Hi-Power Jack Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Out of 40,000 9mm Major rounds, I've had three (3) split on me - two were WW, and I suspect the third was also WW. I had just had my gun worked on by a gunsmith, and had three of these splits in succession - about 3-4 years ago - none since. The gun, and I, were unharmed - lots of smoke/grit but no injuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beastly Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Over many tens of thousands of rounds I've had a case rupture a little bit right at the area where the chamber is less supported 3 times. It spit a little material back at me but wasn't that big a deal. IIRC 2 of the 3 were WCC head stamps and I have since increased my OAL a bit. I suspect a number of cases may have a split on firing but it's hard to know for sure if those cases were mine or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miranda Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 I'll see If I can find a case that failed my inspections. and post a photo. it is good to see it. miranda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
accu9 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Like others have said, I shoot it until it splits or the primer pockets become too loose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thompsoncustom Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 I've had complete head case separation on a few loaded really hot and some garbage foreign brass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targetpractice Posted March 18, 2016 Author Share Posted March 18, 2016 Out of 40,000 9mm Major rounds, I've had three (3) split on me - two were WW, and I suspect the third was also WW. I had just had my gun worked on by a gunsmith, and had three of these splits in succession - about 3-4 years ago - none since. The gun, and I, were unharmed - lots of smoke/grit but no injuries. when you say ww, is that winchester white box by chance? In the past week I found 3 split cases in my brass box. All 3 were stamped win Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Absocold Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 I buy fully processed and ready to load NATO brass (no need to sort for headstamp or stepped brass) for three cents each and just leave them lay. It's the only reason to shoot 9mm. If you're going to pick up your brass you may as well go 38super unless you're shooting a metric assload of ammo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rancher5 Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 I load countless times until they split.Considering most ,all 9mm major guns have a fully supported chamber,what possibly could go wrong , LOL, no seriously Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooldylocks Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 (edited) I buy fully processed and ready to load NATO brass (no need to sort for headstamp or stepped brass) for three cents each and just leave them lay. It's the only reason to shoot 9mm. If you're going to pick up your brass you may as well go 38super unless you're shooting a metric assload of ammo.Because I can get it for free off the ground? I come home from pretty much every single local match with more brass than I left with, because so many people either just let it lay or don't reload. But then again I don't mind picking up brass, unless it's really nasty weather.Also shooting lost brass matches makes a big difference if you are shooting starline supercomp brass vs 9mm off the ground. Edited March 19, 2016 by Gooldylocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrb06 Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 I have tracked a specific batch of 9 major brass (300 pieces) and have loaded it 7 times so far and It has shown no apparent signs of problems. Not sure how many more times I will load it but it has lasted this long. Load has all been 124 MG and 125 Zero over 7.2 Auto Comp 1.165 COL Brass has been mix of Win, RP, Speer, and Blazer just for comparison looking for problems. Gun is a STI 9 major Nowlin barrel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beastly Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 I've become a relatively high volume shooter and like having a couple of YEARS of fully processed brass (cleaned, decapped, resized, swaged and U-die re-sized), all that I picked up for free, just ready and waiting to be loaded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miranda Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 I may have sent the case I wanted to share off with a brass artist. he teaches and makes sculptures. I digress... the case was a WIN headstamp and had a rupture between the bottom of the extraction groove and the 'end' of the groove cut about a quarter inch wide... I doubt I'd have noticed it if I had not polished the case. the case would have failed in the next firing. It is a place to inspect. miranda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HydraSports Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 I have kept count and reloaded and shot 9mm major up to 5 times with no issues, never went past that though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustybayonet Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 Keep it till it cracks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theWacoKid Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 (edited) If it passes inspection and case gauges I will shoot it. Inspection means no splits, cracks, or stepped cases (Ammoload, IMT, FM). Case gauge means no bulges or splits. I also stay vigilant for loose primer pockets. Normally, split mouth cases that get through the loading process won't case gauge. However, small splits can get all the way through and I've fired these rounds without incident. The guy that did the test on 9mm brass longevity found that most all failures ended up being case mount splits and cracks (happens during the loading process or firing) and when this happened during firing it was unnoticeable that it had occurred. I think in these instances the brass simply gives up, but everything is still contained normally by the chamber. This is how life ends for normal 9mm brass. The worst failures seem to be complete case separations and blown out bases which is why we use fully supported chambers and cull stepped cases and stuff that has been badly bulged. Edited March 24, 2016 by theWacoKid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beastly Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 I'm still looking for a reason to cull stepped cases for 9Minor. Haven't found one yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targetpractice Posted March 25, 2016 Author Share Posted March 25, 2016 What's the reasoning for not keeping the stepped brass for major? Is it because it takes up room for the powder or because it's weaker in some way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 Happened my first week with a 2011, but hasn't happened again. I don't bother sorting brass, once I put them in a box I just pick out the stepped brass headstamps and shoot them in practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theWacoKid Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 (edited) What's the reasoning for not keeping the stepped brass for major? Is it because it takes up room for the powder or because it's weaker in some way? I would say both. I learned through others with this one after seeing so many documented instances of the stepped brass failures. Whatever the reason, it is a trend and includes minor and major loads. It's just poor brass for reloaders. Edited March 25, 2016 by theWacoKid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beastly Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 I've reloaded a bunch of it - no problems - yet. Haven't picked up any separated cases like this either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targetpractice Posted March 25, 2016 Author Share Posted March 25, 2016 Happened my first week with a 2011, but hasn't happened again. I don't bother sorting brass, once I put them in a box I just pick out the stepped brass headstamps and shoot them in practice. were those major loads? Primer looks pretty flat. I've used a lot of stepped brass for minor. My minor loads are pretty light though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 Yes major Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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