Odd situation involving a separated case... is this possible?

[David Sinko]

Considering this happened with a new to me MAK-90, I have posted about it on one of the AK-47 forums but I'm getting nothing but ridicule there, so I'll ask it here as well. I guess it could pertain to other rifles as well.

To make a long story short, I took the new to me MAK-90 to the range for an initial evaluation. I eyeballed the bore to make sure there was no obstruction and then proceeded to shoot approximately 150 rounds of various ammo, to include various Russian steel cased factory loads and various handloads that I had assembled. The rifle chambered and fired everything and accuracy was very good, even out to 300 yards. I was alone at the range and was able to retrieve every single piece of brass, and they were all intact. When I went to clean the gun, I went from the breech end with a .308" brush and it seemed a bit tight. I pulled it out, and there around the bristles was what appeared to be the separated neck of a brass 7.62x39 cartridge case. I am almost certain that this piece of brass was not on the brush when it entered the chamber. So...

What I need to know is if it's possible that this ring of brass had previously separated and become lodged in a very eroded chamber and then allowed subsequent bullets to be shot through it. Is it possible or totally absurd? I am just theorizing here and have not examined the bore to confirm the condition of the throat area. And I have not shot the gun after making this unsettling discovery.

Dave Sinko

 

[ronnie gore]

case

i don't think so, there is not enough room even with a bad chamber. i had a century ak in 223 that would separate the cases like that and century reworked it and made it right. tke it some where that has head space gauges and let them check it.

 

[venomballistics]

think it was the 1922 national match ammo that used a tin plated bullet, and was called "tin can ball". the intent was to eliminate copper fowling in the 1903 springfield.
to make a long story short, tin bonds to copper alloys quite readily and caused some trouble at the national matches that year.
after a rifle blew up investigations followed .. bullets were found downrange that had the case necks still attached to the fired bullets.
one of the match rifles also had a case neck lodged in the bore, where it buldged after having all subsequent rounds fired through it, pressing it permanently into the bore.
Yes, it can happen. yes it can be a bad actor. yes it can go unnoticed till you have a sobering moment at the cleaning bench

 

[Alk8944]

Short answer, assuming the chamber neck is not grossly oversize, no.

Simple to check. Eithr cast the chamber with Cerrosafe, slug the neck with a soft lead bullet about .35 caliber, or shoot it and neasure the case neck diameter of the fired case. If the neck is large enough that the piece of brass could have been in the chamber it will be obvious.

 

[Ron H.]

What I need to know is if it's possible that this ring of brass had previously separated and become lodged in a very eroded chamber and then allowed subsequent bullets to be shot through it. Is it possible or totally absurd? I am just theorizing here and have not examined the bore to confirm the condition of the throat area.

Sir, yes, it's entirely possible, and it doesn't require an eroded chamber. It's also entirely possible that you're the first person to actually clean the gun's chamber. While there are exceptions, most "AK guys" I've met have been somewhat less than rigorous about cleaning the things. I'd definitely get an angled mirror or something so you can see what's going on in the chamber.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.