hwr Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 Went shooting the other day and I've just emptied my pocket of the spent cases and noticed a split case. On further investigation I found 12 split cases and only 10 good ones! The new rifle has had less than 400 rounds through it. Has anybody else had this problem lately? The ammunition is probably 4 years old. Thanks in advance. Hwr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good shot? Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 (edited) I had a similar problem 4/5 years ago (bad batch Hornady) but none since. Edited September 9, 2017 by Good shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve d Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 Were they Remington? They were the worst IME, but havent had any for a few years now. You were lucky the bullet made it out of the barrel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpy22 Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 shot 40 odd rabbits with mine wednesday night noticed half the cases were split. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hwr Posted September 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 (edited) These are red tipped hornady, I'm guessing the ammo age as ( this is the best it ) this batch replaced another dodgy lot with blue tips. I would suggest using safety glasses and make sure you keep hands clear of magazine, hold rifle by stock only! Edited September 9, 2017 by hwr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hwr Posted September 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 shot 40 odd rabbits with mine wednesday night noticed half the cases were split. What type were they? Although I believe I've read on here before that CCI make them all and just brand them as required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 This has been done to death. Try a search. Essentially, the manufacturing process means that after priming and sizing the cases they cannot be annealed to relieve the stress to the case neck. That means that some will be split open whilst seating the bullet (split before firing) whereas many others will split after firing. This, in addition to the problem with squib rounds and other general inconsistencies, is why I ended up selling mine and opted to go for a 17 hornet instead. Not knocking the hmr, for a flat shooting cheap bunny gun it takes some beating. But I already home load so the extra work in loading for a 17 hornet made more sense and meant I had more control of the quality of the ammunition I was using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 I am into my second 17HMR rifle and have never ever had a split case. To date always shot Hornady and now well into my second 1000 batch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpy22 Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 What type were they? Although I believe I've read on here before that CCI make them all and just brand them as required. hornady Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 I am into my second 17HMR rifle and have never ever had a split case. To date always shot Hornady and now well into my second 1000 batch. You might find quite a few if you look hard enough, the split is quite hard to see before the round is fired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 Yep, you need to look harder. I'll eat my feet if you've fired thousands and not had a split one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hwr Posted September 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 You might find quite a few if you look hard enough, the split is quite hard to see before the round is fired.There will no split before the round is fired!Doh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hwr Posted September 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 This has been done to death. Try a search. Essentially, the manufacturing process means that after priming and sizing the cases they cannot be annealed to relieve the stress to the case neck. That means that some will be split open whilst seating the bullet (split before firing) whereas many others will split after firing. This, in addition to the problem with squib rounds and other general inconsistencies, is why I ended up selling mine and opted to go for a 17 hornet instead. Not knocking the hmr, for a flat shooting cheap bunny gun it takes some beating. But I already home load so the extra work in loading for a 17 hornet made more sense and meant I had more control of the quality of the ammunition I was using. I did several searches, but found not enough information hence my post. I personally don't think it is acceptable that a round blows up like this! I can accept that things go wrong occasionally but not that that is accepted as the norm! My mate lives in another part of the country and had the same problems!! It's a great bunny round but not at the expense of your fingers or hearing! Hwr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 Hmm - I tried a search myself and found very little, Hundreds of posts are somehow not coming up. Enter the twilight zone... mingle mangle mingle mangle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benthejockey Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 There are two schools of thinking about the HMR. People like it or loathe it. There has been in the past problems with the ammo. There have been instances of guns blowing up. I personally have owned mine for nearly 10 years now and still have all my fingers, thumbs and original gun despite all the horror stories you might read. I've never had a squib round and I've shot all different types of ammo through mine. I've had the odd flier which I couldn't explain but then anyone shooting enough 22 subs will have experienced the same thing. When you shot those rounds I'm certain you never knew any different until you looked at them in the light of day. I'm sure I've had split or cracked necks BUT its not an issue. I've shot thousands of rounds through my rifle and it's still as accurate as it was when I bought it. Now either I am very lucky (having spent the last 5 months out of work with a bionic leg I'm doubting that) or the HMR isn't as bad or dangerous or self destructive as the haters will have you believe. You've got 2 choices accept that the old ammo was occasionally naff and carry on and don't worry about looking at the cases - you can't reload them and they've got no scrap value so why bother - OR chop it in for a 17cf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 You might find quite a few if you look hard enough, the split is quite hard to see before the round is fired. Even easier to see when they are stuck in the breech and you have to use a knife to get them out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 Well, I purchased one of the first CZs which Edgars sent out. Bought it from Simpsons at Shepshed, within an hour of him receiving it, Nigel having warned me that they were coming in. been such a long time I cannot honestly remember when, but around 15yrs ago or so if not more, time flies by when your enjoying yourself. I have just looked through a pile of fired cases in the foot well of my Landie and not one has a split, but inevitably something died as a result of it being fired. I personally love the round, it is a 'surgical' instrument out to 150yrds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hwr Posted September 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 I love it too, for all the reasons you quote. However I'm not sure the ammo quality control is as it should be. Thanks for looking through your cases, I don't remember in the past noticing any splits before. You can see the difference in colour between good and bad cases, also although you cannot see it in the pictures, one of these has a split at both ends! It's a pain and needs to be addressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 I really wouldn't stress about it, splits or no. As long as you keep in mind the chances of a squib round. Thats the only real danger as a bullet will have lodged itself up the barrel a few inches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hwr Posted September 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 That's not really a good thing though is it? Bullet lodges in barrel, not noticed, next round blows back ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telf Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 ive took to checking a box of ammo under a magnifying glass the night before i go out,just checking it and running your thumb nail around the neck suffices,doesnt help if the cases are splitting when chambering but eliminates any dodgy ones prior to going out must admit to being very lucky (touch wood) , havent had any bad ones as yet with this gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 That does make me wonder about different measurements in chambers. OK, I accept that one or two of you have found signs of cracks before hand, but for a case to open up like those in the photo they need room to do so, even if only a gnats whisker. Maybe worth making a chamber cast if you have a rifle which constantly splits cases and then checking the measurement. I'm no gunsmith but know that casting chambers is quite a regular thing in the USA. I'll put a thread on the Shooting Forum and see what the guys on there come up with. Squib loads should, if your awake be pretty obvious because your not going to get the PPZZZZINGG of the bullet travelling to the target....assuming your using a mod of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hwr Posted September 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 (edited) The gun has had less than 400 rounds through it so it would have to be a rifle manufacturing QA thing then. This was a replacement rifle as previous one was damaged by ammunition problem, a while ago now. However my friend had a similar issue in different part of country last month.( so a newer batch of ammo ) I recognise this "could" be an out of tolerance rifle, but how do you explain the other, unrelated ( apart from being 17HMR) incidents? For my part I think it's down to the cases. I would like everyone reading this to make an effort and check their spent cases. Maybe they've always been a few that split as suggested and I just haven't noticed, I don't think so though. Sqib wise yes I think perhaps my first rifle might have been damaged by one as there was an unexplained miss, which sounded completely normal, followed by an almighty (second shot at same rabbit) ) explosion which left my ears ringing for 24 hrs and split the stock and destroyed the magazine luckily all missing me!😳 Chambered round either split or followed a squib and back fired through vent and set one off in the magazine which completely exploded splitting stock destroying plastic mag and bloody deafening me! Did you know rifles have a vent? Because I didn't till then. I'm glad they do and also never hold magazine anymore. Edited September 10, 2017 by hwr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 It just seems strange that some 17HMR users are getting cracks and others don't. I spoke with a friend this morning who has shot a lot of 17HMR and he has not been aware of any cases splits either. I think it may be a bit of both to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 OK , I have just put this problem on the Shooting Forum to see what the response is. You don't have to sign in , you can read the threads openly. It is under 'rim fire ammunition' ...split cases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.