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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) 32-40 case separation (Read 13421 times)
Mike65
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32-40 case separation
Aug 16th, 2004 at 6:57pm
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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
  
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Dale53
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Re: 32-40 case separation
Reply #1 - Aug 16th, 2004 at 7:39pm
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Mike;
That is a puzzler. Hogdon lists 12-13 grs for bullets in the 200 gr area. Your load is a light one. Since your breech seating, most of the things that might cause case separation do not apply.

However, if you are using a filler of any kind, sometimes that will cause case separation. Please give your complete load make up including all fillers and wads, if any.

Dale53
  
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FITZ
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Re: 32-40 case separation
Reply #2 - Aug 16th, 2004 at 8:07pm
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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.
  

FITZ
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ole7groove
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ot otRe: 32-40 case separation
Reply #3 - Aug 16th, 2004 at 10:47pm
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Gentlemen:

I have been performing some ballistics tests using new 32-40 Winchester brass I purchased from Midway. I have observed a radial crack appear about 1.25 inches ahead of the rim after about 200 firings, shooting a 210 grn bullet breechseated. In appearance this crack looks like a lap or seam in the brass material. While the loads(smokeless) I am testing are moderate, I have not experienced a condition like this with breachseating loads before with brand new brass. This is just a single instance so far in a lot of 100 that I purchased. It could be a material defect if someone else using new Winchester brass is experiencing the same problem. After many years of shooting and making single shot cast bullet rifles, I have not seen cracks and splits occur in correctly chambered rifles. Shocked
  
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40_Rod
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Re: 32-40 case separation
Reply #4 - Aug 17th, 2004 at 9:42am
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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

  
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Mike65
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Re: 32-40 case separation
Reply #5 - Aug 17th, 2004 at 9:45am
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Dale, Fitz & Ole7groove,

I'm not using any filler but am using 1/8" thick, fine grain floral foam at the mouth to keep the powder in during transport.  The cases don't have a cannelure.  The chamber is accurate per the standards.

I think that ole7groove may have the answer because my Winchester cases also came from Midway, this spring, a bag of 50, and my cases are also cracked at 1.25" from the base.  I can't see a lap mark in the brass but that doesn't mean that it's not there.  Maybe it is a bad batch from the factory. 

I really didn't think the load is the problem since as you've stated it is light according to the books.  We only have a 100 yard range here and this seems to work well especially shooting offhand with iron sights.

Mike 
  
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Dale53
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Re: 32-40 case separation
Reply #6 - Aug 17th, 2004 at 10:24am
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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
  
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Mike65
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Re: 32-40 case separation
Reply #7 - Aug 17th, 2004 at 3:24pm
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40_Rod,

No, they're just plain brass cases.  I do have some "John Wayne" that I'm using and have had no trouble with them yet.

Dale53,

That's my next step, I just wish that I had saved the bag so I could give them a lot number.

Mike
  
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ole7groove
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Re: 32-40 case separation
Reply #8 - Aug 17th, 2004 at 9:00pm
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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. ???
  
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Mike65
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Re: 32-40 case separation
Reply #9 - Aug 18th, 2004 at 3:05pm
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Thanks for the lot number info.  I just got a return e-mail from Winchester saying that their product department will be contacting me via US mail.  I will share your information with them whenever their letter comes.

Thanks again,
Mike
  
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waterman
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Re: 32-40 case separation
Reply #10 - Aug 21st, 2004 at 5:18pm
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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.
  
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40_Rod
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Re: 32-40 case separation
Reply #11 - Aug 22nd, 2004 at 9:40am
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He may have just shot some John Wayne's in it. They are loaded quite hot and have caused damage in the past.

40 Rod
  
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