Weird case failure with Wolf Gold .308win

[Dr. Marneaus]

Anybody seen anything like this before?

This happened today. Was shooting in a bolt action ruger. I fired, it sounded a little funny and my face got peppered with crap.

Opened the bolt (it was pretty stiff) and ejected this. This was the first round I fired from the box. I’ve never seen a failure like this. I didn’t notice anything wrong with the ammo when I loaded the magazine. I unloaded and put it away.



So then I went through the box. Found these other 3. How weird is that! Same exact spot, same linear mark….They were located somewhat randomly throughout the box. Not touching each other.

 

[4x4Brit]

Never seen one like that before. Pretty wild. Recent purchase or stash?

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

Never seen one like that before. Pretty wild. Recent purchase or stash?

Actually got it from a member here, no idea how old it is but doesn’t look particularly old. Box was sealed still.

 

[4x4Brit]

Actually got it from a member here, no idea how old it is but doesn’t look particularly old. Box was sealed still.

Are you going to reach out to the manufacturer? I was curious if they were based here so looked them up.

(888) 757-WOLF (9653)
P.O. Box 757
Placentia, California 92871
info@wolfammo.com

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

Are you going to reach out to the manufacturer? I was curious if they were based here so looked them up.

(888) 757-WOLF (9653)
P.O. Box 757
Placentia, California 92871
info@wolfammo.com

Yup was planning to. No idea how old the ammo is tho

 

[Coup d'etat]

Take some pics of the primers please. I want to see if this is a pressure problem or a defective brass problem.

 

[Coup d'etat]

I can see one of the primers. Notice how the firing pin indentation has mushroomed flat after ignition. Not a good sign.

 

[Coup d'etat]

Also inspect the chamber of your Ruger with a bright light. Tell us if you see anything suspect.

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

Also inspect the chamber of your Ruger with a bright light. Tell us if you see anything suspect.

I did. I suspected maybe there was a defect even though I’ve owned this rifle for years, but I saw nothing out of the ordinary. There was a sooty mark on the chamber wall where I could tell the blowout happened, but everything cleaned up as normal.

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

I can see one of the primers. Notice how the firing pin indentation has mushroomed flat after ignition. Not a good sign.

It does not show any over pressure signs on the primer. It’s not flat.

 

[Coup d'etat]

 

[Coup d'etat]

 

[MAC702]

I've shot lots of Wolf Gold in 223 but not 308. I've also had (and heard of) lots of success reloading Wolf Gold brass from the 223 that I've shot.

While unrelated to your issue, at the CMP matches in Twentynine Palms a couple weeks ago, most of the shooting is at 1000 yds, 600 yds, or standing at 200 yds. In those cases, you are slow-fire, single loading. I was shooting 1x fired reloaded Wolf Gold brass at the 200-yd line, so it was a normal-pressure load with a match 69-gr bullet, nothing heavy or hard like I drive at 600 and 1000, where I use LC brass.

During the standing portion on the final match, I tried to single load my round, and it wouldn't chamber. I dumped it in my cart and tried another one. Same thing. That's when I knew I had a problem. I got lucky, though. I hit the jam-extra-hard button on the side of the receiver and then mortared out the new round and it brought out the stuck case with it! I will be retiring all my Wolf Gold brass now to practice only. But I did finish the match with no further issues.

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

View attachment 198665

I’m not sure what that shows or how that’s related to pressure signs in a rifle. Looks like a (poop)ty Taurus bolt face.


This is what I look for concerning pressure. If the primer isn’t straight out flattened I’m not concerned about a tiny bit of deformation entering the firing pin hole

 

[MAC702]

Are you going to reach out to the manufacturer

Wolf rep: So you guys b!tch about steel case ammo, and now you b!tch about the brass?

 

[NYECOGunsmith]

Anybody seen anything like this before?

This happened today. Was shooting in a bolt action ruger. I fired, it sounded a little funny and my face got peppered with crap.

Opened the bolt (it was pretty stiff) and ejected this. This was the first round I fired from the box. I’ve never seen a failure like this. I didn’t notice anything wrong with the ammo when I loaded the magazine. I unloaded and put it away.

View attachment 198658 View attachment 198659

So then I went through the box. Found these other 3. How weird is that! Same exact spot, same linear mark….They were located somewhat randomly throughout the box. Not touching each other.
View attachment 198660

I have seen similar markings on really old 30'06 ammo , loaded and stored during the early 19 teens, it was loaded for WWI.
Brass will get that odd discoloration and be weakened if exposed to chlorides, acetates, ammonia, and certain acids.
Any discoloration on the box it came out of?
Any odd smell to the box, or the fired or still loaded brass?

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

I have seen similar markings on really old 30'06 ammo , loaded and stored during the early 19 teens, it was loaded for WWI.
Brass will get that odd discoloration and be weakened if exposed to chlorides, acetates, ammonia, and certain acids.
Any discoloration on the box it came out of?
Any odd smell to the box, or the fired or still loaded brass?

No discoloration, box didn’t look like it had been damaged or wet. I didn’t notice anything weird until after the one case failure when i looked and found the other few. No weird smells just a kaboom lol.