Simulate a case head separation?

[LoneWolfUSMC]

I have several ways to clear a case head separation that I want to demonstrate. They have worked in the past on a live malfunction so they have been validated...however I don't know of a "safe" way to induce the malfunction so that it can be demonstrated in a realistic manner.

Obviously I don't want to compromise a live round and fire it to cause the malfunction. If the pressure is great enough to separate the case, then it is great enough to damage the weapon or my face.

Any of you experienced trainers out there have an idea for this? In the classroom it's easy to just talk about it and use the whiteboard, but I am considering doing a video and actually clearing the malfunction works much better to get the point across.

 

[doubled]

Re: Simulate a case head separation?

maybe you can put a separated case back together using the tiniest amount of paraffin wax and chamber it. when you pull the bolt back it should separate the case.

 

[Hink]

Re: Simulate a case head separation?

Would it be possible to cut a fired, unprimed brass in half and insert the pieces into the chamber? Setup prior to the instruction, then walk through the removal.

Or maybe I'm way off.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Simulate a case head separation?

I can always cut the head off and jam the body of the case back in the chamber, but I don't think it would "stick" like a true separation.

However that may be my only option.

 

[Bill Larson]

Re: Simulate a case head separation?

I`m reluctant to throw away cases.....so I have had cases seperate on me several times.....
Just stick a an oversize bronze into chamber and drag case remains out....
works great.....
bill larson

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Simulate a case head separation?

That is one of the methods I have used with success in the past.

Another is just slamming the next cartridge home, then ejecting it. Often it gets enough bite to pull the body out.

 

[JSTARSZ]

Re: Simulate a case head separation?

funny you bring this up...about two months ago I was shooting in PA on a very, very cold and windy day...around 17 degrees with wind blowing 10-15 so it was nasty on the range and my hands, while in gloves were still extremely frozen. One of those days that I took the shroud off the suppressor to warm the hands. Ok, you get it cold...

So, I shoot a round and go to eject it and nothing...I knew something was wrong but my mind wasn't working well. So, I go to put in a new round - it goes far enough in but not enough to close the bolt, but when I go to eject it kicks out a separated case so I think good I am good to go keep going. I go to put in another round same thing, no go, WTF, I put my finger in the chamber and can feel it is odd but can't quite tell what is going wrong. So, I go again to put in another round- no go, WTF is wrong...so finally I ask my shooting partner for his bore snake and when I put the bore brush in from the chamber side and it pulls the rest of the case out. If I were under fire that would have been quite a feat. I am pretty sure this is not the book answer but it did work when I am actually coherent enough to understand what is going wrong. This is the first time it ever happened to me so it was a learning lesson.

So, as Bill says, the bronze bore brush seems to work.

 

[Hellbender]

Re: Simulate a case head separation?

Better than just a bore brush is an M16 chamber brush with the long SS bristles in the back, they will REALLY grab a case, I keep one with a pistol rod in my shooting pack just for the occasion.

I have never had a separation, but just 3 matches ago, I saved another competitor from a lost match.

 

[Killer Spade 13]

Re: Simulate a case head separation?

First learn what accurate means than then ask the question again.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Simulate a case head separation?

Accuracy would be the exact opposite of missing the whole thread you intended to reply to.

That or I really missed something.

 

[desertrat1979]

Re: Simulate a case head separation?

To "set-up" a case for seperation, use a tubing cutter. You can score enough around a fired case to thin out the metal good, then work the cutter so it actually punches through the metal and follow it about 3/4 the diameter. Might not get it to separate the 1st time, but it shouldnt take too many cycles to induce a failure. If it was fired from that chamber then it would be fire-formed enough to be snug too, as opposed to a new or re-sized piece.

You can do this to multiple pieces and perfect the drill.

 

[cmh2007]

Re: Simulate a case head separation?

I just keep a broken shell extractor in my stock pack...last time i had one, just pulled it out threw it down the chamber, locked the bolt home and the camming action of the bolt unlocking was enough to loosen the case and out it came

 

[Arbiter]

Re: Simulate a case head separation?

Just a thought...what about taking a previously separated piece of brass, re-prime the base, and then carefully rechamber the pieces. Fire the primed brass, and then slowly retract the bolt. It *might* get enough pressure to lightly stick the front of the brass without harming the chamber or bore.

 

[Rprecision]

Re: Simulate a case head separation?

What if you took a fired case, cut the head, at the neck or body slightly compress it making it out of round. That would make it stick