Took my 16-4 to the range today. Shot a couple cylinders of Aguila 32 S&W Longs and a couple cylinders of Federal’s .32 H&R magnums 85 gr JHPs. On the first cylinder full everything sounded and felt normal, but when Removing the spent cases I noticed one had split about 2/3 of the case length, starting at the mouth. Don’t recall ever having this happen before. Anyone have this experience?

Thanks

Lou

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213th FBINA

I have it happen a LOT but for me it happens in .327 Federal Mag and not in my 16-4 but in my GP-100. And the .327 Federal runs 45k PSI max while the .32 H&R Mag runs around half that.

So I would say it’s odd and surprising that it happened in newly manufactured factory ammo that runs 20-some thousand PSI Max.

At the same time, it is not something that would concern me unless a bunch of them split the same way.

If that happens, I’d contact Federal about it and hope they send you some freebies.

I would say that there is no safety or damage risk here, other than losing precious brass.

Thanks
Wasn’t really concerned, especially since it didn’t happen again. Just interesting to see it from Federal ammo.
I’ll call federal anyway. Perhaps I can squeeze another box out of them for my pain and suffering.

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213th FBINA

Federal of that era did that - I had it happen with a bunch of .32 Longs. Federal could not have been less helpful to me, and I've greatly decreased my purchasing from their shop as a result. Here's a thread from when it happened:


Displeased with Federal's response after ammo problems

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Now go make God proud...

Erich,

I've had that happen with Winchester White Box in 45ACP,
shot through a US M1917. 48 of 50 fired as they should - last
2 split.

Had the revolver examined - no problems in cylinder Contacted
Winchester. After 2 months of back and forth, sending cases in
for evaluation, they refunded me the current cost of a box of
45 ACP. However I had to accept a disclaimer that the failed
brass was not their fault. I was never given the results of their
testing (They have an independent testing agency separate from
Winchester in St. Louis while their ammo plant is in East Alton
IL) JMHO the brass was not properly annealed.

They took no responsibility at all, and considered the free box
of ammo as gratis. and basically thought I should be grateful for that. Wouldn't buy Winchester ammo again.

I had this same splitting with Federal 32 Mag a few years back. I bought 5 boxes from a friend at a gun show. He'd had the ammo for probably 10 years. Shot it out of a 432PD and about 15% of the cases split out of the 5 boxes. Never had any other brass split through that pistol, not even other boxes of Federal.

Had the same thing happen while shooting a Nagant pistol using Fiocchi ammo, which I have used many times. At least 10 from the box of 50 split. Also shot 50 rounds of Prvi out of the Nagant and no split cases.

I chalk both cases up to bad batches of brass.

The early Federals were known to me to split on factory firing, but not until after I had bought some 10 boxes of their NEW brass. I had to use it up but I never bought any more factory or new brass of theirs. I went with Starline when they came out with it and have NEVER had the problem again. Their brass was just too thin. I also make a shot shell for the caliber, just because I can. It took me a LONG time to get rid of that Federal brass.

I think ATK finally got they're .32 brass problems straightened out. I haven't heard of many of the newer stuff giving trouble.....

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV