Help with diagnosing 338 brass

[kRcu]

FIL on his 5th reload on this Lapua brass. Noticed the case separating on 5 of the 100 pieces of brass. Running 89gr H1000. Never seen the issue with a separate lot of brass that has been constantly loaded on 90-91gr.

Rifle is an AI AX MC 338

Just bad pieces of brass or is there something else to look at? Pretty new to 338 caliber.

Picture shows brass from same lot, fired on same day, same muzzle velocity (~5 SD). All of the 5 pieces with issue happened on the last outing. 30 total rounds. 25 rounds had no issue.

https://i.imgur.com/qwymgeV.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/FM9QSdt.jpg

 

[spife7980]

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[kRcu]

Thank you sir. I couldn’t get to embed.

 

[spife7980]

If you just copy the picture instead of the link you can paste it straight in

Cant help with the issue though other than the generic sizing too much and loads to hot

 

[Supersubes]

This isn’t talked about much (wait, never!), but lapua brand .338 lapua brass is extremely short. My AXMC was right between go and no-go for headspace, and every lot of virgin lapua brand brass I could get my hands on (friends, strangers etc)was .010 shorter than my chamber. I emailed Lapua and the response was that my .010 shorter brass was “”well”” within spec. My ass! Everything else they make is much tighter than that. In short, the first firing is hammering the the cases.

Before I was doing my own barrels, I paid a gunsmith to shorten my headspace by .008”.

 

[kRcu]

This isn’t talked about much (wait, never!), but lapua brand .338 lapua brass is extremely short. My AXMC was right between go and no-go for headspace, and every lot of virgin lapua brand brass I could get my hands on (friends, strangers etc)was .010 shorter than my chamber. I emailed Lapua and the response was that my .010 shorter brass was “”well”” within spec. My ass! Everything else they make is much tighter than that. In short, the first firing is hammering the the cases.

Before I was doing my own barrels, I paid a gunsmith to shorten my headspace by .008”.

Sorry man. Searched a few forums before posting.

How would he rectify the issue in future reloads, aside from having the head space changed next time?

 

[Threadcutter308]

I had the same issue with .338 Lapua brass years ago. Incipient case head separation. Google it and check the brass frequently with a bent paperclip. Lapua may have corrected the problem since then, but I would suggest using another manufacturer's brass, like Hornady. Otherwise, Lapua brass is excellent.

 

[Supersubes]

Sorry man. Searched a few forums before posting.

How would he rectify the issue in future reloads, aside from having the head space changed next time?

No sorry needed, I can’t recall a single mention of it anywhere, but I never searched it specifically. I was very comfortable with the measurements I was seeing though. Any method that limits case stretch on the initial firing. That could be jamming bullets, forming false shoulders in the brass. All kind of ridiculous when you’re spending this kind of money on brass. My solution was to shorten my chamber, which worked well. Like threadcutter said, you could try other brass. I tested some peterson brass, which is my personal favorite. Much stronger than lapua, and if I recall, was a little longer. As of now, I moved on to the 300 norma, and dont expect to return to the 338L.