.41 mag casing rupture

H

hunter rob

Inactive
I bought a new SW Model 57 in .41 mag. Took it out today and an entire box of federal power shock 210 grain had the casings rupture to teh point that they were really hard to eject. About a third of a box of Horandy 210 grain specials from Cabelas did the same. Is it the gun or did I just get two bad boxes of factory loads? I'm new to hand gun shooting.
 
could we have a photo of the fired cases compared to an unfired one? the issue is first to determine what you mean by rupture. as "rupture" is used to describe when the cartridge case literally splits open.
 
I would have someone look at the gun before I shot it any more. That should not happen with Federal or Hornady ammo.
 
A case failure is no big deal in a revolver (except it ruins the case) so I wouldn't throw the unfired ammo away. But I'd have the gun checked out in case the chambers are cut way too big. And if they are OK, I'd contact the ammo makers.
 
robhof

I had 45acp's doing the same thing on a Ruger Blackhawk convertable and the problem was the throats of the cylinder were too tight; .446 to .449 instead of .452. If you have a micrometer, check the throats of your cylinders, if not get a 44 slug and see if it will push through from the front. If too tight, that's your problem. As said above; don't shoot again til you've checked that out as you're gettingexcess pressure in the cylinders that the case ruptures in.
 
A case failure is no big deal in a revolver (except it ruins the case) so I wouldn't throw the unfired ammo away. But I'd have the gun checked out in case the chambers are cut way too big. And if they are OK, I'd contact the ammo makers.
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Exactly right, an oversized chamber will give you exactly that problem but if your chambers are within normal range then the OP was shooting hot loads or bad brass, either way they will have already heard about it from other people buying ammo from the same lot.
 
This surprises me because I have been shooting a Model 57 for twenty some years and in all that time I think I have only seen two or three cases split. All handloads, some hot magnums and a lot of mid range loads. I think all of them were Winchester brass. All of my .41 brass has been reloaded so many times I stopped logging "times loaded" on them and they don't appear as if they're ever going to die. Love the .41. Hope your problem is just bad brass or overpressured loads. By any chance were the split cases nickel plated?
 
I would be most careful shooting this M57 until you can determine "why" this happened on cases from two different boxes of ammunition. It sounds like the gun to me. Check or have checked the cylinder chamber dimensions.

Never heard of this happening with a M57 with normal ammunition.
 
With two different brands of factory loads, it is almost a certainty that it is the gun. This is something I would think would more likely be a "used" gun that had been fired with cylinder expanding over-loads. When you say "new M57" do you mean "new to you", or right from the manufacture? If it is a brand-new gun, contact S&W and tell them what happened. It is very likely they will want it back.
Case failure is a big deal in a revolver if the cases are splitting with factory ammo, not the result of work-hardened hand loaded cases.
 
I know you say its a .41....but, if EVERY case split, see if a .44 will fit in the chamber.

I'm with others, if that gun was used, someone jugged the chambers with hot loads. If its new, send it back to Smith...like now. Stop shooting it.

I shot my Model 58 for years. Really hot loads. Never split a case.
 
I agree with dahermit. Don't shoot the firearm until you contact S&W to have them check out the revolver. Two different ammunition manufacturers and the same result seems to indicate a problems with the firearm.

There is another post on TFL where a new S&W revolver in .357 Mag had a cylinder that was notched and fluted for seven chambers, but the cylinder had six chambers. Thankfully, the owner checked out the firearm and noticed the problem before firing it.
 
I know you say its a .41....but, if EVERY case split, see if a .44 will fit in the chamber.
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That was my thought too. Maybe the gun was accidentally fitted with a .44 cylinder--or maybe it's a .44 gun that's mismarked.

Just check to see if the rounds will chamber, do NOT attempt to actually fire .44 ammo through the gun even if it chambers.
 
I could make several guesses to the root cause of the problem but without seeing the gun, the split brass and the loaded ammo it would just be a guess. I think as several have said already, I'd take it to a good gun smith along with the loaded ammo you haven't shot. This is perplexing.

I once ownered a Mod 58 (still stamped as such) that had been converted to 44 Mag back during the years after Dirty Harry movie made it impossible to get a Mod 29 but the barrel was clearly stamped 44 Mag at the factory. I can't imagine finding one of these that wouldn't be stamped 44 Mag.
 
new .41 model 57-5

I have put over 600 rounds of handloads down range from 1050 fps plinkers to 1400 fps hot rods with 215 grn cast and 210 grn hollowpoints respectively. Only one split case(1/8"), I think I put a slight wrinkle in the edge of the case, while seating a bullet. you should gage those cylinders, something is not right. My gun is a couple years old and has the internal lock, with an unbelievable trigger. Smooth and silky !! Mine is the mountain gun version with a 4" taperd barrel, it looks like a model 28 Highway Patrolman. Love it !!
 
A case failure is no big deal in a revolver (except it ruins the case) so I wouldn't throw the unfired ammo away. But I'd have the gun checked out in case the chambers are cut way too big. And if they are OK, I'd contact the ammo makers.
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The fact it happened with a brand new bun and two different mfgs mean that there is a GUN issue and it could be a really bad one.

Obviously not a fatigued case but a gun defect.

It needs to be corrected before shooting any more.

I love the 41 magnum. Never had a case split even with multiple hot reloads.
 
Just check to see if the rounds will chamber, do NOT attempt to actually fire .44 ammo through the gun even if it chambers.
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So...you're thinking a .44 cylinder chamber and a .41 barrel would be a bad thing....right?

:)

(It didn't occur to me to add "For Heavens sake, don't try to actually shoot it if it fits!"..good thinking on your part.)
 
A small part of my job is writing instructions on how to use the system that we build and maintain for our customer. Maybe I've been doing it too long, but I no longer believe that anything ever goes without saying... :(
 
took it back to gun shop today and yes SW put a 44 cylinder on a 41 frame. headed back to the factory for repair. thanks for the help. i'll let you know when it comes back
 
Really?

You've got to be kidding? Who was the guy that test fired the gun at S&W? He didn't notice the split cases?
 
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