Firing split neck 8mm

Mosin-Marauder · December 27, 2014, 11:03 PM

Hello,

I was test shooting my new Mauser today, and happened to have a bit of a jam, I cleared it and noticed that the next round had a split running almost the entire neck. Now, the first shot I fired out of the rifle, the case split, but this is the only one I've seen where it split before firing, what would have happened if I fired this? Not saying I'm going to, but I just wanna know if I "dodged a bullet" here.

Here is the round.

Thanks,

-Mo.

BOOMST1CK · December 27, 2014, 11:23 PM

I would like to hear from more experienced reloaders, but from what I have read you can flame cut the chamber.

Mosin-Marauder · December 27, 2014, 11:30 PM

What exactly would "flame cutting" be? Keep in mind this is surplus ammo, not my hand loads.

BOOMST1CK · December 27, 2014, 11:56 PM

I am not great at explaining things so you will have to excuse me, but the hot gases will find the crack and try to escape thru the gap instead of following the least resistance down the barrel. Hopefully others will chime in because I would like to know this theory better myself.

Mosin-Marauder · December 27, 2014, 11:58 PM

Okay thank you for your help. I will definitely look over the ammo and sort out any bad ones.

James K · December 28, 2014, 12:12 AM

Neck splits are caused by season cracking, a result of the brass being under tension to grip the bullet. There is no problem as long as the crack doesn't allow the bullet to be pushed back into the case too far or be pulled out of the case if an unfired round is extracted. Obviously, the split case is not reloadable.

There should be little or no gas escape, but ALWAYS wear shooting glasses! ALWAYS!

Jim

JT-AR-MG42 · December 28, 2014, 12:36 AM

I would not really call that a split neck.
A split neck is a vertical (to the case body) split from the mouth straight down the neck due to repeated expansion and contraction, i.e. re-loading.

Most all handloaders eventually experience split necks and none have deep sixed the barrel. Due to any flame cutting?

Have you shot much of the ammo pictured?

The case you showed (Turkish?) has signs of poor annealing indicating very brittle brass.
Big difference from split necks.
I would definitely look over the rest of that lot/case.

Not trying to alarm you, but I would pay attention to fired cases from that lot as they are ejected.

It is possible that the fractured portion of the neck (like the cartridge pictured) could remain in the chamber or even slide into the throat.

Keep those safety glasses on at all times shooting.

JT

mehavey · December 28, 2014, 07:38 AM

Quote:

It is possible that the fractured portion of the neck (like the cartridge
pictured) could remain in the chamber or even slide into the throat.

+1

That's what I was thinking -- that fracture (as opposed to split) pattern was just asking
to get cut loose and lodge in the throat.

Bad juju if it won't let the next round chamber...
Worst juju if it does....

Mosin-Marauder · December 31, 2014, 09:42 PM

Would it hurt if I fired some of them with splits in the neck? Or just toss them and save the bullets?

mehavey · December 31, 2014, 10:47 PM

Pull the bullets....
Don't chance a neck chunk breaking loose/jamming into the throat.

Mosin-Marauder · December 31, 2014, 11:29 PM

Roger that, will do.

December 27, 2014, 11:03 PM	#1
Mosin-Marauder Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,320	Firing split neck 8mm Hello, I was test shooting my new Mauser today, and happened to have a bit of a jam, I cleared it and noticed that the next round had a split running almost the entire neck. Now, the first shot I fired out of the rifle, the case split, but this is the only one I've seen where it split before firing, what would have happened if I fired this? Not saying I'm going to, but I just wanna know if I "dodged a bullet" here. Here is the round. Thanks, -Mo.

December 27, 2014, 11:23 PM	#2
BOOMST1CK Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2014 Posts: 117	I would like to hear from more experienced reloaders, but from what I have read you can flame cut the chamber.

December 27, 2014, 11:30 PM	#3
Mosin-Marauder Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,320	What exactly would "flame cutting" be? Keep in mind this is surplus ammo, not my hand loads.

December 27, 2014, 11:56 PM	#4
BOOMST1CK Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2014 Posts: 117	I am not great at explaining things so you will have to excuse me, but the hot gases will find the crack and try to escape thru the gap instead of following the least resistance down the barrel. Hopefully others will chime in because I would like to know this theory better myself.

December 27, 2014, 11:58 PM	#5
Mosin-Marauder Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,320	Okay thank you for your help. I will definitely look over the ammo and sort out any bad ones.

December 28, 2014, 12:12 AM	#6
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Neck splits are caused by season cracking, a result of the brass being under tension to grip the bullet. There is no problem as long as the crack doesn't allow the bullet to be pushed back into the case too far or be pulled out of the case if an unfired round is extracted. Obviously, the split case is not reloadable. There should be little or no gas escape, but ALWAYS wear shooting glasses! ALWAYS! Jim

December 28, 2014, 12:36 AM	#7
JT-AR-MG42 Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2008 Posts: 558	I would not really call that a split neck. A split neck is a vertical (to the case body) split from the mouth straight down the neck due to repeated expansion and contraction, i.e. re-loading. Most all handloaders eventually experience split necks and none have deep sixed the barrel. Due to any flame cutting? Have you shot much of the ammo pictured? The case you showed (Turkish?) has signs of poor annealing indicating very brittle brass. Big difference from split necks. I would definitely look over the rest of that lot/case. Not trying to alarm you, but I would pay attention to fired cases from that lot as they are ejected. It is possible that the fractured portion of the neck (like the cartridge pictured) could remain in the chamber or even slide into the throat. Keep those safety glasses on at all times shooting. JT

December 31, 2014, 09:42 PM	#9
Mosin-Marauder Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,320	Would it hurt if I fired some of them with splits in the neck? Or just toss them and save the bullets?

December 31, 2014, 10:47 PM	#10
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 7,209	Pull the bullets.... Don't chance a neck chunk breaking loose/jamming into the throat.

December 31, 2014, 11:29 PM	#11
Mosin-Marauder Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,320	Roger that, will do.