Case head seperation

[todg]

I am have a proble with case head seperation on my FAL. Ammo in new Remington Ballistic Tip .308. The chamber looks good and the rifle headspaces correctly on the go gauge (doesn't lock on no-go). Any suggestions?

Thanks

[Deltaten]

O.K. todg, I'll have a stab at it!

I had same with a CAI L1A1. Tight, rough chamber and commercial loads. AS I unmderstand it, the .308 loads are a higher pressure/SAAMI specs than .762 Nato spec. Also a thinner case section at the start of the web. Most are spec'd for bolt actions and not semi or full auto.

The abrupt over-pressure of a thinner case in an oversize (.308 cart in a .762 spec) chamber, in conjunction w/rapid and extreme extraction leads to head separation.

I've also had it happen to .762 surplus (non-Nato=hotter load) in a spec'd .308 (CAI, so who really knows!)"rough" chamber, with all the associated angry beaver firing sequence problems. Only happened once or twice, but it can be hazardous to one's health.

I hope this helps, other willchime in w/thier opinions. It may help to list make, model, manufacturer of FAL for specific "fix".
Hang around and see; Best of luck,
Paul

[W.E.G.]

I never get more than two firings from a batch of new Remington cases in an M1A before I start seeing an unacceptable number of head separations (resized correctly, not over-pressure loads). Remington just makes weak brass. That's the bottom line.

On the subject of which round is hotter, see http://www.l1a1.com/cgi-bin/forums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=13&t=000187

[todg]

Thanks for the replies.

The gun is a Williams aluminum receiver built with an STG-58 kit and a new Belgian 18" bbl. I didn't see anthing in the chamber, but polished it out with 1000 grip paper and finished with a swab and green chrome rouge. It shines like glass now. I'll take it to the range and try some different ammo.

Tod