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Cracked cases
BUCKAWHO
Member Posts: 966 ✭✭✭✭
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.
Comments
Best
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.
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?
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
"You have to ask yourself- Do I feel lucky? Well... DO YA?"
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