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Cracked neck- worst case scenario?

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Chattffl View Drop Down
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    Posted: July 31 2018 at 6:18pm
I recently purchased a crate of 1942 mk8 Z ammo (SR factory). I have noticed a few rounds with cracks around the neck and shoulder. The ones I can easily spot I'm tossing in to a dud box, but what danger could I potentially encounter if I were to fire one of these cartridges? Blow the entire weapon up or just a smoky situation?

I cleaned the one in the photo with a scotch-brite so the crack would show up.

Thoughts on this? I'm NOT a reloader, so these will most likely not ever be reloaded.

Thanks!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stanforth Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2018 at 1:47am
If it was me, I would ask for my money back as it is unfit for purpose.
Failing that, as a reloader, I would pull the bullets and use the components.
 
First rule with ammunition... WHEN IN DOUBT, DONT USE IT.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hoadie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2018 at 3:23am
Where did you find this stuff?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bear43 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2018 at 3:46am
I used to come across cracked necks with Turkish 8mm ammo back when I was collecting Mausers. I would never use them and I would recommend you not use any of these with cracked necks. Main reason is if you put some side pressure on that bullet it will loosen up in the neck. Imagine that happening when cycling a round.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2018 at 5:32am
Sorry, even though the L-E design handles gas leaks very well I'd not risk it. Its defective send it back.
Its also not a good idea to use Mk8Z in a rifle, that's designed for use in a machine gun. Correct ammo for a rifle is Mk7.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2018 at 7:20am
Send it back or toss it. I just went thru the same thing. Bought 400 rounds cheap. About 25% had some defect after shooting, with a couple of case separations. Got rid of the entire bunch and replaced with PPU and Hornady brass.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MJ11 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2018 at 8:03am
The 174g bullet itself is worth $.75 + Pull and sell if you don't load yourself.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote englishman_ca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2018 at 11:37am
I had a bunch of 1950s Radway Green ammo. Every single one cracked in the neck on firing and looked like that.

Brittle with age I figured. But mil spec ammo was designed to be a one shot and toss the brass anyway. I stopped firing the stuff and relegated it to display.

In a good quality and condition cartridge, the body will expand and make a gas seal, the base will stretch out a bit. all good.
But since this one has an obvious problem with the ductility of the brass at the neck, it would make me wonder about the rest of it. If brittle in the body, it might split or separate at the base. 

I inspect every round of ammunition that I fire and just would not chamber a round with an obvious defect.

Let us know how the rest of the case works out for you. Most Mk.VIII ammo will not shoot well in rifles that have fired cordite due to the increased lead from erosion. The boat tail bullet will compound the problem with blow by and gas cutting in the throat. Rapid wear of your barrel and probably poor accuracy.
However, some rifles love the stuff, most dont.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stanforth Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2018 at 11:52am
It's not for nothing that MK8Z is known as 'Bore Buster'.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2018 at 2:19pm
"SR"

Royal Ordnance Factory, Spennymoor, Durham, UK. This factory was part of the 1939-45 war emergency expansion plan. It began production of .303 Ammunition in 1941 initially with the headstamp code of two arrows replacing these in 1942 with the code SR. The Spennymoor Ammunition was filled at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Aycliffe, Durham. Types... B, MK7, MK8Z, IBMK6, IBMK6Z, IBMK7, IBMK7Z,LTBLK (Mk5) were manufactured."

I'd actually be curious to see that bullet pulled & photographed! Its supposed to be a stepped boat tail, but I've never actually seen one! (You can probably wiggle it out with your fingers with the split neck.)

Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chattffl Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2018 at 5:02pm
Here you go. A bit blurry, but best I could get without my Nikon :-)

I fired the primers only in these I pulled. Very weak. A strike anywhere match has more power.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2018 at 6:04pm
id not shoot it if it were me - anymore i always er on the side of caution , hope you get your mony back or recover most of it in one way or another 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stanforth Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 02 2018 at 2:06am
30 years ago I fired a round that I was a little uncertain about.
I still have metal in my arm where the barrel and breech exploded. Not an Enfield by the way.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hoadie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 02 2018 at 3:20am
Given the scarcity of mil-surp ammo, I'll ask again:

Where did you get this stuff?
Loose wimmen tightened here
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chattffl Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 02 2018 at 4:46am
Southern Ohio Gun
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 02 2018 at 5:38am
Thanks for the pics.
Beer
That step is way smaller than I expected from descriptions & drawings.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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