Damn ... that's an interesting picture to say the least. I've bought and shot Freedoms remans many many times with nary an issue.

 

I’ve shot thousands of rounds of Freedom Munitions in lots of different calibers and the only problem I ever had was with their .308 till this one 9mm.

 

The brass tear looks thin as foil, could it be a thin spot caused by resizing the brass ?

There also looks like primer flow making it a hot load maybe ?

 

There also looks like primer flow making it a hot load maybe ?

iMO that primer is fine……it hasn’t flattened out yet. Truth be told basing a hot load on the primer is not reliable.

 

I had a batch of Freedom 147 grain that did the same thing in a 9mm AR. No problems in any other gun. I used them to break in several guns. I took a close look at the rifle and there was a lot of unsupported cartridge showing. Strange design. It did it with a couple of new147 grain Rems too. I no longer have that gun.

 

I had that happen in a Kahr CW 9 with Freedom Ammunition remans (not Freedom Munitions)- blew the side plate off the Kahr, had to send it in for repairs. Never shot reloads again.

 

Almost looks like it has a 'step' inside the case near where the break occurred. That would make it a no-reload for me.

Looked up FM headstamp:

FM Établissements Industriels de Défense, Damascus, Syria 1
FM Fábrica Militar de Cartuchos de San Lorenzo, San Lorenzo, Argentina 3
FM Fábrica Nacional de Municiones, Santa Fe, México (near Mexico City)

Here is where the information comes from.... quite useful and informative
Headstamp Codes - International Ammunition Association

 

Almost looks like it has a 'step' inside the case near where the break occurred. That would make it a no-reload for me.

Looked up FM headstamp:

FM Établissements Industriels de Défense, Damascus, Syria 1
FM Fábrica Militar de Cartuchos de San Lorenzo, San Lorenzo, Argentina 3
FM Fábrica Nacional de Municiones, Santa Fe, México (near Mexico City)

Here is where the information comes from.... quite useful and informative
Headstamp Codes - International Ammunition Association

I did not think to check the head stamp on the separated cases. Now I wonder if they were all the same mfg. Freedom reloads random cases. I still put some blame on the gun as those rounds functioned flawlessly is several other guns.

 

That just happened to Top Shot Dustin on YouTube in an Uzi, except he got a squib. His was released brass too

 

Do web search of "fm headstamp brass step". Number of reports of separations and jams due to the step. However, there seem to be 2 versions of the step in different headstamped ammo.

Not sure whether the following is true or not. One concern was that the step causes less case volume. Maybe a design of original ammo manufacture to save powder. That may be fine for new brass that gets powder load adjusted down, but if you reload and use pusblished loads for non-stepped brass, you might get some over pressure.

I don't have any guns yet that I'd be willing to sacrifice on an experiment to do test loads with that brass for shoot-until-failure.

OP: you might want to talk to Freedom Munitions about this. The split right above that shelf is suspicious as to cause of the weakness.

 

What is that?

This called a “stepped” case, and this is where they come apart. Check your cases with a magnet, you may be surprised. FM is junk ammo.

 

This called a “stepped” case, and this is where they come apart. Check your cases with a magnet, you may surprised. FM is junk ammo.

Yep, stepped cases are not to be reloaded they go into the junk can.

 

Probably just weak brass. I had a Hornady 5.56 case do the same on the first reloading. I was working up a load and one of them separated like that. Was not even close to a full power load.

 

I found some cases that look just like that in some once fired brass I bought. I discovered them when they wouldn't size. I can't remember the head stamp now but at the time I google'd it and they were considered un-reloadable.
I wonder how it made it through Freedom's machinery?

 

I can't remember the head stamp now but at the time I google'd it and they were considered un-reloadable.

They’re not…….it’s like trying to punch out a Berdan primer.

 

On another note,
It's good to see another Marlin Camp 9 owner.
I just mounted a Romeo Zero on mine.

Have not been able to shoot it yet, but looking forward to it.

 

On another note,
It's good to see another Marlin Camp 9 owner.
I just mounted a Romeo Zero on mine.

Have not been able to shoot it yet, but looking forward to it.
View attachment 162538

I love my Camp 9 - More shootable than my older Ruger Police Carbine 9 and much better than the newer PC9's in my opinion.

 

I only reload U.S. made brass. I don’t trust foriegn crap.

 

Lapua is excellent brass, and it is not made in the U.S.

 

Just a few comments: Although most brass cases are reloadable, the manufacturer's mission is for the brass to provide exactly one safe load. I will echo Mark 204's comment about foreign made brass being junk. The cut line looks like it was at the base of the bullet??? Don't blame the gun!!!

 

The cut line looks like it was at the base of the bullet??? Don't blame the gun!!!

Iowegan, the “step” isn’t close to being at the base of the bullet, it’s deeper. A buddy and I were playing with one once, we thought maybe it was to eliminate bullet set-back. So we dropped a bullet in a spent case……there wasn’t much bullet left sticking out of the case. Definitely one of the silliest things I’ve ever seen. I agree, it has nothing to do with the firearm.

 

Wonky Brass ... it happens .. Carry On .
Gary

 

Ive never have had one, but have read of "stepped brass" and how it should never be reloaded.
Once again, buy quality ammo made in USA.

 

I guess I lied with my first post. I just looked at the box and it was new ammo, not reman and all the spent cases I picked up and all of the rest of the unfired ammo in this box all have the FM stamp. All the spent cases have the ring inside. Most of the Freedom Munitions ammo I buy is reman. This is the first time I’ve ever had problems with any of their ammo and I’ve shot thousands of rounds of Freedom Munitions ammo. I opened some other boxes of Freedom Munitions ammo and every box is a mix of head stamps.

I also found other people in other forums that have had this exact problem with this same head stamp. Makes me want to build a camp fire and toss the rest of this ammo in it.

 

get cheap inertia puller. Keep the bullets for a realoading friend and use the powder for fertilizer.
Don't toss bullets in fire. Bullets would fly, not near as lethally as in a barrel, but enough that it might "you'll shoot your eye out, kid" ("A Christmas Story" movie theme: sorry, couldn't help it).

 

The stepped case is used to eliminate bullet setback in the loading process (letting manufacturers avoid taper crimping) and might be helpful for use in machine pistols. That's why the design was introduced. After many case separation failures, manufacturers have started returning to standard tapered 9mm Luger cases. The failures have occurred with new stepped cases.

These should never be reloaded. Toss them if you encounter them.

It's a headache for reloaders, and creates a weakness point for case separation. In your long barrel rifle, there is a good chance that extraction can start before the entire case has had time to "spring back" from it's expanded state against the chamber wall - especially the portion of the case behind the step point. The right angle formed by the step at the case wall is the ideal point for a weakness to initiate case separation.

I doubt I would ever want the new composite cases with part stainless steel case bodies either. My preference is standard boxer primed brass.

 

I have already pulled one of the bullets. Photo below. I doubt I’d ever toss them into a campfire, but I’ve seen it done a lot and as long as you keep a safe distance, it’s a safe thing to do. There are 37 rounds left in the box and I don’t think I have any more ammo with the stepped cases....At least I hope I don't.

 

That step looks awfully deep if its purpose is to prevent bullet setback. I wonder if it’s there to make the brass forming process go better. That would give a thick wall at the base and yet have thinner walls that would release from the forming die more easily.

Whatever the purpose, a step like that focuses stress at the angle formed where the thinner part of the case wall meets the thicker part.

 

So is Norma and PMC but brass from most other foreign countries isn't up to par.

 

I have had good luck with PMC brass. Federal and Starline remain my favorite, however.

 

Like the Marlin. excellent 9x19 lead slinger!

 

There is nothing wrong with your rifle, it is definitely the lousy brass they use, be it new or reman! Did you notice anything when you fired the shot that separated? Probably not until it tried to stuff another round in the chamber. Usually the worst thing that happens with these type of head seperations is you have to get a rod & patch to get the remainder of the case out of the chamber, so personally, I'd just keep the chamber clean and shoot the rest of the ammo. Case seperations are not dangerous. The only potential problem is when the next round is chambered and it forces the remainder of the broken case into the chamber... however I have not personally seen, nor experienced a case seperation where the next round fully chambered - the only situation that could be dangerous. If you keep the chamber clean you'll be able to extract the broken piece easily after which you can keep on shooting until they're gone. Then, don't ever buy that ammo again! So far the worst brass I've found is the Chinese stuff (I have some .223 head stamped "CY 93" that the primer pockets get loose after the first reloading!) While I can stake them or use a ball bearing to reduce the size, it's much too labor intensive to mess with and mostly I just toss them in the scrap heap. Live and learn!
Cheers,
jc

 

At first I thought it had something to do with a cannelure, but it's too low on the case. Then I read on about the steps in the case. I have seen this plenty... some manufacturers trying to strengthen the web for unsupported breeches is my best guess.

As much as I have reloaded 9mm (like better than 150k) and never saw a split like that, nor have I ever questioned the step enough to research it, I can't offer a solid answer. So I would guess it is a perfect storm of weakened case from reloading, weakened case from high pressure due to case volume, potential unsupported breech in the OP's gun, and just bad luck.

 

I have had 9mm FM (Freedom Munitions) head stamped brass do the same thing in a Glock 19. It is the stepped case. They get a stress riser and fail. I believe Federal NT is stepped and there is another one also. All are crap. X-TREME head stamps are gtg but not top quality like Starline.

 

I had 2 case separations with Freedom Munition's .223 remans - but only in my buddy's belt-fed M-16 and not in any of my AR-15's. Typically I get a lot of Lake City headstamps and they have all worked flawlessly (except for those 2 previously mentioned). Same flawless story with my 9mm remans from FM. I would guess it has to do with the combination of ammo+chamber since it sometimes works perfectly but not 100% in every situation.

 

I had 2 case separations with Freedom Munition's .223 remans - but only in my buddy's belt-fed M-16

Who manufactured the upper?