Case failure

[varsity07840]

I had a Winchester case fail. I have to use a custom expander die for my .464 bullets. Does that put excessive wear on my Winchester brass that's been frequently reloaded? The load was 60 gr 1.5 Swiss, .060 wad, 500 gr. bullet. No problem with chambering. Brass has been reloaded at least 20 times.

[Tony Beck]

Winchester brass is the thinnest of all the current production cases. The good news is that it holds a hair more powder, the bad news is it doesn't last as long. Most of the modern sizing dies reduce cases excessively, which doesn't help case life, especially if you are loading oversize bullets (which most of us do!). Back your sizing die off a 2 or 3 turns and only run it all the way down when your cases load tight in the rifle. Another trick is to use a 45-90 sizing die. It has less taper so doesn't work the cases as much.

[Tony Beck]

Also, how often are you annealing the case necks? Should be every 5 shots or so, or when they start neck sizing hard.

[varsity07840]

Tony,

Should I junk the group of cases that the failed one was in?

[Tony Beck]

Where did it fail? If it's the neck I would anneal the necks on the rest and keep using them. If it's the base ahead of the rim, then yes, I'd ditch them.

[varsity07840]

one inch up from the rim.

[Tony Beck]

I would junk them. Body splits are usually from the case being excessively reduced in full length sizing. Back your sizing die off a 2 or 3 turns and cases should last longer.

[varsity07840]

THANKS, TONY!!

[Tom Trevor]

Swiss powder had stretched every case I have ever used it in from 40-70 SS to 45-90. Just the way it is along with hard fouling. Starline will last longer but still stretch. Be sure there is no moisture in the chamber and the case neck are clean inside.
If you are using a blow tube make sure its long enough 45-70 use 45-90 case. 45-90 use 2.6 case.

[varsity07840]

Interestingly, someone mentioned to me that moisture in the chamber may have caused the failure. My blow tube has a .45-70 case. Thanks for the input.