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Split cases

mowart
I'm shooting 38 S&W surplus ammo. Head stamp has a "FN" at 12:00, "*" at 3:00 and "380 2Z" at 6:00. The pistol is a 5 shot S&W, 4" barrel, in excellent condition. However about every 20-30 rounds, I end up with a split cartridge case. Comments?
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • dcon12
    Stop at 19 rounds. Don

    I respect the truth too much to bring it out on every occasion.

    The biggest regret of my life is the number of temptations I've resisted successfully.
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  • richbug
    Is it always the same chamber that the case splits in? Use a magic marker to keep track. Could be an oversize chamber, or brittle brass.

    .
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  • rufe-snow
    It would help if you were more specific on which model S & W revolver you have, i.e. either photos, or physical description of mechanism and "ALL" markings.

    The ammo your using, ( from the headstamp data ), "APPEARS" to be military ammo made specifically for 38 S& W, "not 38 Special" revolvers still used by the British Commonwealth Countries/India.

    These were/are very strong, 6 shot modern revolvers made by S & W & Colt & Ruger.

    If your revolver is a old "Top-Break", 5 shot, S & W chambered for the U.S. manufactured 38 S & W Cartridge, there "MIGHT" be either dimensional or compatibility problems using the foreign, Belgian produced FN military ammo in it?

    The U.S. manufactured 38 S & W cartridge was originally produced in the 19th Century as a cartridge loaded with "Black Powder",i.e. very low pressure. The modern ammo still available from U.S. manufacturers still reflects this, even though their now loaded with smokeless powder.

    I believe if you try some of this modern U.S. produced ammo in your revolver, your problems with split cases will disappear.

    luger_4.jpg
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  • oldammo
    Hello, You need to find out what your gun is chambered for. The bullet diameter for a .380 revolver is .375 and the 38 S&W is .359 along with other dimensional differances.

    Old Ammo, have lots always looking for more. Questions email aflower@epix.net
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  • mowart
    This is a post WWII gun that seems in excellent shape.

    The square butt gun has what appears to be the original wooden grips with the silver S&W logo. The number on the bottom of the butt is "R59377".

    The left side has "SMITH & WESSON" on the barrel, and the S&W trademark on the body. Under the grip is "29144" to the front and "G4" toward the rear.

    The right side has ".38 S & W CTG" on the barrel and "MADE IN USA, MARCAS REGISTRADAS, SMITH & WESSON, SPRINGFIELD, MASS" on the body. Under the grip is "B" within a circle and "K" within a triangle.
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  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by mowart
    This is a post WWII gun that seems in excellent shape.

    The square butt gun has what appears to be the original wooden grips with the silver S&W logo. The number on the bottom of the butt is "R59377".

    The left side has "SMITH & WESSON" on the barrel, and the S&W trademark on the body. Under the grip is "29144" to the front and "G4" toward the rear.

    The right side has ".38 S & W CTG" on the barrel and "MADE IN USA, MARCAS REGISTRADAS, SMITH & WESSON, SPRINGFIELD, MASS" on the body. Under the grip is "B" within a circle and "K" within a triangle.




    According to the S & W book, your revolver is a ".38 Regulation Police" that was manufactured between 1970 & 1973.

    This is a high quality revolver that shouldn't have a problem with spliting cases.

    The only two factors that could cause this problem, that I can see are.

    1), The FN surplus military ammo is to hotly loaded in brass that is smaller in diameter then normal US manufactured, 38 S & W ammo.

    2), Since your revolver is a late production piece that was built on a J frame, not the earlier I frame. A previous owner had the charge holes in the cylinder reamed out to accept 38 Special Ammo. This change in internal dimensions MIGHT? have caused the splitting in the hotly loaded military surplus ammo.

    luger_4.jpg
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  • mowart
    Thanks for all the info so far.

    I just tried an A-MERC 38 special cateridge in all five chambers. It wouldn't go in the last 1/3 " or so.

    I guess it's the ammo or one oversized chamber then.

    Any reason to stop shooting the ammo in this gun? I could use it up in a Webley MKIV, (war finish) instead.

    Thanks again
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  • mowart
    Thanks for all the info so far.

    I just tried an A-MERC 38 special cateridge in all five chambers. It wouldn't go in the last 1/3 " or so.

    I guess it's the ammo or one oversized chamber then.

    Any reason to stop shooting the ammo in this gun? I could use it up in a Webley MKIV, (war finish) instead.

    Thanks again
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  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by mowart
    Thanks for all the info so far.

    I just tried an A-MERC 38 special cateridge in all five chambers. It wouldn't go in the last 1/3 " or so.

    I guess it's the ammo or one oversized chamber then.

    Any reason to stop shooting the ammo in this gun? I could use it up in a Webley MKIV, (war finish) instead.

    Thanks again



    It very well might be a one oversize chamber as you suggest. I use to have a Model 34, ( 22 L.R. ), that was made during the early Bangor Punta era, circa late 60's, early 70's. The chambers were so rough in the cylinder that I had trouble extracting and ejecting, fired cases. The quality control control seemed to have deterioated markedly, during that era.

    luger_4.jpg
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  • Contender Man
    Hi,

    While the 38 S&W is a larger diameter case and bullet it is shorter than the 38 Special.

    What you have is a fairly late-model 33 (aka Regulation Police), and you've laready been given the date range for it's mfg.

    I've seen a number of revolvers in 38 S&W (38/200) that have had the cylinders bored deeper to take the 38 Special cartridge. And in many of them case splitting is not uncommon, plus their accuracy is poor.

    I would suggest that you get a gunsmith to check the cylinder out as there may be a flaw in it. Or it might just be a mfg. error that has no safety implication other than the occassional case split. However, if there is a flaw that problem cylinder could let go and that could be an ugly thing.

    Hopefully you saved one of the split cases so you can take it in with the revolver. If not, I don't recommend that you fire it again to create a split case.

    Lastly you could take in some of the surplus ammo and have it checked for proper dimensions ... but I would think that if it was the ammo being off spec. you would see your porblem in more than just the one cylinder.

    If your going to err, please do it on the side of safety and get the revolver/cylinder checked out.

    You mention you have a Webley ... any problems with the surplus ammo in that revolver ... if not then that's another vote toward a problem w/ your Smith.


    9407288-Ti.jpg

    If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
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  • perry shooter
    Hello AT my age I may well be missing a point but If you are useing 38 S&W ammo and if the 38 special will not chamber then your shell 38 S&W is the one that is the larger of the 2 in your pistol. Split cases would be from what I suspect is defective brass.Buy a box of new ammo and if even one case splits I will eat crow. "PRAISE THE HARD-BALL GUN".
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