While processing a box of brass this evening mostly 357SIG (1200+), I found these two 40S&W in the pile...
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j441/_The_Shadow/IMG_0526a_zps8eb1ccac.jpg)
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j441/_The_Shadow/IMG_0528_zps67470873.jpg)
Somebody had a KaBoom casing blow out!!! :o :o :o
Not shot by me, these were just in the box of range brass I scored, along with a pound of Blue Dot and a pound of AA#9. :P
Wow! I wonder what they were loaded to?
I know the US Border Patrol had specified some hot .40 S&W loads early on (155 grain @1250 fps). I don't recall the manufacturer but it could have been Winchester.
Interesting..
OUCH!!!!
Did they look like they may have been a reload or do you think they were factory?
I will speculate they were reloads, only because the primer sealant is not on the primer cups and I see what appears to be an extractor mark, opposite where it would have been as the case would sit in the chamber...
Many of Winchester factory stuff has brass cups without nickel plating...
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99% of the time I see brass (9mm and 40S&W) that has blown out like that it is Winchester brand.
Winchester makes some of the worst brass for reloading. I think Federal/Blazer/Speer make the best.
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Something looks weird. Those primers haven't flattened at all. Either they are rifle primers or the round really didn't see that much pressure.
Really makes me wonder it the action locked up at all.
Greg
While I have no way of knowing for sure, I will speculate something here. There are some people who use liquid cleaners for their brass. I have to wonder if these were subjected to an ammonia based cleaner. Ammonia will attack brass on a molecular level.
We have seen other brass which have blown out also showing very rounded primers. Early unlock is also suspicious, looking at the imprint of the breech on the casing head is apparent that it slammed into the breech at a fairly high impact.
I may PM the guy I got the brass from and ask if he knows anything about them.
Got a reply from the guy I got the brass from and it wasn't his, he said mostly range pickup brass. So no further info to add.
I see a definite impression in the primer of the case sitting on the coke caps. Rectangular running edge to edge, slightly wider than the firing pin dimple.