.223 bolt action rifle bolt damage after case head failure

[sirgilligan]

Since I am the author of the Gun Log SPC iOS app I have a lot of friends that email me their shot groups, info on new firearms, and info on failures. I just got this info the other day concerning a CZ 527 .223 REM shooting Federal .223 ammunition.

My friend and myself are curious to hear opinions on this failure. Cartridge's fault? Rifle's fault? Both?

Here is the info I have received at this time.

The bolt stayed in place.
The bolt had to be hammered out by a gun smith.
The extractor was badly damaged and a piece of the bolt head is cracked and missing.
No bulges in the barrel that are visible.
Ammo was factory Federal loads, no reloads / handloads in the mix. The ammo is .223 REM and is NOT 5.56 NATO.
Ammo was fed from the magazine.

 

[sirgilligan]

It looks like the slot where the extractor fits next to the bolt face cracked.
The extractor collar is missing, I do not know at this time what happened to it.

 

[Mobuck]

Looks like Federal owes someone a new rifle and possibly an ammo recall.

 

[Art Eatman]

Hard to tell from a photo, but something looks "not right" on those fired case heads.

I'd pull a bullet and weigh the powder charge, just on general principles. And definitely talk to the folks at Federal.

 

[SSA]

I'd measure & weigh the bullet, too. And, come to think of it, I'd weigh all the remaining cartridges.
I predict that the ammo will go back to Federal and the rifle will go back to CZ. Neither will admit fault. The owner will receive a new rifle, after agreeing to never speak of this again.

 

[Jerry45]

I predict bullet setback or a bullet that was much too heavy for the powder charge. I doubt Federal loaded the "wrong" powder in one cartridge and its virtually imposable to overcharge a .223 using the "CORRECT" powder to a point that will rupture a case that isn't flawed. I don't believe even a flawed case would cause the damage shown without a massive spike in pressure cause by bullet setback.

I own a CZ 527 .223 and hand load for it. I use Federal Match Primers and Nosler and Lapua brass. When working up loads I start at the minim recommended in the Lyman book and work up to 0.5 gr. over max. To load 0.5 over max I had to tap the case on the bench to pack the powder down before removing the funnel. It was a highly compressed load. I fired five such loads. At 0.5 gr. OVER max there were no signs of over pressure. The bolt open easily and the extractor showed no signs of stress. With 53 gr, Sierra MatchKing bullets the rifle likes 0.5 gr. Below max. I've fired approximately 600 rounds of that with no signs of stress to my rifle.

Ten rounds of 53. gr. SMK over 27.0 gr. of Varget at 100 Yds. 1/2" diamond.

 

[Metal god]

Is it just me or is it the primer sealer but those primer packets look off center .

 

[AZAK]

Any pictures of the ammo unfired? Any remaining rounds in that particular box?

I, for one, would be interested in seeing the bullet depth in any remaining unfired cartridges, as well as what the unfired primers look like. The images of the fired primers/pockets don't quite look like anything that has come out of any of my .223 rem bolts. (Granted, I don't personally have a CZ 527...)

 

[Bezoar]

bad ammo. look at the wandering primer pocket. its making something made by chinese school children look accurate..

 

[sirgilligan]

I sent some more questions to my friend and he responded last night and sent some more photos, many of which are in better focus.


These were the first eight rounds through the gun. It hadn't fired anything else. It was a brand new rifle.

Lot # V49T502
55 Grain Soft Point Ammo.

There was no squib load, the previous shot punched the paper target.

 

[sirgilligan]

 

[sirgilligan]

 

[sirgilligan]

 

[sirgilligan]

I have a new unfired CZ 527 .223. For reference I have taken some pictures of the bolt.

 

[sirgilligan]

Look at this image... I can see the letters R E M on the bolt face.

 

[Scorch]

We had a similar case in our shop with a different ammo maker's ammo and a Ruger rifle. Call CZ customer service and Federal and document everything (date, time, names, what was discussed, etc), then follow their directions for returning both the ammo and the rifle. CZ will likely declare the rifle unsalvageable from the looks of it, and the ammo maker will likely have to pay for a new rifle. Your friend will still be stuck with NICS transfer charges and shop charges, but that's a lot less than a new rifle.

 

[Jerry45]

Looking at the mouth of the ruptured case there appears to be a "crimped" spot. Was that done when removing the case? If not I'm wondering if there was foreign material on the bullet or in the chamber when the round was chambered that "crimped" the case mouth into the bullet. That wold account for the huge pressure spike necessary to blow the back out of the case.

 

[Clark]

I have had a CZ527 for 5 years.
I have fired it 10 or 20 times and blown the bolt face off twice.
If the case head fails, the little parts gas cut real fast.


It is not a tough gun, like a Ruger #1 or a break action.

 

[mehavey]

Improper (soft) case head strength/over-annealed (?)
Metallurgical test on lot might be very revealing.

 

[hooligan1]

Wow....