Vertical Split in new 32-40 shells.

745 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by gbro, 3 mo ago

smokerjt

Discussion Starter · 3 mo ago

Good afternoon al and thanks for allowing me to join the forum.
I have a Marlin Model 1893 in 32-40 which, according to the serial number was manufactured in 1899.
Finally got a chance last nigh to take it to our local indoor range for the first time.

Very pleased with the smoothness of the action, no issues at all loading, racking or shooting, until..... I examined the spent brass.
These were factory loads with no visible sign of corrosion.

Any thoughts on what caused the vertical splits on the two shells on the left. I circled the middle shell because it and some of the others show a vertical 'scratch" in the brass.

Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

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Darkker

· #2 · 3 mo ago

Those are some REALLY old cartridges.
For the sake of the unknown powder used, I wouldn't shoot those things...
Looks like brass hardening/failure, possibly from the bullets welding themselves to the case.

Think you'll be in the business of reforming 30-30 cases, unless you can find someone making brass.

Cheers

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DarkLord

· #3 · 3 mo ago

Very hard to tell looking at the cases. Try one or two cartridges with new brass, if you get the same results, stop shooting and take it to a gunsmith.

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smokerjt

Discussion Starter · #4 · 3 mo ago

Darkker said:
Those are some REALLY old cartridges.
For the sake of the unknown powder used, I wouldn't shoot those things...
Looks like brass hardening/failure, possibly from the bullets welding themselves to the case.

Think you'll be in the business of reforming 30-30 cases, unless you can find someone making brass.

Cheers

Thanks for the insight. Greatly appreciated!

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smokerjt

Discussion Starter · #5 · 3 mo ago

DarkLord said:
Very hard to tell looking at the cases. Try one or two cartridges with new brass, if you get the same results, stop shooting and take it to a gunsmith.

Thanks for the quick reply. Love to try some with new brass but none to be found.

Cheers!

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JBelk

· #6 · 3 mo ago

That rifle needs a chamber cast to find out the true dimensions. The wise thing to do right now is stop shooting it.

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94win32spec

· #7 · 3 mo ago

You can form brass from .32 special or 30-30 cases. In my own experience, the reformed 32 special cases will come out 10 - 20 thousandths short, but that's o.k. if you use jacketed bullets for the first firing.

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gbro

· #8 · 3 mo ago

smokerjt said:
Good afternoon al and thanks for allowing me to join the forum.
I have a Marlin Model 1893 in 32-40 which, according to the serial number was manufactured in 1899.
Finally got a chance last nigh to take it to our local indoor range for the first time.

Very pleased with the smoothness of the action, no issues at all loading, racking or shooting, until..... I examined the spent brass.
These were factory loads with no visible sign of corrosion.

Any thoughts on what caused the vertical splits on the two shells on the left. I circled the middle shell because it and some of the others show a vertical 'scratch" in the brass.

Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

What do the fired primers look like?
I have had bullets bonded to the case in a .270Win and the brass separated completely.
If you have a kinetic bullet puller try removing the bullets. If they are stuck the only way to remove them with this tool is to break them loose with a bullet seating die, then the kinetic puller.
Reloading with new powder and working up from established tables would be my plan after following JBELK's recommendation.

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