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Cracked cases

BUCKAWHO
I recieved from a friend a large coffee can full of 9mm rounds all fmj lc markings on bottom. dump them out to count and sort and noticed that several maybe a good 2 dozen or more have cracks in them,and mostly from the bottom of can.could the weight from all those bullets cause those cracks? and should they be stored in boxes like how they are shipped? thank you for any and all responses.
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11 comments

Date Votes
  • BUCKAWHO
    Hi....I recently purchased a box of "new old stock" 41 mag Winchester Silvertip ammo. Four of the twenty cartridges have cracked cases at the case mouth. These are original factory loads, not reloaded ammo. Does fireing them create any accuracy or safety problems? Thanks....BT
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  • tsr1965
    Those were designed to be shot as an unadultered casing, without the cracks. I din't think I would want to take the chance of getting a blast of hot gas, and/or debris in my face...but that is just my honest opinion.

    Best
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  • p3skyking
    Over time, cases not properly annealed will develop cracks. In an emergency I would fire them, but barring an emergency, I would not. Cartridge rifle chambers are not designed to have burning powder come into direct contact and all sorts of little problems can arise.
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  • wanted man
    return to sender[;)]
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  • USN_Airdale
    depending on the size of the cracks, i would shoot them and have done so in the past.
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  • jonk
    I've shot a lot of 8mm Mauser ammo that had cracked case necks with no issue. I've also occasionally reloaded a revolver case with a split neck that I didn't notice when sorting cases and fired it, no problem.

    The only 2 concerns are how long the crack is- a 1/16" near the top or less and it should be good to go but if it gets down well into the body, junk it. My rule of thumb would be if the crack is shorter than the bullet- i.e. the bullet protrudes into the case further than does the crack- no problem. The other concern is, uneven neck tension will affect ignition and accuracy. It won't hurt anything but will throw accuracy out the window.

    So that said... for plinking, I'd shoot it but I sure wouldn't count on hitting anything.
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  • BigLoop22
    Good people,

    Could the cracked cases cause a "squib" to get stuck in the barrel? ...or, worse? Here is my train of thought:

    (1.)Cracks cause improper gas seeal, and lots of energy is directed, as escaping gas, at the shooter, causing the bullet to travel only a short distance into the bore of the gun. This creates an obstruction, and (as noted) a direct hazard for the shooter's face.

    (2.)The cracks cause the gunpowder to go stale. In turn, this causes incomplete ingnition, and the bullet never leaves the case mouth, or travels only a short distance into the barrel. This creates an obstruction.

    (3.)The cracked cases cause a slow ignition of the gunpowder/ primer, and you wind up with slow/ eratic burning of the powder charge. After firing, you have to wait a couple of minutes for the gunpowder to burn.

    Those are just a few of my thoughts. Could any of them happen?
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  • cussedemgun
    buckawho,

    By design, the case in ammunition is the gas seal for the rear of the chamber. When the powder starts burning, the case expands to grip the chamber walls & keep the hot gasses plus the pressure/momentum they create moving forward.

    Every day we gamble if only by getting out of bed. Most things in life offer small risks with the promise of great rewards. Look at the ammo you have as a gamble & ask yourself what is to be gained as opposed to what you have to loose.

    You gain; a few minutes of fun
    a few dollars worth of questionable quality ammo

    You could loose; an eye
    a hand
    your firearm

    Plus if you are injured, lost time in healing!

    I wouldn't do it, but then it's your stuff & your GAMBLE!

    Jim
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  • 11b6r
    Clint Eatwood pretty much summed it up-

    "You have to ask yourself- Do I feel lucky? Well... DO YA?"
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  • BUCKAWHO
    Thanks much.....my thoughts....since the cracks don't extend farther into the case than the bullet, I'll shoot them, and crush and discard the empty cases. Again, thanks.....BT
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  • tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by BUCKAWHO
    Thanks much.....my thoughts....since the cracks don't extend farther into the case than the bullet, I'll shoot them, and crush and discard the empty cases. Again, thanks.....BT


    Just be careful. If you hear something that sounds like a pop instead of a bang, check and make sure the barrel is clear, and there is not a bullet lodged in there. Firing another round in there, would at minimum, ruin the 41 magnum pistol, and your day.

    Best
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