Reading Spent shot shells

[Hillbilly 12]

Every once and a while in different brands I will get shells after fired that are half open, and half of the hull is pretty much still closed. Why?

[covey ridge]

Hillbilly 12
I am not exactly sure what you are asking, but I will make a guess. Sometimes after firing the folds of the crimp have a memory and return to being part way closed.

[Hillbilly 12]

Originally Posted by covey ridge

Hillbilly 12
I am not exactly sure what you are asking, but I will make a guess. Sometimes after firing the folds of the crimp have a memory and return to being part way closed.

Yes the spent hull is still almost half closed, never seen it in any other gun.

[Dick284]

As long as they aren't too long for the chamber, I'd say it's because different manufacturers use different composition of plastic in their hulls, and some compositions of plastic have a more elastic memory than others.

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by Hillbilly 12

Yes the spent hull is still almost half closed, never seen it in any other gun.

What gauge?
If the ammo is correct for the chamber it may have more to do with the material in the hull than the firearm.

[qwert]

Are shells being distorted during feeding?

Can you determine if the case closure occurrence location in chamber is similar?
You could try placing a Sharpie mark on base of the case and always loading the shells with the mark @ 12 o'clock (to the chamber).

A VERY careful inspection and measurement of the chamber and forcing cone may be revealing.

A similar metallic case collapse occasionally results from a low pressure firing, which is enough to start the bullet down the bore but not properly seal the case neck to the chamber. As pressure rises, it tries to escape down between the side of the case and the chamber.

Good Luck, YMMV.

[Hillbilly 12]

12 gauge 3 inch chamber, semi

[covey ridge]

If the chamber is right for the ammo I would not worry about it. I clean up after shooters at a local range and I often see spent hulls as you describe. Usually on older type hulls or paper ammo.

[Hillbilly 12]

Originally Posted by covey ridge

If the chamber is right for the ammo I would not worry about it. I clean up after shooters at a local range and I often see spent hulls as you describe. Usually on older type hulls or paper ammo.

Ok that's good, thanks guys

[Sashi]

Have you measured the chamber? Maybe it's a 2 3/4" chamber and stamped improperly.

[Hillbilly 12]

Originally Posted by Sashi

Have you measured the chamber? Maybe it's a 2 3/4" chamber and stamped improperly.

Yeah, it's a 2 3/4 to 3 inch chamber.

[oldgutpile]

Is the crimp just folded back in on itself, or is it literally still stuck in the original position?
My first thought upon confirmation that it was a semi, is that the mouth of the hull is folding back in on itself while being kicked out of the action. could just be a lighter gauge of plastic.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by oldgutpile

Is the crimp just folded back in on itself, or is it literally still stuck in the original position?
My first thought upon confirmation that it was a semi, is that the mouth of the hull is folding back in on itself while being kicked out of the action. could just be a lighter gauge of plastic.

These were my thoughts as well.
The bottom line is , if the thing goes "BANG" and something either falls out of the sky or breaks, it's all good.
The only thing I look for in my hulls is that there are no burn through marks at the base/hull body, the primers are looking okay and that the mouth is not split badly.
I shot some 2" 12 gauge ammo in a 3" gun this year just for yucks, it's all good , things died.
Cat

[Hillbilly 12]

Yeah it's just folded back half way between fully crimped and fully opened.

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by Hillbilly 12

Yeah it's just folded back half way between fully crimped and fully opened.

As long as the contents of the shell have totally cleared the bore, it is no big deal.

What type of ammo?

[covey ridge]

^^^^^^
If it looks anything like this, no problem

[Hillbilly 12]

Originally Posted by covey ridge

^^^^^^
If it looks anything like this, no problem

Yeah but half of the diameter is fully stretched and the other half looks that way. It happens with 3 inch steel loads hevi metal, kent, and remington, and it's weird because it only happens ever now an then.

[covey ridge]

I have seen quite a few like you describe on the ground and in the garbage barrels. I have never thought about it that much. Either one side of the plastic has more retained memory than the other or one side of the open hull came into contact during the ejection process. If you are really concerned, there was a suggestion of marking the hull before chambering and note the relation to fired round.

I have seen some hulls with the mouth partially torn away. Those I would be concerned about if they were mine.

[Hillbilly 12]

Originally Posted by covey ridge

I have seen quite a few like you describe on the ground and in the garbage barrels. I have never thought about it that much. Either one side of the plastic has more retained memory than the other or one side of the open hull came into contact during the ejection process. If you are really concerned, there was a suggestion of marking the hull before chambering and note the relation to fired round.

I have seen some hulls with the mouth partially torn away. Those I would be concerned about if they were mine.

Oh ok thanks. After your comments and others I'm not going to be to concerned about it.