...what do you make of this...
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: 7.62 Enfield
Forum Description: All things to do with the 7.62 Enfield
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12649
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 6:03pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: ...what do you make of this...
Posted By: Goosic
Subject: ...what do you make of this...
Date Posted: April 27 2023 at 2:45pm
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Preface: The reload in question has a calculated PSI of just under 40,000 and the headspace was checked prior to and after the issue presented itself. I was extremely grateful that I had a ruptured case extractor with me as well. I went to the range last week to sight in the Faux L8A5T chambered in 7.62x51mm. I took 80 rounds of ammunition with me using Lapua cases that had been used 3 times maybe 4 prior to that day. Everything was going as planned until round #9, with the bullet hitting the target 4 inches above the bullseye. It was when I went to cycle another round that I was met with the case head. No biggie I thought and used the case extractor to get the rest of the case out. It went quickly downhill from there. I had to use the case extractor 54 more times that morning and I could tell instantly when I had a rupture/casehead separation afterwards just by looking at the POI from that particular round. I keep a set of 7.62 go and no-go gauges with me and check the headspacing immediately and found nothing wrong and the only conclusion I can come up with is that since the cases were full length resized using 308W dies, the cases had alot more expanding to do to fill the chamber and as a result caused the case failure. But after only 3 or 4 reloads? It doesn't make since. I'm going back in a couple of weeks and taking new cases just to see if this was an isolated incident. The stock is getting a treatment of Stand Oil for the time being...
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Replies:
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: April 27 2023 at 4:24pm
| Maybe a bad batch of brass? Sounds like there was a consistent case stretch during firing, but why they would separate after only so few reloading seems weird. Especially as you checked headspacing. |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: April 27 2023 at 5:26pm
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Too much set back on the cases when F/L resizing? Measure an unfired one & see what it come out to. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Goosic
Date Posted: April 27 2023 at 8:43pm
| The sizing die is setup accordingly and all the unfired cases check out... |
Posted By: Sapper740
Date Posted: April 28 2023 at 2:01am
| This is a puzzler. From what I have gathered about you already I know you're a competent reloader/shooter so I won't insult you by asking obvious questions. I'm interested as to why you full-length resize instead of just neck sizing. If you have any virgin Lapua brass on hand try the same load and neck sizing to see if you experience the same case failures after a few reloads. |
Posted By: Goosic
Date Posted: April 28 2023 at 8:22am
The only "Virgin" brass I have is Starline .308W. 600 of them to be exact and they have been filled with 42.0grns of IMR4895 and topped with 168grn Sierra MK's replicating the military M852 Match round. If the new Starline brass comes apart then I will have a somewhat clear idea as to why...
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Sapper740 wrote:Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: April 28 2023 at 8:42am
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Not critiquing loading skills just flinging out ideas. Work-hardened brass maybe? Were the cases neck annealed? ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Goosic
Date Posted: April 28 2023 at 9:22am
I cut one in half. I do not see anything wrong with the case...
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Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: April 28 2023 at 4:12pm
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looks fine to me. Can you get a pic of a failed case & head? That's probably where any clues would be lurking. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Goosic
Date Posted: April 28 2023 at 5:11pm
| I threw them all in the trashcan at the range unfortunately... |