case failure

[mblud]

I shot my M1 Garand today at the PSC Rifle Prone Match today using all reloaded brass. I did not have an optimal powder for the M1 so I loaded pretty light. All 60 cartridges shot without a problem, but when I got back home and started cleaning and sorting them I found this:



My load was as follows:

Hornady 155 gr A-Max bullet
IMR 4064 powder 44.2 gr for a velocity of 2500 fps
CCI Rifle primer

The case is split and flash burns that run laterally along the case.

I know the 4046 might be a little too hot for the garand (but not for the 30-06 in general) and that is why I made it a light load. All the other cases are ok. Do you all think this is just a fluke or did I make a major mistake somewhere?

Thanks!!

[MoJo]

I've been reloading .30-06 for 50+ years, I have never seen a case failure that looks like that. My first idea is a bad case. What brand of brass and how many loadings?

IMR 4064 is one of the recommended powders for reloading the M1 Rifle (Garand)

[The Annoyed Man]

I've been reloading .30-06 for 50+ years, I have never seen a case failure that looks like that. My first idea is a bad case. What brand of brass and how many loadings?

IMR 4064 is one of the recommended powders for reloading the M1 Rifle (Garand)

I don't know anything about powders (yet), but if that was the only one that looked like that after a range session, I would say that a bad case made it through your pre-loading case inspection when re-loading.

[MoJo]

Your powder charge is a little light but if the rifle functioned properly and accuracy was good then I'd say you have a good load. Don't use a powder slower than IMR4895 in the Garand also keep your velocities with 150 gr bullets under 2700 FPS 168 and 175 gr bullets should be kept under 2600. The gas system for the Garand is designed for GI ammo that was never loaded to the max.

[shooter4]

According to my Sierra manual 4046 is one of the recommended powders for the Garand...... Oh, somebody already said that. Well i'm glad i waited to get the 4895.......I think it was a bad case, specially if the others looked good. Was it a commercial case or military???

[CDH]

I'd bet good money that if you section the case you will find it thin in that area.

+1 for manufacturing defect...nothing you could have done and nearly impossible to detect beforehand.

[mblud]

According to my Sierra manual 4046 is one of the recommended powders for the Garand...... Oh, somebody already said that. Well i'm glad i waited to get the 4895.......I think it was a bad case, specially if the others looked good. Was it a commercial case or military???

It was a Remington case and its first reload. The Hornady manual shows the 4064 for a 168 grain bullet but not the 150-155 grain.

I am going to go with the VIHT-N150 or 4895 in future reloads, but I doubt it was a failure caused by the powder.

[mblud]

I'd bet good money that if you section the case you will find it thin in that area.

+1 for manufacturing defect...nothing you could have done and nearly impossible to detect beforehand.

and i think i will section that case tomorrow!

[shooter4]

I'd bet good money that if you section the case you will find it thin in that area.

+1 for manufacturing defect...nothing you could have done and nearly impossible to detect beforehand.

and i think i will section that case tomorrow!

yep, and as i recall military cases are thicker then commercial cases. This being commercial, i'd bet on it........

[chabouk]

When you section it, I bet you'll find it was ringed on the inside. Even on the first reloading, commercial brass can show signs of impending head separation.

[CDH]

When you section it, I bet you'll find it was ringed on the inside. Even on the first reloading, commercial brass can show signs of impending head separation.

The classic partial case head separation has a crack running partway around the case. The picture posted looks like a crack running up the side...90 degrees off from a case head separation type failure.

I wouldn't eliminate it as a possibility, but I wouldn't call it the top suspect either.

Lets see a picture of the internals...

[mblud]

When you section it, I bet you'll find it was ringed on the inside. Even on the first reloading, commercial brass can show signs of impending head separation.

Lets see a picture of the internals...

Ok, here it is. Sorry it has taken so long! I got busy.



The case looks good to me.