Case Separation

[Parashooter]

Next time, do yourself a favor and plug the bore with a size O buckshot then drive the cast out using a one-piece steel rod at least 1/4" in diameter with a flat end polished to remove any burrs. 9/32" or 7mm diameter is better but not as easy to find at the local hardware store. Most cleaning rods are not designed to be driven hard and although a normal chamber cast usually comes out very easily, abnormalities like burrs, corrosion, or case fragments can make it tough, even at the specified 30-minute interval.

[Mark Daiute]

Next time, do yourself a favor and plug the bore with a size O buckshot then drive the cast out using a one-piece steel rod at least 1/4" in diameter with a flat end polished to remove any burrs. 9/32" or 7mm diameter is better but not as easy to find at the local hardware store. Most cleaning rods are not designed to be driven hard and although a normal chamber cast usually comes out very easily, abnormalities like burrs, corrosion, or case fragments can make it tough, even at the specified 30-minute interval.

I was thinking brass rod, but I bet steel will be easier to come by. I forged ahead with the cleaning rod knowing what I was doing, patience being in short supply. No excuses. I knew it was stupid. I learned a lot on this one.

I figure a steel or brass rod will reside near the reloading bench from here on out.

[Mark Daiute]

Mark - You should post the 'outcome' on the KCA site. Several people responded to your post there with different ideas and were never acknowledged.

Any theory on what contributed to the 'neck separation'? A photo of the case parts would be interesting.

I'll respond to the KCA as soon as I get to my computer with the password on it!

I have no idea why the kneck broke off. It was forward of the shoulder leaving a couple mm of the neck ahead of the shoulder on the case when I extracted the case.

[Griff Murphey]

I bought a 96 Krag carbine 39 years ago and when I got it home realized that it was plugged with part of a bullet and case. I think someone had tried to fire a .45 LC or .44-40 or similar. I could not hammer it out. I poured Hoppes No. 9 into the muzzle and let it sit. A week passed, no results. Poured the old Hoppes out and added new. Another week passed... I took it to an old retired Air Force Colonel who did gunsmithing in his garage. He put a rod in it and the bullet fragment fell out easily.

Granted, not the same as a case.

But Hoppes would dissolve some brass, and should make a case easier to tap out with a rod, I think. Of course you would need to cork up the breech to soak a case with enough Hoppes.

Used to have a Jungle Carbine that would fracture cases. A new or near new brush on a rod would get them out.

[Tom Trevor]

Glad it worked out for you. I should have expanded on the" few minutes" part of my post as you found out it does expand.

[Mark Daiute]

Glad it worked out for you. I should have expanded on the" few minutes" part of my post as you found out it does expand.

experience is a great teacher and I'll not make the mistake twice.