Split 30-06 cases what's the cause likely to be?!
- Thread starter stratts
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bewsher500
Well-Known Member
More info required
your loads? 2nd hand brass, how many firings?
splits at the head/webbing are usually overly worked brass with lots of firings and the thinning of that area as a result.
whatever he cause ditch that brass and either buy new or better quality
your loads? 2nd hand brass, how many firings?
splits at the head/webbing are usually overly worked brass with lots of firings and the thinning of that area as a result.
whatever he cause ditch that brass and either buy new or better quality
palmer_mike
Well-Known Member
Think stratts said on another thread that they were factory rounds (correct me if i'm wrong tho).
Yep factory rounds bought Friday from the gunshop mate!! 1st time in a rifle!!
On closer inspection all 9 rounds fired show signs of stress in the same place and 3 others are almost split the same!!
What I've read about these rounds they give an extra 100-200 fps against their standard round, so maybe the brass can't handle it?? Only bought em coz only ones the gunshop had but they had to hunt in the depths for the box with em in!!
On closer inspection all 9 rounds fired show signs of stress in the same place and 3 others are almost split the same!!
What I've read about these rounds they give an extra 100-200 fps against their standard round, so maybe the brass can't handle it?? Only bought em coz only ones the gunshop had but they had to hunt in the depths for the box with em in!!
Stopping is the right thing to do. Take your rifle and ammunition to a professional and let them investigate the issue. Regards JCS
Be very very surprised if the rifle has any faults it was gifted to me from a thoroughly decent chap on here!!
Needs checking though I agree.
How would the rounds make the rifle react if they are faulty? I was expecting a sharp kick but the bipod jumped off the deck and even though I'm a noob to unmoderated full bore rifles, I had no chance of keeping an eye on the impact due to the level of recoil. Or is this normal for this kind of rifle?
Cheers
Needs checking though I agree.
How would the rounds make the rifle react if they are faulty? I was expecting a sharp kick but the bipod jumped off the deck and even though I'm a noob to unmoderated full bore rifles, I had no chance of keeping an eye on the impact due to the level of recoil. Or is this normal for this kind of rifle?
Cheers
csl
Administrator
Yep, get it checked out. Get him to check the headspace on the rifle too, it might be a little long....
Stratts
+ 1 on what saddler says. Get both ammo & rifle measured by a competent riflesmith before firing it again.
The inspection of the rifle shouldn't cost you much (if anything) - with the right knowledge & gauges it's just a few minutes work & I'm sure someone on the forum can advise you what it should cost to rectify it if it is found to be needed.
It looks like you have a good neck seal on the fired cases (no soot) so I'd put money on it being an excessive headspace issue.
On firing, the case would initially be pushed to the front of the chamber by the firing pin. Then the case neck & front end has obturated into the chamber as it should and sealed it whilst providing a very strong grip against the chamber front end. The excessive clearance behind the case allows the back end of the case to be pushed back by the pressure giving you case head separation before it was stopped by the bolt.
Please let us know the outcome of the inspection.
On the subject of recoil. Welcome to the world of the high muzzle energy! A 30-06 will leap about a bit when on a bipod & you need to develop a firmer hold than you have been used to. Pull it into your shoulder more with the pistol grip (3 fingers) & grip the fore stock checkering, pulling back & a bit downwards (not too heavily - you're not trying to bend the rifle!!). Alternatively learn to use a sling like target shooters do. And / or shoot lighter bullets - 125 or 130 grain bullets cause less recoil than the 150 grain ones you've shot so far and will kill any UK game very well.
Ian
+ 1 on what saddler says. Get both ammo & rifle measured by a competent riflesmith before firing it again.
The inspection of the rifle shouldn't cost you much (if anything) - with the right knowledge & gauges it's just a few minutes work & I'm sure someone on the forum can advise you what it should cost to rectify it if it is found to be needed.
It looks like you have a good neck seal on the fired cases (no soot) so I'd put money on it being an excessive headspace issue.
On firing, the case would initially be pushed to the front of the chamber by the firing pin. Then the case neck & front end has obturated into the chamber as it should and sealed it whilst providing a very strong grip against the chamber front end. The excessive clearance behind the case allows the back end of the case to be pushed back by the pressure giving you case head separation before it was stopped by the bolt.
Please let us know the outcome of the inspection.
On the subject of recoil. Welcome to the world of the high muzzle energy! A 30-06 will leap about a bit when on a bipod & you need to develop a firmer hold than you have been used to. Pull it into your shoulder more with the pistol grip (3 fingers) & grip the fore stock checkering, pulling back & a bit downwards (not too heavily - you're not trying to bend the rifle!!). Alternatively learn to use a sling like target shooters do. And / or shoot lighter bullets - 125 or 130 grain bullets cause less recoil than the 150 grain ones you've shot so far and will kill any UK game very well.
Ian
bewsher500
Well-Known Member
that has to be faulty brass/ammo or more than just headspace!
I have seen a few rifles with excessive headspace and whilst they normally blow a primer out I have never seen virgin brass split at the webbing like that, even high MV loads
what brand?
what do the case heads and primers look like?
wouldn't worry too much about seeing bullet strike.
when your sight picture returns the dead thing at 100yds is usually the thing you shot!
I have seen a few rifles with excessive headspace and whilst they normally blow a primer out I have never seen virgin brass split at the webbing like that, even high MV loads
what brand?
what do the case heads and primers look like?
wouldn't worry too much about seeing bullet strike.
when your sight picture returns the dead thing at 100yds is usually the thing you shot!
Brithunter
Well-Known Member
First things first ................................ junk the Bi-Pod ............................. or your going to split the stock.. I did mention this before!
Due to the lightening measures BSA did on these the stock in the fore end is very light and thin. Even heavy use with a sling can pull the swivel loose but a bi-pod will rip it out in no time at all. The photos are of an old repair done to a 270 I picked up, it's the one that is now the .280 AI, these rifles were not meant to be used off a bi-pod. One wonders how our forebears managed to hunt so much and so many species so well with out a bi-pod?
Now to the split cases ..................................... I have on hand a number of commercial once fired 30-06 brass that can be full length sized. We can then load a test batch and you can fire them through the BSA and then we can measure and compare the cases and the base to shoulder length and check that everything is as it should be.
I am thinking that the Americans may have skimped the annealing a bit what with the demand right no on supplies. BUT it needs to be checked out to make sure that is the case.
Due to the lightening measures BSA did on these the stock in the fore end is very light and thin. Even heavy use with a sling can pull the swivel loose but a bi-pod will rip it out in no time at all. The photos are of an old repair done to a 270 I picked up, it's the one that is now the .280 AI, these rifles were not meant to be used off a bi-pod. One wonders how our forebears managed to hunt so much and so many species so well with out a bi-pod?
Now to the split cases ..................................... I have on hand a number of commercial once fired 30-06 brass that can be full length sized. We can then load a test batch and you can fire them through the BSA and then we can measure and compare the cases and the base to shoulder length and check that everything is as it should be.
I am thinking that the Americans may have skimped the annealing a bit what with the demand right no on supplies. BUT it needs to be checked out to make sure that is the case.
Case heads and primers look as I would expect to see them mate (even though a noob!) no soot marks, perfect round pin mark dead center of primer.
Hornady Superformance 150gr SST
Linky Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Rifle :: Choose by Caliber :: 30-06 SPRG :: 30-06 Springfield 150 gr SST® Superformance®
Hornady Superformance 150gr SST
Linky Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Rifle :: Choose by Caliber :: 30-06 SPRG :: 30-06 Springfield 150 gr SST® Superformance®
bewsher500
Well-Known Member
very odd
is the primer raised at all?
can you feel the edge with your thumb nail?
what does the edge of the primer look like where it touches the pocket?
I'll have to check when I get home mate and report back with some pics.
Spoke to the gunshop just now and I was the 1st person to have a box of this ammo from the batch they got from Edgar Bros. They are gonna ring them to see if there have been any other reported issues
Spoke to the gunshop just now and I was the 1st person to have a box of this ammo from the batch they got from Edgar Bros. They are gonna ring them to see if there have been any other reported issues
Just a note on Hornady Superformance, purchased 5 boxes of 95gr SST for my sons .243 fired 9 rounds
and everyone had extractor marks on case and produced a stiff bolt, although nothing as
extreme as case seperation.
Remedy, returned remainder of boxes to RFD and swapped for Sako 90gr Gameheads no more problems.
Hope this helps,
Martin
and everyone had extractor marks on case and produced a stiff bolt, although nothing as
extreme as case seperation.
Remedy, returned remainder of boxes to RFD and swapped for Sako 90gr Gameheads no more problems.
Hope this helps,
Martin
Brithunter
Well-Known Member
Ok Brit I saw your post about the bipod but never quite understood your meaning, it's off now never to return to it!
I guess it's worth finding out the loads Sikadog used, etc, and I'll pay for the stuff and your time to do the technical bit if you like!
Whilst I cannot really hand load for you I will show you how to do so yourself you can even borrow the stuff needed to do so.
Brithunter
Well-Known Member
Reading or trying rather to read pressures from primer appearance is futile here. Especially when there is no known normal reference for the shooter to compare them too in this rifle.
Thanks mate is it 'technically' not legal for one person to home load for anothers rifle? Just curious!
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