Federal Gold Medal Destroys National Match Upper ! (BOOM !)

[savagedasher]

HS is slightly longer on 5.56 NATO than on 223. Leade and freebore are different. Always remember it is safe to fire 223 in a 5.56 chamber but not 5.56 in a 223 chamber. There is a big difference in pressure of 5.56 over 223. The Wylde chamber is set up to allow either to be safely used.

So you feel it could be a free bore problem.
With the case being longer he could of developed a carbon ring. Sounds very responsible to me.. Sure happens with bolt gun . Larry

 

[JRS]

The gun can have a tight chamber with too short FB both will cause the problem . If I remember correctly the case on a 233 is larger then a 5.56 The head space is different also . Good luck Larry

SAAMI 223 is slightly smaller than the Mil-Spec 5.56
The OP's gun probably has the Wylde chamber, and has a good amount of free bore and neck diameter.

 

[shoot4fun]

So you feel it could be a free bore problem.
With the case being longer he could of developed a carbon ring. Sounds very responsible to me.. Sure happens with bolt gun . Larry

I never suggested that. I definitely am still in the camp of a fired-out-of-battery problem in spite of OP holding steadfast to the idea the bolt was fully locked up.

 

[savagedasher]

I never suggested that. I definitely am still in the camp of a fired-out-of-battery problem in spite of OP holding steadfast to the idea the bolt was fully locked up.

A carbon ring or short free bore would Would fit right in on your theary . Larry

 

[clowdis]

The surface of the case in the first photo seems to show a lot of corrosion in the chamber. Also the ring just above the head looks like it fired out of battery. I don't believe that it's Federal's problem.

 

[Beau]

Make sure the barrel extension isn't cracked!

 

[Frankr]

Well things happen glad no one was hurt. To me all the cases show signs of excessive pressure. flat heads,cratered primers, pierced primers..all signs of excessive pressure. I guess with us bolt gun shooters we always check are cases and look at a fired brass for signs of pressure..I understand why a AR rifle shooter does not..But anytime you see flat case heads and primers,cratered primers there is a problem either with the ammo or the rifle..I am venturing into shooting the AR rifles and I am sure I will be checking the fist few of my fired brass before I continue shooting.
I do not believe blown primers,pierced primers or cratered primers are a sign of a normally operating rifle or ammo and if it is sooner or latter you will end up with the results you had..Hope you get it worked out.

 

[gaboon]

I with the out battery firing. Did check the trigger for may be a double tap. With too much lube on the sear it can slip.

 

[SWRichmond]

does that primer flash hole look big to you guys?

 

[XTR]

Looking at the 3rd picture that you posted, there appears to be a distinct swell at the base of the case very visible at 6 o'clock. It is consistent with the position where the case ruptured. That makes me think the bolt may not have been fully in battery and the case was unsupported. I may be wrong. We're all just guys on the WWW offering opinions. As others have stated the blown primer may have been the culprit here.

If the above is the case, then the blown primer is more of a bugaboo from a factory load. I've gotten blown primers from loads that were too hot, but never from factory loads. I would not have expected that.

 

[MGYSGT]

Why do people keep saying you should have noticed. Nonsense! Those people have never fired offhand in comp. You never see your brass until it's over. As for the age of the ammo being the problem. Again, Nonsense!!!! 21 years is not old for ammo. In the 70's we were still shooting 50 cal ammo from WWII. They are just trying to distract you from the truth. They messed up.

 

[Park ranger]

does that primer flash hole look big to you guys?

It's sure does!

 

[swed6.5]

Im in agreement that primer hole is huge, i would check the others that pierced, i would guess that the 1st one that burst left enough debris on the bolt face it wasn't going into battery, and in combination with a rapid fire event didnt help.