunity to look into the issue, as I no longer have the lot number available. Is there something specific that you're looking for? Maybe I can describe it to you.

Re: An interesting development

Posted: 28 Jun 2017 10:03
by Ohio3Wheels
Sounds like some bad alloy (brass) that didn't age well. One hopes either it was caught and recalled back when or when shot new most of it survived. At least one of the majors makes their own brass or at least they did in the past. Most of the others buy brass probably from the above mentioned. You would think that out of spec brass would be caught by incoming QC, but then again there's that old Monday/Friday thing along with Mr. Murphy. Be safe.

Make smoke,

Re: An interesting development

Posted: 28 Jun 2017 23:48
by akuser47
If it's Amerc munitions, then don't feel bad everyone has learned it's the worst ammo ever made no matter what caliber. I still have near a case of their .223. All had split necks when new. No Q.S. to help either. Be safe +corn