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...what do you make of this...

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Goosic View Drop Down
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    Posted: April 27 2023 at 2:45pm
Preface: The reload in question has a calculated PSI of just under 40,000 and the headspace was checked prior to and after the issue presented itself. 
I was extremely grateful that I had a ruptured case extractor with me as well.

I went to the range last week to sight in the Faux L8A5T chambered in 7.62x51mm. I took 80 rounds of ammunition with me using Lapua cases that had been used 3 times maybe 4 prior to that day. Everything was going as planned until round #9,  with the bullet hitting the target 4 inches above the bullseye. It was when I went to cycle another round that I was met with the case head. No biggie I thought and used the case extractor to get the rest of the case out. It went quickly downhill from there. I had to use the case extractor 54 more times that morning and I could tell instantly when I had a rupture/casehead separation afterwards just by looking at the POI from that particular round. I keep a set of 7.62 go and no-go gauges with me and check the headspacing immediately and found nothing wrong and the only conclusion I can come up with is that since the cases were full length resized using 308W dies, the cases had alot more expanding to do to fill the chamber and as a result caused the case failure. But after only 3 or 4 reloads? It doesn't make since. I'm going back in a couple of weeks and taking new cases just to see if this was an isolated incident. 
The stock is getting a treatment of Stand Oil for the time being...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 27 2023 at 4:24pm
Maybe a bad batch of brass? Sounds like there was a consistent case stretch during firing, but why they would separate after only so few reloading seems weird. Especially as you checked headspacing.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 27 2023 at 5:26pm
Too much set back on the cases when F/L resizing?
Measure an unfired one & see what it come out to.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 27 2023 at 8:43pm
The sizing die is setup accordingly and all the unfired cases check out...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sapper740 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2023 at 2:01am
This is a puzzler.  From what I have gathered about you already I know you're a competent reloader/shooter so I won't insult you by asking obvious questions.  I'm interested as to why you full-length resize instead of just neck sizing.  If you have any virgin Lapua brass on hand try the same load and neck sizing to see if you experience the same case failures after a few reloads.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2023 at 8:22am
Originally posted by Sapper740 Sapper740 wrote:

This is a puzzler.  From what I have gathered about you already I know you're a competent reloader/shooter so I won't insult you by asking obvious questions.  I'm interested as to why you full-length resize instead of just neck sizing.  If you have any virgin Lapua brass on hand try the same load and neck sizing to see if you experience the same case failures after a few reloads.
I take any and all questions regardless of how they make me feel so ask away. The reason I had for full length resizing was that I had no neck sizing die at the time.
The only "Virgin" brass I have is Starline .308W.  600 of them to be exact and they have been filled with 42.0grns of IMR4895 and topped with 168grn Sierra MK's replicating the military M852 Match round.
If the new Starline brass comes apart then I will have a somewhat clear idea as to why...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2023 at 8:42am
Not critiquing loading skills just flinging out ideas.
Work-hardened brass maybe?
Were the cases neck annealed?
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2023 at 9:22am
Originally posted by Shamu Shamu wrote:

Not critiquing loading skills just flinging out ideas.
Work-hardened brass maybe?
Were the cases neck annealed?
I cut one in half. I do not see anything wrong with the case...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2023 at 4:12pm
looks fine to me.
Can you get a pic of a failed case & head? That's probably where any clues would be lurking.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2023 at 5:11pm
I threw them all in the trashcan at the range unfortunately...
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