Case head failure

[joem]

Finally happened, a case head failure on my Colt AR 15. Most likely due to a high primer or a weak case. Glad I had my broken shell remover with me.

[Sunray]

A high primer won't tear off or cause the case head to come off. An exceptionally old case or bad headspace will. Not likely the latter.

[4F4Nam]

Yeah, if it was a reload, I would suspect it was finally stretched just a bit too far.

Ed

[StockDoc]

Or, just a plain old cracked case, from over working the brass. Had some that cracked after the first use, think they were of Remington manufacture.

[Jim in Salt Lake]

Measure your chamber, I use one of Mo Defina's gauges on a fired case. Then I adjust my sizing die to size a couple thousandths smaller. Idea is to work the brass only as necessary. Your brass will last a lot longer and you'll trim it a lot less, too. Mo Defina's business is called Mastercraft Sports and you can reach him at 203-775-1013. I don't think he is on the internet.

[joem]

All I shoot is my reloads. I don't really keep track of how many times the cases are reloaded. Almost all my cases are military.

[Major Tom]

When the case head separated, did you get a powder blast? How did the receiver handle the gases? Just curious.

[joem]

When the case head separated, did you get a powder blast? How did the receiver handle the gases? Just curious.

Well it blew the follower, spring and floor plate off. Other than that nothing else happened. After removing the broken shell and wiping down the bolt and carrier it shot fine.

[p246]

Curious if your reloads were very hot. I've been brought two AR's that had case head failures on high mileage reloads. The one that came apart the owner loaded 55 grain stuff near Max pressure. The 2nd one was loaded down and only vented through the magazine like yours, We decided to toss the magazine, found nothing wrong with gun and it kept shooting.

[joem]

Not really hot. Only 1.2 % over max recommended load.

[Matt Anthony]

Not really hot. Only 1.2 % over max recommended load.

Just wondering why your reloads are 1.2% over max recommended load? With temp. variations, your loads could be honestly hotter than you think.
Max loads are published as a guide line and those max loads could be too hot in your weapons. Looking at primers is a very good indication on how hot they are. I know you are a seasoned reloader, just wondering!
Matt

[joem]

There were no signs of over pressure, but I'm sure the brass has been reloaded a uncounted number of times. Most times the necks split first or the base no longer goes into the shell holder, then the case hits the scrap bucket. By the way the load was 24.8 gr while the max published is 24.5 gr.

[p246]

You Missouri boys are always walking just over the line.

Signed Kansas Jayhawker

[mikld]

Anything over a maximum recommended load is considered HOT, by many, many reloaders...

I have only approached max. loads twice, once in my Ruger SBH, and once in my Taurus .357. Neither was accurate nor fun to shoot.

[Hefights]

You Missouri boys are always walking just over the line.

Signed Kansas Jayhawker

No, we're not walkin, we're riden over the line, the Kansas line, after a good raid.

Missouri Rider

Just kidding