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Boweevil23 · November 9, 2010, 01:05 PM

New member here, first post, please bear with me.
When I quit competeing in NRA across-the-course High Power rifle matches almost 20 years ago, I had several hundred loaded cartridges of various loads and just left them in my reloading shed. All 308, mostly loaded with 168 gr Sierra BTHP, 40.5 gr of 4895, Win primers, Federal brass. Bolt gun, rapid fire ammo. All twice reloaded, full length re-sized in between loadings. All always shot in the same bolt gun (Rem 700 with Douglas barrell). The gun chamber measures "0" with a "Moe's" guage and I was resizeing to "-.002".
I decided to put my target scope on the gun and do some informal target shooting. While at the range and in the process of sighting in the scope I shot seven rounds without looking at the fired brass, only concentrating on the target and scope sdjustments. As I took the eighth round out I happened to glance at it and the complete neck was gone. I then examined the preceeding seven and on each the neck had split lengthwise all the way from the mouth to the shoulder, some had two splits. Some had also split horizontally partially around the neck/shoulder juncture. Luckily when I raised the muzzle of the rifle the missing case neck fell out of the chamber.
I have loaded and fired many thousand rounds of this same load combination and never had so much as a missfire. The only variable I can think of is the ammo being stored in an uncontrolled environment for almost 20 years.
Has anyone had a similar experience or have any thoughts on what might have caused these case necks to split? Does the work hardned necks, plus summer heat/winter cold, plus 20 years of age equate to some referance that I have not read? Thanks to all you experts in advance.

November 9, 2010, 01:05 PM	#1
Boweevil23 Junior Member Join Date: November 9, 2010 Location: Sylvester, GA. Posts: 11	308 case Necks Splitting New member here, first post, please bear with me. When I quit competeing in NRA across-the-course High Power rifle matches almost 20 years ago, I had several hundred loaded cartridges of various loads and just left them in my reloading shed. All 308, mostly loaded with 168 gr Sierra BTHP, 40.5 gr of 4895, Win primers, Federal brass. Bolt gun, rapid fire ammo. All twice reloaded, full length re-sized in between loadings. All always shot in the same bolt gun (Rem 700 with Douglas barrell). The gun chamber measures "0" with a "Moe's" guage and I was resizeing to "-.002". I decided to put my target scope on the gun and do some informal target shooting. While at the range and in the process of sighting in the scope I shot seven rounds without looking at the fired brass, only concentrating on the target and scope sdjustments. As I took the eighth round out I happened to glance at it and the complete neck was gone. I then examined the preceeding seven and on each the neck had split lengthwise all the way from the mouth to the shoulder, some had two splits. Some had also split horizontally partially around the neck/shoulder juncture. Luckily when I raised the muzzle of the rifle the missing case neck fell out of the chamber. I have loaded and fired many thousand rounds of this same load combination and never had so much as a missfire. The only variable I can think of is the ammo being stored in an uncontrolled environment for almost 20 years. Has anyone had a similar experience or have any thoughts on what might have caused these case necks to split? Does the work hardned necks, plus summer heat/winter cold, plus 20 years of age equate to some referance that I have not read? Thanks to all you experts in advance.