I have a problem that I hope someone can shed some light on.  While checking some cases today I found two that had separated/cracked just about where the shoulder is (if you can call it a shoulder on a 32-40).  One was cracked all the way around with about 1/16" still holding the second one was cracked for about 1/3 of the circumference.  These are Winchester cases that have been loaded 6 times with 10 grs. of 4227, bullet is 168 grs., breech seated.  I sure wouldn't think that this load would be hot enough to cause problems.  Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Mike

Mike, did these shells by any chance have a cannulure crimp? And if so was it anywhere near where they seperated? I ask this because once about 20 years ago I ran into a batch of absolutely new in the box Remington 32-40 brass that was being thrown away by an aquaintance. When I questioned him about it he said that batch of Brass is no good! It seperates right where the ring crimp is. Well of course you know I had to prove it could be straightend out. By fire forming, annealing or some combination of procedures. Well I was wrong. No matter what I tried most of the brass would break off right at the crimp ring on the first firing and if not then by the second or third firing. Some of the front pieces would lodge in the barrel. And some would go right on down range leaving a curly smoke trail, Never was able to make any use of it and threw the balance of over 100 rds of brand new unfired brass away eventually. HTH, FITZ.

You mention that they are Winchester are they John Wayne's or any other nickle plated cases? The only time that I had a problem with cracking brass in 32-40 was nickle plated cases. I now save them for making breach seaters and such.  They are real pretty but are brittle.
40 Rod

Mike;
Since it looks like "bad brass", I would write Winchester and mention what you have learned. If they have put out a bad batch, they need to know. Further, it might lead to them replacing your brass with good brass.

Dale53

Mike,

I still have the bag and bar codes, they are as follows:
1UE72 above bar code; 20892 63308 below the bar code. As I mentioned I have only found one case that developed a crack/seam. Hopes this helps. ???

Awhile back, I posted a question about a Low Wall .25-20 that I had just acquired.  In that post, I said that a previous owner had rebarreled this one-time .32 RF to something unsuitable.  Unsuitable was a .32-40, which to me seemed too big for a Low Wall RF.  The chap that rebarreled the RF to .32-40 also had a case failure with a light load of 4227, but shooting fixed ammunition.  I do not know what bullets were loaded, maybe even jacketed.  But the case failed, the gas escaped and damaged the action.  I always assumed that the owner/loader of the .32-40 fixed ammo put in a double load of 4227.  Now I am being more forgiving.