You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Loaded cases with Cracked necks???
- Thread starter Rafsob
- Start date
I normally do that on rounds that are given to me or from people I don't know. I just wanted to know if the idea of the crack would make the round unsafe. I don't know that I have ever loaded a cracked neck and then fired it, so that is why I'm interested in this idea. thanks guys.
boondocker385
New member
I would pull them apart.
Gunplummer
New member
I had a box of mixed 6.5 Japanese ammo a few years back. Most was Chinese made in the late 40's and early 50's. A lot of the cases split the necks when fired. Most had a split below where the bullet was seated. I don't see much difference between a split neck whether it was before or after firing. I really did not care about the barrel and I had less than 500 of those rounds anyway. I used to clean the barrel and never saw a difference in the chamber. I am guessing that sooner or later you will develop pits in the chamber wall, but that is only a guess. I have seen pitted bolt faces from leaking primers (Non corrosive) due to hot loading. On the other hand, it takes a long time and a lot of rounds to erode the area in front of the neck in a chamber on a manually operated rifle. JME
chris in va
New member
I've reloaded my x39 cases a few times and get split necks every so often. They go in the trash soon as I spot them.
JeepHammer
Moderator
Rare brass I *Might* consider shooting a cracked neck...
If it were a bolt gun or single shot like you have.
With anything common, they go in the trash.
Time to pull the reloads apart and anneal the necks since the guy obviously didn't anneal and they are cracking.
If it were a bolt gun or single shot like you have.
With anything common, they go in the trash.
Time to pull the reloads apart and anneal the necks since the guy obviously didn't anneal and they are cracking.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Two considerations at work.
First, shooting ammo with a cracked neck is fine. I've done it many times with old military rounds, and have simply discarded the cases afterwards. The cracked necks likely means that the cases weren't properly annealed when they were formed from the parent case.
Second, those rounds are someone else's handloads. You have no idea what their capabilities or abilities were, so why risk it.
First, shooting ammo with a cracked neck is fine. I've done it many times with old military rounds, and have simply discarded the cases afterwards. The cracked necks likely means that the cases weren't properly annealed when they were formed from the parent case.
Second, those rounds are someone else's handloads. You have no idea what their capabilities or abilities were, so why risk it.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/443751/rcbs-case-forming-die-set-30-herrett-from-30-30-winchester
"Some of the brass was loaded", you omitted the only piece of information that is necessary to draw a conclusion. What is the head stamp on the loaded cases. Cases formed from 30/30 to 30 Herrett are no different than 7mm57 cases formed from 30/06. If not annealed correctly I expected most to crack when fired or I expect them to split setting in a drawer after loading in a few years.
I am the fan of bullet hold, I want all the bullet hold I can get, my formed cases would last longer if I reduced bullet hold, problem, reducing bullet hold would do nothing for the split necks when firing in chambers with generous chamber necks.
Bullet hold, cracked/split necks is something that happens after loading and or during firing, if the neck is split before loading forget bullet hold, some reloaders refer to bullet hold as neck tension. I do not have tensions gages that measure in pounds. I do have tension gages, my tension gages do not measure bullet hold.
F. Guffey
some of the brass was loaded, but after I got home I noticed that some had vertical cracks in the necks
"Some of the brass was loaded", you omitted the only piece of information that is necessary to draw a conclusion. What is the head stamp on the loaded cases. Cases formed from 30/30 to 30 Herrett are no different than 7mm57 cases formed from 30/06. If not annealed correctly I expected most to crack when fired or I expect them to split setting in a drawer after loading in a few years.
I am the fan of bullet hold, I want all the bullet hold I can get, my formed cases would last longer if I reduced bullet hold, problem, reducing bullet hold would do nothing for the split necks when firing in chambers with generous chamber necks.
I don't know that I have ever loaded a cracked neck and then fired it, so that is why I'm interested in this idea. thanks guys.
Bullet hold, cracked/split necks is something that happens after loading and or during firing, if the neck is split before loading forget bullet hold, some reloaders refer to bullet hold as neck tension. I do not have tensions gages that measure in pounds. I do have tension gages, my tension gages do not measure bullet hold.
F. Guffey
Last edited:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/443...-30-winchester
AllenJ, I posted a link, the link offers information for the 30 Herrett, the link informs the 'clicker on the link' reloaders the 30/30 case is used when forming 30 Herrett.
The 7mm57 from 30/06 was a 'liken to' as in what befalls one befalls the other for the same reason.
My opinion? The forming die for the 30 Herrett is one very expensive forming die.
F. Guffey
AllenJ, I posted a link, the link offers information for the 30 Herrett, the link informs the 'clicker on the link' reloaders the 30/30 case is used when forming 30 Herrett.
The 7mm57 from 30/06 was a 'liken to' as in what befalls one befalls the other for the same reason.
My opinion? The forming die for the 30 Herrett is one very expensive forming die.
F. Guffey
Here is another thread about forming 30 Herritt:
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250690
Guffey that is one expensive forming die, way more than I paid back in the 80's. I would think you could have a machinist make one for far less than that.
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250690
Guffey that is one expensive forming die, way more than I paid back in the 80's. I would think you could have a machinist make one for far less than that.
My dollars worth, used to be 2 cents but with the way prices have gone up...
I loaded some (100) .44 mags, new Winchester brass with 240 grain JHPs and my mix of powder and primers. I put them away in the bottom of an ammo box in those nice red MTM plastic boxes, all labeled and ready if I ever needed them. That was in 1976 or 77. Time passes and almost a year ago I pulled those red boxes out and found that 41 out of 100 of the new cases, 35 years ago, had split!
I recovered the bullets and scrapped the brass, primers and powder. I know, the primers and powder were known items, I had loaded it all and listed it back then. I scrapped it anyway.
Some cases just don't hold up. How are we to know?
Pull the bullets and scrap the split cases. Punch the primers and anneal the others. I think this is the best course of action.
Enjoy,
OSOK
I loaded some (100) .44 mags, new Winchester brass with 240 grain JHPs and my mix of powder and primers. I put them away in the bottom of an ammo box in those nice red MTM plastic boxes, all labeled and ready if I ever needed them. That was in 1976 or 77. Time passes and almost a year ago I pulled those red boxes out and found that 41 out of 100 of the new cases, 35 years ago, had split!
I recovered the bullets and scrapped the brass, primers and powder. I know, the primers and powder were known items, I had loaded it all and listed it back then. I scrapped it anyway.
Some cases just don't hold up. How are we to know?
Pull the bullets and scrap the split cases. Punch the primers and anneal the others. I think this is the best course of action.
Enjoy,
OSOK
IDAHO GAITERS
New member
Every load book I own says to discard brass with split necks as it is dangerous to the firearm and the reloader / shooter. Since you are getting mixed responses, I would suggest consulting your load books or calling any of the major bullet companies for their opinion if you are still considering shooting them. I know of ruined chambers caused by
those who insist on loading split necks.
Idaho Gaiters
those who insist on loading split necks.
Idaho Gaiters
Gunplummer
New member
Some old brass will "Age harden" just from laying around. I suspect that is why a lot of old military surplus ammo gets cracks. I would dump the reloads too, but not because of the cracks in the neck. Occasionally I get cracks in thin necked brass when resizeing and toss them without reloading, but loaded surplus ammo I just shoot.
"...the new cases, 35 years ago, had split!..." Not a chance of that happening.
Mr. T,
I would agree with you if it were not what I found. I marked it up as just a bad batch of brass and never shot any of them. (Well I did pop the primers without bullet or powder before i added all of them to my scrap brass box.)
If that many, was bad, I wouldn't chance the others.
Enjoy,
OSOK
Mr. T,
I would agree with you if it were not what I found. I marked it up as just a bad batch of brass and never shot any of them. (Well I did pop the primers without bullet or powder before i added all of them to my scrap brass box.)
If that many, was bad, I wouldn't chance the others.
Enjoy,
OSOK