Major case failure, 17HMR

Unruely · Post by **Unruely** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 6:03 pm

I decided to take my Taurus Tracker in 17HMR out this morning for a little target practice. I was using the only ammo I use which is Hornady V-Max. The first cylinder of 7 rounds went perfect, but on the second cylinder 10th shot for the day it went wrong.. I'm glad it was cold and I was wearing some gloves. The complete case rim exploded, I could feel the force of it on my hands. It burnt 3 small holes in the neoprene of my glove. I was only able to find 1 very small fragment of the rim, I have no idea where the rest went too?? The ejector is jammed in the cylinder along with 2 fired cases and 2 unfired rounds. The remains of the bad brass is still in the cylinder, and I can see bit of the brass in the firing pin hole. I have fired thousands of rounds of 17HMR thru all of my guns and the is the first problem I have had in any of them. This gun has went thru at least 500rnds itself. I will be getting in touch with Hornady ASAP to see what they say about this??

Martin

Unruely · Post by **Unruely** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 6:52 pm

Well, I was able to get the 2 unfired rounds out of the cylinder this evening. Take a look at the round that was next to the one that failed!!!!!

It was not like this when I put it in either??? The gun is now very tight, the extractor star will not budge and the cylinder is very tight when trying to close it in place?? I have not tried to do much other than removing the 2 unfired rounds until I talk to Hornady..

Post by **Bullseye** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 11:23 pm

Is the brass casing from the failed round still in the cylinder? How about the barrel, is it clear of any rounds?

R,
Bullseye

Unruely · Post by **Unruely** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 5:50 am

The barrel is clear, the bullet from this shot hit about 8" lower than the other rounds fired. The remains of the casing are still in the cylinder..

Post by **Bullseye** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 6:33 am

The first order of business is to remove the stuck case. It is this damaged casing that is likely interfering with your star extractor's movement. You may be able to use a .223 broken shell extractor to remove the ruptured case. You would have to remove the center pin, slide in the extractor then insert the center pin into the extractor though the front of the cylinder. If not, a sizing die stuck case remover may do the trick?

Looking at the picture the damaged unfired casing looks like a blast wave gas bubble from the blown out cartridge may have traveled under the star extractor and into the next chamber causing the deformation. Have you extracted the fired round in the adjacent cylinder and inspected it?

R,
Bullseye

Unruely · Post by **Unruely** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 6:53 am

I have not removed the 2 fired casings yet. I am leary in doing much until I talk to Hornady about this. Depending on what they say today, I may start working on it tonight after work..

Post by **Bullseye** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:00 am

They will want to know the lot#/manufacturing code off of the package.

I noticed that the firing pin dents in two spent rounds do not appear very deep. While some of that is cause from back pressure inside the case, the flip side is the firing pin doesn't look like it is capable of piercing the casing rim.

R,
Bullseye

Unruely · Post by **Unruely** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:13 am

I have that info ready when I call. I noticed that too about the firing pin marks, so I will be curious to hear what they say??

Downeaster · Post by **Downeaster** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 3:23 pm

I have the same weapon. Haven't had that problem (yet) but I do have one chamber that routinely splits the case mouth.

Also, the cylinder randomly binds to the point that I can't fully cock the weapon in single-action mode, much less double action. Opening and reclosing the cylinder usually remedies that, which makes me think it's a crane problem.

All in all, I'm underwhelmed with the gun and will be trading it off as soon as I find a sucker. DO like the .17HMR and will probably replace the Taurus with a Single Six.

Unruely · Post by **Unruely** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 3:37 pm

I talked to Hornady this morning. The have requested that I send them the ammo I have left from that lot number and also to send them the pistol. The will send a call tag for the ammo, they will also reimberse me for the shipping on the gun. They will send the ammo to CCI, and the gun to Taurus. I hate sending it off, but I guess it has to be done to be certain. the person I talked too has seen similar before. The damaged round didn't surprise him at all either. I will update this as things happen.

Martin

recumbent · Post by **recumbent** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 6:05 pm

Good Luck and keep us posted on the outcome.

SKnight · Post by **SKnight** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:52 pm

Yikes! That's not pretty. I found a 9MM case at the range one day that was ruptured from the back. That can't be fun.

Unruely · Post by **Unruely** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:55 am

Well, both the ammo and pistol have been shipped to Hornady for their inspection. The ammo will then be shipped to CCI and the pistol to Taurus. I will update as soon as I hear anything.