split cases

squirrelbaster · 04-21-2008, 05:59 PM

i went shooting the other day shot about 120 shots through my m38. when i was picking up the shells i knowced that one was split open just below the neck, so i inspected all of them and found that it happened on 6 of them out of the about 120 i shot. is this dangerus? is it the ammo or the gun cousing it? it was russian light ball. should i be worrying about this?

toolman · 04-21-2008, 09:15 PM

I don't worry about it with surplus ammo. Most of it's caused by brittle cases, but I've never seen anything serious caused by it.

ghost_raven · 04-21-2008, 10:02 PM

I'd keep an eye on it... you're probably fine if it doesn't get worse. Meanwhile, just make sure you're wearing shooting glasses.

Capt'n Mil Coll · 04-21-2008, 10:36 PM

Where did you get that ammo Squirrel?

squirrelbaster · 04-21-2008, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt'n Mil Coll

Where did you get that ammo Squirrel?

got it form the P.R.O gunshow here last month.

Geo M44 · 04-21-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squirrelbaster

i went shooting the other day shot about 120 shots through my m38. when i was picking up the shells i knowced that one was split open just below the neck, so i inspected all of them and found that it happened on 6 of them out of the about 120 i shot. is this dangerus? is it the ammo or the gun cousing it? it was russian light ball. should i be worrying about this?

Does it happen with other ammo?

squirrelbaster · 04-21-2008, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geo M44

Does it happen with other ammo?

it has not in the past but this batch of ammo is all ive been shooting for a while, i bought 440 rounds of it. and this is only my third third batch, first two where both 300 round spam cans of bulgarian heavyball. i had no problems with eather of them.

Geo M44 · 04-21-2008, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squirrelbaster

it has not in the past but this batch of ammo is all ive been shooting for a while, i bought 440 rounds of it. and this is only my third third batch, first two where both 300 round spam cans of bulgarian heavyball. i had no problems with eather of them.

Since you're not worried about reloading em' probably not a problem. Split necks are worrisome, but it happens.

just_a_car · 04-21-2008, 11:16 PM

I'd also take a close look with a flashlight into the chamber, there may be a burr or something causing that; it's not likely, but might as well check.

More than likely, it's just the surplus ammo. We've had many cases (no pun intended) of split, cracked and corroded cases where the ammo was just unsafe to use. The fact that this only showed up after firing is probably fine. Plus, 7.62x54R headspaces on the rim, so you don't have to worry about hot gases blowing back into your face unless the round is over-pressure.

Mooseman684 · 04-21-2008, 11:22 PM

Neck splitting is common with this round and especially the Bulgarian ammo,
They were never made to reload anyway and foreign quality control is Not as good as Ours is...
Rich

Cyrille · 04-21-2008, 11:34 PM

Not reloading!? no problem, but if you are then discard all of 'em you see!

SwedeSteve · 04-21-2008, 11:58 PM

If you had serviced your ammo like a good soldier, this would not now a problemsky be!

rondog · 04-22-2008, 12:03 AM

Heck, I've found a couple of them split BEFORE firing! Looks like a common manufacturing defect.

SwedeSteve · 04-22-2008, 12:08 AM

Like finding a split one in store bought cigarettes. Buyer beware!

Mooseman684 · 04-22-2008, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyrille

Not reloading!? no problem, but if you are then discard all of 'em you see!

Cyrille...They are all BERDAN primed....Not worth the trouble to pry the primers out since they can't be pressed out, And Berdan primers are almost non-existent in the U.S...
Rich

just_a_car · 04-22-2008, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooseman684

Cyrille...They are all BERDAN primed....Not worth the trouble to pry the primers out since they can't be pressed out, And Berdan primers are almost non-existent in the U.S...
Rich

Yeah, but if you use water and a dowel that fits the neck snugly, you can 'pop' the primer out the bottom with hydraulic pressure; just be sure you're willing to get a little wet or build a stand that prevents such.

Then, you can drill out the Berdan anvil that's in the middle of the pocket to a perfect circle and use Boxer primers.

Now, that's if you want to go through the trouble of all that for EACH CASE... personally, I don't think it's really worth the trouble, but it really depends on how expensive cases get.

Big Dog · 04-22-2008, 04:55 AM

Is this the Russian ammo in the old yellowed Russian newspaper wrappers? One of my shooting buddies has some of it, and he gets the split cases too. Doesn't happen with my Hungarian Heavy Ball and Czech Silvertip.

patrick70 · 04-22-2008, 07:51 AM

I have noticed some split cases with the bulgarian light ball too.I always look them over before I load them into my rifle.

Geo M44 · 04-22-2008, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by just_a_car

Yeah, but if you use water and a dowel that fits the neck snugly, you can 'pop' the primer out the bottom with hydraulic pressure; just be sure you're willing to get a little wet or build a stand that prevents such.

Then, you can drill out the Berdan anvil that's in the middle of the pocket to a perfect circle and use Boxer primers.

Now, that's if you want to go through the trouble of all that for EACH CASE... personally, I don't think it's really worth the trouble, but it really depends on how expensive cases get.

Yeah, You can actually buy Berdan primers, and I read that article on reloading using hyraulic pressure to pop the primers out. Since I have a lot of Bulgarian brass I might give it a try... someday... maybe... Or just sell the brass as scrap and use the money to buy more.

Ferroflame · 04-22-2008, 08:39 PM

Maybe they were just bad cases?

I've got a round here in my pocket that I was about to load into my 91/30 when I noticed it had a significant dent in one side...

It eventually split the upper part of the shell.

I'm glad I didn't shoot it... probably wouldn't've been safe.

04-21-2008, 05:59 PM	#1
squirrelbaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,266	split cases i went shooting the other day shot about 120 shots through my m38. when i was picking up the shells i knowced that one was split open just below the neck, so i inspected all of them and found that it happened on 6 of them out of the about 120 i shot. is this dangerus? is it the ammo or the gun cousing it? it was russian light ball. should i be worrying about this? __________________ "My Shotgun SAYS I AM the POLICE !"--Mooseman684 "I like Turtles!" youtube kid

04-21-2008, 09:15 PM	#2
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,582 Blog Entries: 22	I don't worry about it with surplus ammo. Most of it's caused by brittle cases, but I've never seen anything serious caused by it. __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

04-21-2008, 10:02 PM	#3
ghost_raven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 408	I'd keep an eye on it... you're probably fine if it doesn't get worse. Meanwhile, just make sure you're wearing shooting glasses. __________________ The First Amendment defines America, the Second Amendment defends it.

04-21-2008, 10:36 PM	#4
Capt'n Mil Coll Military Rifle Collector Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Right behind you. -NRA Member- Posts: 2,293 Images: 12	Where did you get that ammo Squirrel? __________________ Let's light this fuse and see what happens!

04-21-2008, 11:16 PM	#9
just_a_car Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonds, WA Posts: 3,521	I'd also take a close look with a flashlight into the chamber, there may be a burr or something causing that; it's not likely, but might as well check. More than likely, it's just the surplus ammo. We've had many cases (no pun intended) of split, cracked and corroded cases where the ammo was just unsafe to use. The fact that this only showed up after firing is probably fine. Plus, 7.62x54R headspaces on the rim, so you don't have to worry about hot gases blowing back into your face unless the round is over-pressure. __________________

04-21-2008, 11:22 PM	#10
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,668 Images: 2	Neck splitting is common with this round and especially the Bulgarian ammo, They were never made to reload anyway and foreign quality control is Not as good as Ours is... Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

04-21-2008, 11:34 PM	#11
Cyrille Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 1,850	Not reloading!? no problem, but if you are then discard all of 'em you see!

04-21-2008, 11:58 PM	#12
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,346 Images: 1	If you had serviced your ammo like a good soldier, this would not now a problemsky be! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

04-22-2008, 12:03 AM	#13
rondog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 1,330	Heck, I've found a couple of them split BEFORE firing! Looks like a common manufacturing defect. __________________ What she doesn't know about, doesn't piss her off.....

04-22-2008, 12:08 AM	#14
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,346 Images: 1	Like finding a split one in store bought cigarettes. Buyer beware! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

04-22-2008, 04:55 AM	#17
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,213	Is this the Russian ammo in the old yellowed Russian newspaper wrappers? One of my shooting buddies has some of it, and he gets the split cases too. Doesn't happen with my Hungarian Heavy Ball and Czech Silvertip. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

04-22-2008, 07:51 AM	#18
patrick70 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 295	I have noticed some split cases with the bulgarian light ball too.I always look them over before I load them into my rifle.

04-22-2008, 08:39 PM	#20
Ferroflame Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 384	Maybe they were just bad cases? I've got a round here in my pocket that I was about to load into my 91/30 when I noticed it had a significant dent in one side... It eventually split the upper part of the shell. I'm glad I didn't shoot it... probably wouldn't've been safe.