The brass I used for this run was 100,000 pieces of processed LC 308 once-fired brass from a well known, reputable brass source. Out of the 100,000 pieces, this is the first one I have heard of doing this. I'd say that's pretty darn good.

Chad I am not knocking you but I hope my failure rate is much better than 1/100,000.

Oops. I tried editing and deleted instead, so reposting.

This is a case head separation in brass loaded one time too many. Thankfully I was not shooting it, but it provides a graphic example of why to wear eye protection.

The OP's photo looks like something very different as best I can see from the photo.

100K is a ton of rifle rounds.

Looked at that link jbd provided...the common thread seems to be [presumably] once-fired brass. The web failures have me wondering about primer pocket prep methods. The next question that comes to mind whether the pockets were swaged.

The common thread might actually be this...

I have 3060 lbs of WCC 308 brass coming my way now. That's just over 130,000 pieces of 308 brass! This brass is processed differently and with tighter tolerances. I can't wait to get these added to the website after testing.

failure at the extractor groove is a tough one

a spot that can't be work hardened from repeated sizing

I am going to call Defective Brass (porous brass)

Reminds me of a factory new brass that was loaded without a primer flash hole. No harm no foul in that case, but just an example that strange things do happen.

Btw, good on chad for being upfront and involved in the conversation. It's obvious that the OP had no intentions of putting a name on it. Even thought it sounds like the problem had nothing to do with you, lots of guys would have wanted to distance themselves from any kind of issue.

If you want to see a similar type of failure and read about bad brass Google TZ 80. Interesting commentary, the factory making the stuff in Israel blew up a few years later.... They had a lot of bad brass in one or 2 lots. I have about 100 pieces that was already fired once that I may trash now.
I recently had a case separation in a .44 mag. First ever in 35 years but it was after 5-6 reloads in a Desert Eagle which is hard on brass. Now I know the limit.

Kudos to Chad too.

I have case head separation twice from the same lot of WWB .40 in my Sig 229, and that was factory. Gloves/Glasses saved the day.

Thanks, guys!!