firearms1

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I was at one of the many rifle ranges up here in Alaska and the guy next to me was shooting one of the 7.62x54 semi-autos. (not sure which one, I'm not up on them)It looked like an extended AK-47. But with every shot it was smoking out of the receiver area and I thought that was odd. I asked him if he had left any oil in the gas tube, cause that baby shouldn't be smoking like that. He said no. Then on the next shot his case came out real violently and hit me over the left eye. Luckily it hit my glasses also which took away a little of the momentum but it still cut me deep enough to bleed well. I picked up the case and it was a steel one and it was split from base to shoulder. I yelled at him to stop shooting and he asked "Why" and I showed him the bulged and split case. The rifle was a new one and he had shot brass cases through it OK but this was the first time he used that ammo.

He went with me up to the Range Officer building and we explained what had happened and they bandaged my eye up. Hurt like the dickens but no permanant damage. Just thought I would toss this out at you to see what you guys think about it and if any of you have had the same problem I didn't get the brand of the ammo unfortunately. Other than it was steel cases with a copper wash on them.

Sarge

I have heard from some old-timers that the steel cases don't flex/expand like there brass brothers. From what they said, I gathered that these steel cases will split and/or bulge and breakup, whereas the brass cases will expand and stretch. The steel cases seems to be more brittle.

I mentioned in the other sites another thought.

The temperature that day at the range was about 19 deg. I wonder if that could have had something to do with the steel cases splitting. Maybe not the whole reason but a contributing factor.

Since you mentioned the smoke...and this was a new piece...perhaps there was some residual lubricant in there somewhere. For example, I understand that, if there is ......wd40, cosmoline, etc in the barrel, the operating pressure goes up above the rated number for that weapon. I'd think that could cause what you experienced........

Humm hadn't thought of that. I guess I thought everyone cleans a new rifle before they fire it. But he didn't look like a savvy shooter come to think about it. He looked like a young wanna be rambo. Shaved head, wearing black clothes with cargo pockets on the legs. You know the type. Could be.

Laz hit this one right..the problem is these imported guns come to the States packed in cosmoline, and you have to know how to disassemble the gun to remove the residual cosmoline. The wonderful semi-auto action moves that cosmoline right into the receiver as it cycles the next round, and then you have increased pressure on the round plus the excess cosmoline and burnt powder build up pressure on that gas system. And the older steel cases actually harden with age, especially any Chinese made junk due to excessive zinc (the steel case may have zinc plating or have high zinc in the steel used) used to prevent rusting. Some of the Russian ammo is quote "sealed in cans" but much of the loose stuff shows loading dates from the 50's and 60's so plenty of time for the steel case to harden.

I do not use steel cases except for those from Yugoslavia no earlier than 70's, and must still be in the sealed tin. I think you got the type right, and you could have a little fun by telling him he needs to anneal those steel cases.......but don't let him use your oven.

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