I bought a load of 'once fired' Snider brass recently, NDFS and some unmarked.
All the NDFS brass are holding up well, but 3 of some unmarked brass (reformed shot-shells?) have split after 2nd firing.
My own original stock of Bertram brass is on 6th firing, no problems at all.
An ideas if these split cases can be salvaged for another purpose?
Re: Snider Case splits
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 12:31 pm
by FredB
They look to be used up. Anneal the cases that you have left, and don't re-size them if possible. If the bullet is loose in the case neck. be thankful---sniders shoot better like that.
Fred
Re: Snider Case splits
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 1:27 pm
by channel12
Jim, who was NDFS, produced all his cases by turning from solid brass and as a consequence the case walls are thicker than the solid drawn Bertram cases. They are therefore less tolerant of oversize or slightly oval chambers especially if the brass has been work hardened. Your unmarked cases are from his early production and it only later that he head stamped them.
The neck split ones are salvageable, use a pipe cutter to cut the case down to sound metal which I've recently and posted results here Snider Enfield forum My NDFS cases used to show signs of stress cracking in the main body of the case just where yours have failed completely.
Or you could use shotgun shells in future, this guy has some interesting videos on the shooting the Snider Enfield
