Thread: What happened ????

Sorry Viper but your case to me has been subjected to a massive overload.

How many times have you loaded this particular case? Was this a first time reload for it?
How close to max is your load?

If it was a loose primer pocket and you hand prime you will have felt that when you primed.

Measure the case head with a micrometer or vernier and compare to a newish case, if you have one. If the head has expanded greater than a new case by 1 - 2 thou it has been overloaded. Anything bigger and wow!

Weigh that case and compare with others. If a lot heavier that would cause elevated pressure. BTW I don't like Hornady brass. Found it to be all over the place weigh wise and neck thickness wise.

Yeah, bloody difficult determining cause with one event.

You were brave continuing shooting. I would have brought my loads home and stripped them and checked everything.

Re safety glasses. I don't wear safety glasses out and about but do wear them when doing load development and also with some of my ancient guns that have for example sloppy firing pin holes. Also wear them for black powder muzzle loading.

I certainly wouldn't discourage anyone who felt happier shooting wearing safety glasses ot proper shooting glasses all of the time