Reload blowout

I had one split like that once and it was a nickel case. I think nickle is more brittle than just plain brass. From your picture it looks like nickel. I won't reload nickel anymore.
 
Interesting, I did a little digging to see if I could find Western .38 special brass anywhere and found this. IF that is what you were shooting you did have some OLD brass.

https://www.wardscollectibles.com/viewitem.php?item=2622

The load (if properly measured) was just over the recommended starting powder load.

Either way it's good that everyone's OK. Very sorry to see the gun (I didn't initially see the damage).

I have since loaded a bit of nickel cases for .45 ACP but will probably stay away from it in the future as the nickel cases were just part of some bulk brass buys I made way back from the days of Ebay still relatively friendly to us.
 
You know, looking at where the bulge is, it LOOKS like you can chop the barrel to around 3" or so, maybe even 4", and be "behind the bulge". Put a new front sight on it, crown it, blue job, good to go. Might end up with a nice carry gun?

Ask your gunsmith about this possibility.
 
I wouldn't worry about the split brass either.

As far as the bulge goes, why not just shoot it and see if at affects anything? It may not noticably affect function and would be easier to show off than if it was in a shadow box.
 
I do not reload and probley never will because I am afraid of incidents like that.

I am happy to hear that you and your wife came out with out any issue injury or worse.
The question I have is with the primer and propellent.

With the brass did the powder ignite fully, and if not did the primers explode properly.
If the primer exploded properly was the powder stored properly and if not did it at any time get wet which might cause only a partial explosion.
How old were your friends reloads and were the reloads stored properly or could they have been exposed to something that would cause them to malfunction
 
I don't think the split cases had anything to do with the squib:eek: I have found cases that were split when reloading and just put them aside. After I get a few I just take them to the range and shoot them and have had no problem. Someone gave 200 .38 nickle cases I think about 25% cracked I finally threw them out. You got a case with little or no powder I would say a little powder. I reload and won't use other peoples reloads:) I think what he did is gave you his old cases as throw aways. If I were to reload for someone I would do the same I sure wouldn't give anyone new or once fired cases.
 
Squib, sort of .. partially loaded round

You got a case with little or no powder I would say a little powder.
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I talked with a Smithy up here and he said the casing did have powder in it. He thinks the bad one was a partial 1/4 load. The casing shows full powder burn and the primer did fire properly.

He asked me to weigh any ammo left from the ones left and let him know what the ranges were.
Full ammo weight - They ran from 11.6 grams. up to 12.4 grams. Out of the 20 rounds. He said that 11.7 gr was over charged for the load built, and nearly all of them are over charged. He thinks that the guy setup enough powder for 50 or 100 rounds and went thru his load cycles without checking for balanced powder fills.
He also said that one of them was more than likely filled only partially (my problem squib) and he didn't notice because he got all the rounds loaded that he expected too, not accounting for the over/short loads.
Lastly I got the instructions never to use ammo somebody else loaded -
Sound Familiar?
LESSON LEARNED AGAIN.
I still need a barrel for my S&W 14-3 though - anybody got one to sell?
 
I found that a squib load sounds different. When something does not sound right stop and check. I've had two suibs in my shooting life. They both sounded Quieter then the other rounds I was shooting.

I load only lead so I was able to knock them both out with a brass squib rod and a wooden mallet.

sorry about your model 14. But glad neither of you were hurt.
 
Split cases are not that uncommon,especially if they get loaded repeatedly and reused repeatedly.

There is a limit to the number of times a reloader can reload ANY case.

The case walls got stretched and get weaknesses inside that case and then you get a case wall failure.

I am so glad you were not rapid firing that revolver.

The strength of that old Smith revolver was a welcome thing to have indeed.
 
indiandave said:
I found that a squib load sounds different. When something does not sound right stop and check. I've had two suibs in my shooting life. They both sounded Quieter then the other rounds I was shooting.
Click to expand...
That is one of the reasons I prefer autos over revolvers. If you're rapid firing the revolver, you don't generally stop during the squib, and next shot goes BLAMMO. Vast majority of the time, a squib won't cycle the action of a semi-auto and you HAVE to stop. At any rate, nowaday$, I $hoot $lowly enough for it not to matter.;)
 
Revolver Vs. Auto

Vast majority of the time, a squib won't cycle the action of a semi-auto and you HAVE to stop.
Click to expand...

I guess all the more reason to learn to love my XD45. I alrealy like it, maybe even more now.

The .38 is my revolver, and the wife has a Model 19 .357.
AND... I found a Model 14 6" replacement barrel identical to the current one - less the bulge!

Thanks for all the input. I am really learning much by reading your input.
And thanks to all of you for not being condescending.
Gearchecker
 
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