Safety Glasses Saved the Day

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

X-Ray does very little to show any issues with metal fracture/fatigue. Magnetic Particle or a dye penetrant would be much more useful, then several different methods for verifying chamber dimensions have not changed. I have had case head separations on several occasions, all of the instances in bolt action rifles were due to case fatigue and once from a hot load on older brass that was seated to long for the chamber. All of the others were on HK MP5 subguns and once on a G3, I attribute them to extremely positive extraction on sub-standard brass. None of the separations that I have experienced have resulted in anything more than the gun gassing off as designed luckily.

@Bullthrower338
Cody I've only had a couple of case head separations. These were due to inexperience. Old SMLE 303, reloads and didn't know about checking for incipient case head separation. When I fired the case nothing undue happened but opening the bolt only the case head extracted. The body of the case stayed in the chamber. Easily removed with a bronze brush.
Now I carefully inspect ALL my cases both rimmed and rimless.
Bob

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I've had only one head separation, that was in a 45-90 turn of the century rolling block. Nothing really happened other than an expression of complete surprise when only the head extracted. The cause was stupidity on my part, full length resizing cases that should have been tossed. I should have paid more attention to that bright ring above the web. Bottom line: always carefully inspect your spent cases and assume nothing ... and yes, wear impact glasses.

I had basically the same thing happen with my M70 in .300WM. Nothing exciting at first, but when only the head came out, I then knew something was wrong. Where did the gasses go, I don't know. They just didn't hit me.

 

[ArmyAV8tor]

Just got word from the gunsmith. Extractor was only displaced so that is good. Bad news is he says I have a headspace problem. For FWB...I can't honestly say the # of reloads. Any suggestions out there on how to start a culling process?

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

I’m glad you are ok, BUT I should add that safety glasses won’t always save you, but they will lessen any damage if things go really bad, trust me on this, I’ve only got one working eye left .
gumpy

 

[krish]

@ArmyAV8tor
Wish you speedy recovery. God was on your side. Thank God. I had one case neck split brass shoulder melted with a hole and rifle damaged on a 30-378. While hunting some small vegetation fell in the barrel. Lucky nothing happened to me. Now I don't carry muzzle up. Always wear safty glasses.
Krish

 

[sestoppelman]

Just got word from the gunsmith. Extractor was only displaced so that is good. Bad news is he says I have a headspace problem. For FWB...I can't honestly say the # of reloads. Any suggestions out there on how to start a culling process?

Since its unlikely that one blowout created the headspace issue, its more likely it was an ongoing issue that grew, along with probable repeated oversizing of your brass that created this case failure.
Time to set the barrel back or get a new one.

 

[cajunchefray]

Just got word from the gunsmith. Extractor was only displaced so that is good. Bad news is he says I have a headspace problem. For FWB...I can't honestly say the # of reloads. Any suggestions out there on how to start a culling process?

Glad you are Okay! And your rifle is not wrecked.

I sort my brass by number of firings, marking each case with a Sharpie, 1x, 2x, etc. I bag each separately, and load in lots by number of firings.

By the 3x firings, I inspect each with a lighted magnifying glass, looking for the signs of incipient case head separation, the bright ring near the base. If I seem that, I separate those cases, and use the “paper clip “ method to check the case interior. Basically a paper clip, opened up, with a 90 degree bend at the end, to act as a fine pick. Insert into the case, and feel around the bottom near the base. If the case is near separation near the base, you will feel a “groove “ near the inner bottom where the brass has stretched and is thinner.
Throw away. It will split at that groove.

The gun cleaning tools available today, like a dental pick will do the same thing. You have to develop the feel for it.

Try first on new or once fired brass, then older brass. You can feel a difference.

I learned this from Lyman reloading manual and John Barsness in “ Rifle” and “Reloader” magazine.

Incidentally, I started using this technique on a .243 and 30-06, after I had a case rupture in the 30-06 with excessive headspace, and incorrect resizing that pushed the shoulder back.

In the .243, Remington 700, I was getting case stretching. I don’t know why. Maybe soft brass?

I also now use an LE Wilson case gauge to make sure my sized cases are within SAAMI specs for headspace. Every caliber I load.

If I don’t have my dies set correctly, and push the shoulder back, Wilson gauge shows out of spec, I throw away the case and re-adjust.

Stay safe. One accident and it makes one very aware of measuring, and measuring again.