What is going on here?

[nucular]

What do you suppose is the issue here? I am not 100% positive on brand but I believe it is some very old winchester white box .223. Definitely not reloads. I had it stored in an ammo can - probably 20 years old. On several occasions, I took a shot and got a FTF. Ejected the round and this is how it looked. Neck was either split and/or wadded up and the bullet fell back in the case.

 

[Sigblitz]

Mice?

 

[Wolfhound]

If I had to guess I would say brittle brass. Probably a bad batch.

 

[nucular]

If I had to guess I would say brittle brass. Probably a bad batch.

Think the age or storage conditions made it worse or just bad from the factory?

 

[TJ Kackowski]

Be thankful that those rounds failed to fire.

Here's what happened to my M1 when some ammo with brittle brass was run through it ... https://www.indianagunowners.com/threads/m1-goes-kaboom.521709/

Brittle brass is no bueno.

 

[Wolfhound]

Think the age or storage conditions made it worse or just bad from the factory?

Not sure but probably a factory issue. 20 years is not really that old for ammo.

 

[Aszerigan]

Improper neck sizing and /or crimp. Not enough neck tension to hold the bullet on chambering. It can also crush or split the neck on hitting the feed ramp. This is a BIG problem. Do not shoot that ammo.

 

[DadSmith]

Improper neck sizing and /or crimp. Not enough neck tension to hold the bullet on chambering. It can also crush or split the neck on hitting the feed ramp. This is a BIG problem. Do not shoot that ammo.

If he's a reloader couldn't he check oal, neck dimensions, use a neck sizing die, and crimp the neck with a Lee Factory crimp die?

 

[Aszerigan]

If he's a reloader couldn't he check oal, neck dimensions, use a neck sizing die, and crimp the neck with a Lee Factory crimp die?

Yes, absolutely. He could pull the bullets, resize the neck, reseat then crimp. That’s assuming there aren’t split necks already.

I’ve had this happen with an out-of-spec FL sizer before. You could tap the tip of the bullet on a table and it would set back. Figured it out after a AR lower blew out.

 

[Creedmoor]

Yes, absolutely. He could pull the bullets, resize the neck, reseat then crimp. That’s assuming there aren’t split necks already.

Yep, I loaded a few hundred LC Match 7.62 once fired cases 20-25 years ago and they sat in a can long forgotten. A few years ago they were found and we decided to shoot them and recycle the brass.
At least 80% had split necks. I just assumed it was from loading hard brass. I knew there history, I picked them up at a high power match at Meade.

 

[nucular]

If he's a reloader couldn't he check oal, neck dimensions, use a neck sizing die, and crimp the neck with a Lee Factory crimp die?

I don't think its a crimp issue. I think they were pre-split before I attempted to feed. I think I need to go through the rest of these rounds and look at the necks under a magnifier. I only have a couple hundred left from this batch so i may just toss them.

 

[drm-hp]

Seeing you asked, here is my hypothesis.

First- 20 years old is not an issue for properly stored ammunition, which if as stated, you did.

Second- For one reason or another the neck tension was not sufficient too secure the bullet in place during chambering. This allowed the bullet to move backwards into the case rather than guide the cartridge into the chamber.

Third- Since the bullet is no longer in place to guide, the end of the case is now exposed to the feed ramp. Once the case and feed ramp collide, the weaker piece will give way, in this instance the softer brass case gave way. (This is more common in semi-auto firearms, but it can also happen in a bolt action.)

It can not be determined why the bullet was loose from a photo, but there is normally one of two reasons.
First- Brass being brittle
A- Improper heat treat
B- Over working the material
Second- Improper neck tension

If I had to guess, I would say improper neck tension. You might try tapping on the bullets of some of the remaining pieces to see if they move with moderate pressure. Also, if you were to able to chamber and fire them they will oftentimes run at a lower velocity.