How close was my friend to losing his gun to a catastrophic KB today?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How close was my friend to losing his gun to a catastrophic KB today?

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:26:36 PM EDT

He was shooting his S&W Bodyguard .38 when this happened:

(I know, I need to buy a camera.)

I'd say the ammo is a bit iffy. I think be bought it at a gun show or something. It was a S&B box, and the brass was S&B, but the box looked a bit old, and it had "10/02" written on it. It could be factory ammo that's been stored for a long time, or it could even be some sketchy bastard's reloads.

Should we be surprised the gun is still in one piece?

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:32:13 PM EDT

[#1]

Need a pic of the primer

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:34:01 PM EDT

[#2]

Damn. Looks like it held together just enough to keep from having parts instead of a gun. Did the round make it out or stick in the barrel?

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:34:11 PM EDT

[#3]

I''ve had some issued 9mm from wcc I was shooting through our Sig mk11s to qual that came out split like that. Brittle brass.

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:34:22 PM EDT

[#4]

Nah, brittle (or work hardened) brass. Head is fine.

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:34:31 PM EDT

[#5]

Done that to lots of 10mm

No worries

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Posted: 4/27/2014 1:35:41 PM EDT

[#6]

Case was reloaded one too many times.

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:36:17 PM EDT

[#7]

Probably not close to a kaboom unless you noticed the rounds were hotter than normal.

It likely is a normal split caused from old brass loaded a few times. I have a collection of 9mm, 45 acp, 40 s&w, 38 Sp, 357 mag and 44 mag cases that have splits like that. It dosen't hurt the chamber.

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:38:42 PM EDT

[#8]

split case, toss it and move on

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:39:04 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
Need a pic of the primer

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Not sure how this pic came out this good.

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:39:57 PM EDT

[#10]

Totally fine and you were in no danger, quite normal with brass that has been reloaded a lot(range ammo).. brass is just worn out. Primer looks fine.

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:40:55 PM EDT

[#11]

My old man shoots his .38 cases in his .357 until they do that, that's when he decides they can go into the scrap bucket.

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:40:59 PM EDT

[#12]

Tell your friend NEVER to buy reloads from a gunshow. While the split case is not a problem in itself, 38spl and similar older cartridges have a lot of room for the sloppy reloader to double charge which IS dangerous.

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:42:06 PM EDT

[#13]

it happens. Not a huge deal

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:42:17 PM EDT

[#14]

The Chamber contains the pressure not the brass. No worries.

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:43:28 PM EDT

[#15]

Had this happen shooting some really old and ugly .38 blazer aluminum case ammo. Wasn`t over charge, just came apart.

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:43:58 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Totally fine and you were in no danger, quite normal with brass that has been reloaded a lot(range ammo).. brass is just worn out. Primer looks fine.

View Quote

This.

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:44:09 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
it happens. Not a huge deal

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Posted: 4/27/2014 1:49:13 PM EDT

[#18]

So we are talking about a bodyguard .38 special and not a Bodyguard 380 right?

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:53:28 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
So we are talking about a bodyguard .38 special and not a Bodyguard 380 right?

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Yes.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_766382_-1_757893_757767_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

Posted: 4/27/2014 1:53:37 PM EDT

[#20]

Revolver cylinder performed as designed.

Posted: 4/27/2014 2:11:01 PM EDT

[#21]

I had Factory Winchester 44mag brass do that in my Rossi. I just threw the brass
away. No worries.

Posted: 4/27/2014 2:16:12 PM EDT

[#22]

Does/did the ammo have a crimp where the crimp mark is?

Posted: 4/27/2014 2:20:23 PM EDT

[#23]

like the others said, probably just reloaded brass that cracked, the fact that the BG38 is a POS with large tolerances doesn't help.

Posted: 4/27/2014 2:22:13 PM EDT

[#24]

Split case, does not have to be a reload, it happens and is not a big deal.

Posted: 4/27/2014 2:34:50 PM EDT

[#25]

My experience with S&B cases is that they tend to be more brittle than most U.S. made cases. The cases will split on fewer reloadings than say Winchester, or Remington brass.

The primer looks fine; it was not overpressure.

Posted: 4/27/2014 2:52:35 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:

Not sure how this pic came out this good.

http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k620/Bassgasm1/Gun%20Stuff/38splitcaseprimer_zpsc75e7c83.jpg

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Need a pic of the primer

Not sure how this pic came out this good.

http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k620/Bassgasm1/Gun%20Stuff/38splitcaseprimer_zpsc75e7c83.jpg

primer not flat (over pressure).

bad brass.

Posted: 4/27/2014 2:54:46 PM EDT

[#27]

I'd pull the rest of the bullets.

Posted: 4/27/2014 2:57:46 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
Totally fine and you were in no danger, quite normal with brass that has been reloaded a lot(range ammo).. brass is just worn out. Primer looks fine.

View Quote

This

Posted: 4/27/2014 3:01:03 PM EDT

[#29]

Old used brass.

Posted: 4/27/2014 3:04:28 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
Case was reloaded one too many times.

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Nah. It was used just enough until it was worn out.

Posted: 4/27/2014 3:21:13 PM EDT

[#31]

While never quite that bad, I've culled those out of my range brass pickups before. They ring like a tuning fork when they go through the brass sorter.

Posted: 4/27/2014 3:27:24 PM EDT

[#32]

Don't try to reload it......well you never know

Posted: 4/27/2014 3:38:41 PM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:
Nah, brittle (or work hardened) brass. Head is fine.

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Yep. No big deal.

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Posted: 4/27/2014 3:39:34 PM EDT

[#34]

just a split case, sort of common for 38s and 357's, no big deal. My .223 brass usually dies by neck splits.

If the case head blows out then you have issues!

Posted: 4/27/2014 3:45:21 PM EDT

[#35]

Quote History

Quoted:
The Chamber contains the pressure not the brass. No worries.

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Cartridge brass is a part of the firearm. One of its purposes is to seal the chamber and contain pressure. Hence blow outs in .40 S&W cartridges in Glock pistols in which the chamber has enough relief to remove support of the thin part of the case.

Posted: 4/27/2014 3:48:52 PM EDT

[#36]

I just had some Remington umc factory ammo do this in my sw air weight freaked me out ,but I guess it happens

Posted: 4/27/2014 3:50:57 PM EDT

[#37]

+1 on the no worries sentiment.

Posted: 4/27/2014 3:51:26 PM EDT

[#38]

The primer looks fine.
While a split case can be a concern, in this instance it's not a big deal.

Glad that all are OK...

Posted: 4/27/2014 4:22:48 PM EDT

[#39]

Quote History

Quoted:
Case was reloaded one too many times.

View Quote

Posted: 4/27/2014 4:27:47 PM EDT

[#40]

Was this one reloaded too many times? This is a first firing of Federal 147 gr 9mm. Cases Split even on new brass sometimes. It happens not a big deal.