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Winchester 92 Head Space Problem?

kevind6
I have a Winchester 1892 SRC circa 1914 in 25-20 that I suspect has a head space problem. About every third factory load or first time reloaded brass splits along the length of the case when fired. When I reload cases that have already been shot through the rifle, the ratio of split brass drops to about 1 in 10. I've closely examined the chamber area of the barrel and see no sign of a crack or other damage to the barrel. I assume the cracking is the result of improper seating of the tapered 25-20 case.

My question is can a head space problem in a Winchester 1892 be fixed short replacing the barrel? Any help would be appreciated.

Edit 1: Thanks for everyones responses.....I guess head spacing isn't my probem.

I haven't been using any old brass since I've aquired the gun, everything I've shot is either new Remington factory loads or new Winchester brass. I did notice the Winchester brass are slightly less likely to split.

I did look at the bolt face as v35 recommended, though I didn't tear into it as he suggested. The ejector and the lower part do appear to be on the same plane. For comparison, I looked at it side by side with a Browning 92 I also have, and they look identical. It does cycle and eject spent cases normally if that is any indication.

When I reload the uncracked cases, I backed my dies off so I don't do any resizing of the brass. I shoot primarily cast bullets that seat easy and all I do is crimp them into place. These fire formed brass still crack, but as I mentioned earlier the ratio drops quite a bit from about 1 in 3 to about 1 in 10-15 cases.

If the chamber itself is out of spec, what would cause that?? I assume it never left the Winchester factory with an oversized chamber. There is some minor pitting inside the barrel, but nothing to suggest that corrosion could have caused an enlarged chamber.

Again, I appreciate your help.
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • perry shooter
    Head space does not cause a split case length wise it may split just in front of the web area just ahead of the primer flash hole.But the crack/split will be around the circumference . Brittle brass splits length wise. Storage condition and age can also cause brass to become brittle.

    EDIT #1 once you fire a case and it does not Split this would be a very good time to anneal the case. Unless the case has a defect brittle brass can be saved. Once annealed it is MUCH LESS likely to split You might have to do this every 4 o5 times you load as Brass gets brittle with age
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  • 62fuelie
    This round headspaces on the rim so I can't imagine that causing the case splits. I sounds like there may be a dimension problem with the chamber itself. Have you miked a fired case that didn't split and compared it to the SAAMI specs?

    Edit: If the chamber has some rough spots or pits in it it may not be allowing the brass to expand smoothly and the friction may cause the case to stop flowing at that point and the other side of the split kept moving causing the split (SWAG). If you mark or otherwise orient the cases to tell if the splits are occurring at the same point this may point to the problem in the chamber.
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by 62fuelie
    This round headspaces on the rim so I can't imagine that causing the case splits. I sounds like there may be a dimension problem with the chamber itself. Have you miked a fired case that didn't split and compared it to the SAAMI specs?


    Correct!
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  • v35
    Half the breechface on the 92 is the ejector.
    If the ejector is not flush with the other half you have the condition
    where a case base is only half supported and longitudinal case splitting may occur.
    If you take the bolt out and remove the ejector spring, this can be checked.
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  • TRAP55
    quote:Originally posted by perry shooter
    Head space does not cause a split case length wise it may split just in front of the web area just ahead of the primer flash hole.But the crack/split will be around the circumference . Brittle brass splits length wise. Storage condition and age can also cause brass to become brittle.

    My first thought too.
    What brand of brass are you using, and are you annealing before reloading?
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  • v35
    I misread your problem as case separation in two longitudinal halves but on rereading I see you're seeing case splits.
    This sounds like bad brass, oversize chamber or both.
    Good brass will expand considerably without splitting.
    I'd measure fired brass at the neck, shoulder, base in front of the rim and the distance from base to shoulder with a micrometer and compare it
    with unfired brass dimensions.
    I had the same problem with Remington 45LC brass in an early new 2nd Gen SAA Colt. The brass was folded head style and undersize for the Colt oversized, tapered chamber.
    Remington took my fired brass and exchanged it for loaded solid head ammo.
    Colt, who said they used the exact same chamber dimensions since 1873, sent me a letter several years later stating they had changed chamber dimensions. That I still have and reload that replacement brass means the problem was really in the original brass.
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  • bpost
    Take a Cerrosafe casting of the chamber and measure it for correct dimensions.
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  • SP45
    are you using very early ammo. prior to 1930 the brass was not annealed or softened and many tomes the brass will stress crack without being fired. you can see this on early 30-40 amd 06 ammo especially prior to WWI.
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