Split case 25-06

[catmanran]

I loaded this ammo 35 years ago and it shot in a single hole in my 700 which has been gone for some time.
So I got this new one I been sitting on figure I’d run this ammo through and see if it’s a keeper. Any ideas what happened?

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Excessive headspace in that rifle

 

[greyling]

Any idea if that brass had been reloaded before?

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Any idea if that brass had been reloaded before?

He said it was loaded for a rifle he no longer has. Therefore I believe it’s a headspace issue.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

I would also look at the chamber on new rifle. It could be sloppy.

 

[catmanran]

The brass was reloaded probably once. Hard to remember. I’m going to check the headspace on this encore as soon as I gather what I need. Hopefully just a matter of shimming the bushing

 

[greyling]

He said it was loaded for a rifle he no longer has. Therefore I believe it’s a headspace issue.

While I believe you are right, I've got brass and ammo sitting around that I've loaded many many times, and it is more likely to have a case head separation than brass that has only been loaded once. But generally it fails at the neck before the base. I was just trying to gather more info before we assume a bad rifle.
I wonder if the bolt would close on a factory round with a couple pieces of tape on the case head to approximate a no-go gauge.

 

[catmanran]

I would also look at the chamber on new rifle. It could be sloppy.

The chamber looks clean. I studied up on the encore headspace last night. This frame had a bent firing pin when I bought it some kid had it and he probably worked on it. The firing pin bushing is recessed a touch more than others I have. I ordered what I need to measure and shim. I thought about trying it on another frame but the others are ready to hit the woods. This barrel been sitting here several years, I’m sure I put a scope on it when I got it and put 5 rounds thru likely on a different frame. I don’t remember the brass showing me anything back then. I didn’t like the group and blamed the scope I was trying out.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

While I believe you are right, I've got brass and ammo sitting around that I've loaded many many times, and it is more likely to have a case head separation than brass that has only been loaded once. But generally it fails at the neck before the base. I was just trying to gather more info before we assume a bad rifle.
I wonder if the bolt would close on a factory round with a couple pieces of tape on the case head to approximate a no-go gauge.

All the splits I’ve had were as you’ve said, the necks. When they fail at the case head I’ve always read it’s an indication of excessive headspace. But you’re spot on with the tape method. I’ve used it a few times.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

The chamber looks clean. I studied up on the encore headspace last night. This frame had a bent firing pin when I bought it some kid had it and he probably worked on it. The firing pin bushing is recessed a touch more than others I have. I ordered what I need to measure and shim. I thought about trying it on another frame but the others are ready to hit the woods. This barrel been sitting here several years, I’m sure I put a scope on it when I got it and put 5 rounds thru likely on a different frame. I don’t remember the brass showing me anything back then. I didn’t like the group and blamed the scope I was trying out.

Do you have a Hornady headspace gauge to measure one of those split cases and an unfired case.

 

[catmanran]

Do you have a Hornady headspace gauge to measure one of those split cases and an unfired case.

No I don’t

 

[Pickettpuncher]

No I don’t

You can maybe get by with a 9mm case and use it as gauge. But you won’t get a reading that way if your other ammo is loaded.

 

[catmanran]

You can maybe get by with a 9mm case and use it as gauge. But you won’t get a reading that way if your other ammo is loaded.

I thought I looked at this before but I just tried some sharpie on a loaded round and looks like it’s going.071 into the rifling. I guess that could be my problem?

 

[Pickettpuncher]

I wouldn’t think jamming into the the rifling would cause a case rupture. What do the primers look like

 

[catmanran]

Excessive headspace in that rifle

Well I got the stuff from belm t/c to measure and shim my headspace. .008 in shims installed and I loaded up a few rounds with some light bullets I wanted to try. Everything is good now and a fairly decent group with the few rounds I loaded. Thanks!

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Well I got the stuff from belm t/c to measure and shim my headspace. .008 in shims installed and I loaded up a few rounds with some light bullets I wanted to try. Everything is good now and a fairly decent group with the few rounds I loaded. Thanks!

Glad you got it worked out!