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Black Hills splitting after 1x firing?

Early Cuyler

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 3, 2011
1,034
32
37
WB, GA
So I bought 400rds of .308win 175gr Black Hills (red box with red primer sealant) a few months ago. I shot all 400rds through my DTA SRS and have just gotten to processing the brass for my load development.

I tumbled them all in SS media, took 50 cases and resized them, trimmed them, and chamfered them. Upon final inspection I found 5 of the 50 cases had split necks. I then inspected the other 350 unsized cases and found 6 more with split necks for a grand total of 11/400.

Is this normal for black hills ammo? I've never had this issue using the same methods with FGMM brass. Also (correct me if I'm wrong here) the fact that I'm getting such a high percentage after sizing seems to tell me the necks should be annealed. But how could this be after only one firing?

Help me, reloading gurus, you're my only hope!
 
Re: Black Hills splitting after 1x firing?

I have had that problem with Federal brass in 22-250.
 
Re: Black Hills splitting after 1x firing?

eek.gif
Just remember that black hills uses 1x fired brass from the get go.You dont know what gun the brass came from and that makes it 2x fired brass
shocked.gif
With the gun your useing you should get new brass like Lapua and the probelm should go away.
 
Re: Black Hills splitting after 1x firing?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 308 supsonic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
eek.gif
Just remember that black hills uses 1x fired brass from the get go.You dont know what gun the brass came from and that makes it 2x fired brass
shocked.gif
With the gun your useing you should get new brass like Lapua and the probelm should go away. </div></div>

I believe that Black Hills in the red box is virgin brass whereas the blue box variety is reloaded ammo. I have used the red box Black Hills 168 gr match king (about 500 rounds) and am on my third firing in a bolt gun with no brass failures. I am puzzled as to the cause of the case splits.
 
Re: Black Hills splitting after 1x firing?

308 supsonic said:
eek.gif
Just remember that black hills uses 1x fired brass from the get go.You dont know what gun the brass came from and that makes it 2x fired brass
shocked.gif
With the gun your useing you should get new brass like Lapua and the probelm should go away. [/quote

you are wrong, the 308 win match ammo is new with there case head stamp on it.
I do not belive they sell reloads in 308
 
Re: Black Hills splitting after 1x firing?

I just resized, trimmed, and chamfered another 125 pieces with no more splits. I also shot the 45 pieces loaded from 43.5 to 45.1gr Varget under a Hornady 178bthp with no more splits.

Hopefully this was just a random occurrence as I got some damn good groups today...
 
Re: Black Hills splitting after 1x firing?

Odds are it's fine, but it couldn't hurt to check your chamber size, & head spacing etc.
How's brass life on other lots of ammo, & or different brands?