Gas Leak?

[reerc]

Anyone else experience this? It looks to me like some of the explosive gas (more than I would have expected) "leaked" back onto the casings.

Here's what they look like unfired:

And here's what they were fired from:

I haven't shot a gazillion kinds of ammo with this SP101, but this Hornady Leverrevolution is the only and first one that I've noticed this phenomenon with. Is this brass just small enough to allow the gasses to "leak" backwards, or could something else be going on?

Thanks folks.

 

[reerc]

Anyone else experience this? It looks to me like some of the explosive gas (more than I would have expected) "leaked" back onto the casings.

Here's what they look like unfired:

And here's what they were fired from:

I haven't shot a gazillion kinds of ammo with this SP101, but this Hornady Leverrevolution is the only and first one that I've noticed this phenomenon with. Is this brass just small enough to allow the gasses to "leak" backwards, or could something else be going on?

Thanks folks.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

I have experienced the same thing when using less than full power loads, several times in the past. With certain powder/bullet combo's, there just isn't enough pressure, or the correct prssure curve, to expand the case against the chamber walls completely, before the expanding gasses can leak back around the sides and gunk up the case like that.

 

[reerc]

Thanks for the reply Gun 4 Fun, your response sounds logical - but would you consider a round with these specs:

to be a "less than full power load"?

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

No, I wouldn't/didn't. I was just stating what I have experienced. It could be though, that in your short barrel, the rounds haven't reached their peak pressure, so it allows the gasses to be blown back around the sides of the cases.

Those rounds were, I believe, designed for use in Marlin and other lever guns, which means that the powder would be tailored for use in a longer barrel where they can build peak pressure.

 

[flop-shank]

I would be more interested with what a chrono says than the side of the box. I really hate it when ammo makers post a velocity without listing a barrel length. COME ON AMMO MAKERS!!! WE'RE NOT THAT STUPID!!!! Some of my lighter loads have done the same thing. I think G4F called this one correctly.

 

[reerc]

Originally posted by Gun 4 Fun:

(snip)

Those rounds were, I believe, designed for use in Marlin and other lever guns, which means that the powder would be tailored for use in a longer barrel where they can build peak pressure.

Exactly what I'm led to believe. I bought these on impulse, 'cause I thought the red tips looked "cool". Now I can understand that they are not the proper ammo for my pistol, and have put them back in the box, where they'll remain until I get a lever gun, or until all my other .357 ammo is gone.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[Pisgah]

Originally posted by reerc:

Originally posted by Gun 4 Fun:

(snip)

Those rounds were, I believe, designed for use in Marlin and other lever guns, which means that the powder would be tailored for use in a longer barrel where they can build peak pressure.

Exactly what I'm led to believe. I bought these on impulse, 'cause I thought the red tips looked "cool". Now I can understand that they are not the proper ammo for my pistol, and have put them back in the box, where they'll remain until I get a lever gun, or until all my other .357 ammo is gone.

Thanks for the replies!

If they're accurate in your revolver, shoot them. What you are seeing is nothing but normal for many gun/ammo combinations.

 

[Andy Taylor]

You won't damage anything by firing them in your revolver. Just don't expect that ammo to reach it's full potential in your snubby.
Get the Speer 135gr short barrel load or one of the Buffalo Bore short barrel loads to get peak performance from a snubby. Or of course, roll your own.

 

[David Sinko]

I don't think there is anything unusual about how your cases look. Actually, they look like any revolver cartridge that has been fired with a charge of Winchester 296.

Dave Sinko

 

[ncy54]

Pretty typical for a cartridge, especially a lower power load, a lead load, a dirty powder like BE, shot in a revolver. Not as typical for a jacketed round loaded up for hunting applications in a lever gun.
My guess is a "dirty" powder used in this factory load, as well as this cartridge being used in a snubby pistol.
No harm will ensue, other than the need to clean those cylinders more often. I wonder, though, if this is the best application for this particular round. The only way to know is to chrono the rounds (won't be 1440...will it even break 1000?),
and to verify expansion at that velocity in the appropriate media.
I don't know what the intended application is for this load in your SP101, but there are now "snubby-specific" loads available that might be better.

 

[Alk8944]

As some have mentioned, that is very typical of H-110/296 loads. The washed-out silvery appearance combined with the fouling are somewhat of a signature of this propellent.

Were you concerned about the gas leaking around the case being a safety issue? If this what prompted the question I can assure you it isn't a concern. This represents only a small fraction of 1% of the total gasses produced by discharge. Of the remaining 99+% all of it "leaks" out of the gun somewhere. Probably aprox. 40% at the barrel-cylinder gap and the balance at the muzzle. All of these locations are within the barrel length or less from your hand, and combustion gasses envelope your hand at every shot.

 

[reerc]

Originally posted by Alk8944:
Were you concerned about the gas leaking around the case being a safety issue?

Naw, I've just never seen any other casings come out looking like this, but I think we've pretty much decided that these rounds are not designed for a snubby revolver, and that in their intended application (a lever gun), they would most likely perform differently. When I have one I'll let you know.

Thanks to all for the replies.