split cases

[Olsherm]

Question? I have had a split case now and then in some old brass(maybe 10 to 12 plus loadings).Question is,will split cases damage your gun chamber if a case splits say with a mild load?By the way they split up the side of the case.I can't see where it would hurt a chamber since you shoot black powder in an open chamber?? What say ye? Should I throw the cases away as soon as I see the first split case. I only shoot mild loads. Let me know. Thanks olsherm

 

[Bozack]

I just started reloading and am no expert, but, it is better to be safe than sorry. discard the split cases.

 

[Rclark]

You throw away the split case and shoot the rest until they split. That is what I do.

 

[kelbro]

You throw away the split case and shoot the rest until they split. That is what I do.

That's what I do with pistol brass.

Rifle brass is kept in lots by firings and when a couple split, I toss the whole lot.

 

[GP100man]

I shoot it till it splits a case then I litely anneal the batch.

Some will say why , some will say a waste of time , but it`s my time & brass & I even enjoy teimmin cases or sizing cast boolits !!!!

& if the anneal job is done rite it lowers spreads across the chrony !!

 

[J Miller]

Question? I have had a split case now and then in some old brass(maybe 10 to 12 plus loadings).Question is,will split cases damage your gun chamber if a case splits say with a mild load?By the way they split up the side of the case.I can't see where it would hurt a chamber since you shoot black powder in an open chamber?? What say ye? Should I throw the cases away as soon as I see the first split case. I only shoot mild loads. Let me know. Thanks olsherm

Olsherm,

I have had cases split in the chamber in just about every revolver and rifle I own. I've yet to find any damage from it.

I never throw away a good case. I inspect them; case mouth to primer pocket each time I load them and if I find any cracks I toss 'em in the scrap bucket. If I find the primer pockets have gotten loose I toss 'em in the brass bucket.
But ~ if the case is not split and primer pocket is good, I load 'em. I will not waste cases by throwing them away if a couple in the box splits.

Joe

 

[Pal Val]

I keep my cases in batches and keep records on the loadings. If I get a split case and the batch has seen a lot of use, I throw away the whole batch. No need for another cracked case to know the whole lot is ready and waiting to pop.

 

[mikld]

Theoretically hot gasses can erode the chamber walls, but one or two split cases damaging the gun? I doubt it. 10 - 12 reloadings is plenty, the cases have given a good life - retire them...

 

[Olsherm]

Thanks for the help fellows. I have had a few cases to split but I have not seen any damage from it. However if i was shooting some really "smoking hot" loads then I would be concerned. However I do keep my notes on how many times the brass has been loaded and fired. The ones that have split have been loaded a number of times. But i am like some of you i hate to throw one away if it looks like it will take another loading. I will probably look at throwing these away. I have been loading them for a number "of years".LOL I have some new brass waiting in the wings.Just hate to use them as long as the old ones will go.(TITE WAD )
not TITE GROUP.HA HA

 

[Cherokee]

No damage to handgun, throw splits away, continue with others with lighter loads until they split or are lost.

 

[gerryb158]

Most folks (wisely) throw away split cases. Reloading a split case results in no neck tension on the bullet and when fired, may split further down the length of the case and result in a case head seperation. That may be dangerous. If you take just a bit of extra time and chamfer the inside and outside of each case mouth when the case is relatively new (only one time is necessary) you can reduce the likelihood of the case splitting when fired. Annealing would probably have a good result also but I've never done that with revolver/pistol rounds. Gerry

 

[Olsherm]

I did not mean to imply that I reload split cases. I am sensible enough to throw them away. I was wanting to know about the rest in that same batch that have not split yet. Thanks for all of the info.

 

[nn]

did not mean to imply that I reload split cases.

Most of us got that msg righ off. :wink:

 

[tiger955]

Curiously enough, I once bought an old box of Remington factory loads for my 44 at a gun show. They were not reloads, just been sitting on a shelf for a long time. One of them split about 3/4's the length of the case when fired, the rest have been reloaded many times with no problems.