The central burst defect, also called chevroning, in the extruded or drawn product is analyzed. A criterion for the unique conditions that promote this defect has been derived. Measures to prevent the occurrence of central burst are indicated. A major conclusion of the study is that, for a range of combinations of cone angle, reduction, and friction, central bursting is expected in any metal that can be called “Mises’ material.”1 Under such a combination (reduction, cone angle, and friction), even the most ductile material can burst centrally. The flow characteristics, described by Mises’ stress deviator-strain rate relations associated with Mises’ yield criterion, are the only metal properties needed to predict central bursting. No additional fracture criterion is associated with this failure.