Yes, a few times. No they weren't loaded hot and they were only loaded by me once. Brass fails, shoot enough and you become a statistic. I have a case remover in my tool bag and think everyone should with an AR.
Any specific brand of brass?
I get failures are going to happen but with tens of thousands Lake City rounds shot in the military and who knows how many in .civ life I’ve never seem this. I know it happens, just curious if there’s a common denominator.
On rare occasions, it's perfectly understandable.I don’t understand chasing velocity
Personally, I can't imagine building a rifle that will wear out a barrel in 400 rounds but, hey, if you're just using it to kill a couple of deer every year, 400 rounds is a lifetime.
I can remember some years ago, chasing velocity was a thing. Many were chasing velocity for the simple reason of trying to be the fastest, and I would assume simply for bragging rights.On rare occasions, it's perfectly understandable.
Offhand, those are the only cases I can think of where chasing faster bullet speeds is, IMO, justifiable and maybe even a darn good idea.
- It's common and OK in benchrest. Sometimes there's another accuracy node just out of reach, so you tip a bit more powder into the case. I have no problem with that. Those guys generally know what they're doing.
- Back when the power factors were different, 9mm major loads were a real thing. Yes, it was possible to achieve major power factor with published data but the .45 ACP-centric fuddy-duddies who ran the sport back then went apoplectic at the prospect so they changed the rules. For a while there, though, chasing velocity was the smart thing to do.
- Some pure hunting cartridges are designed around the notion that "speed kills." While it's possible to debate that (I'm not qualified to do so, btw.) it's clear that anyone who builds a rifle in .22-300WSM is clearly chasing velocity and probably justified in doing so. Personally, I can't imagine building a rifle that will wear out a barrel in 400 rounds but, hey, if you're just using it to kill a couple of deer every year, 400 rounds is a lifetime.
Otherwise, I feel the same way you do. Even if the firearm can take it, why wear out brass prematurely?