308 win Hornaday brass

[ebb]

I was sizing 50 pieces of Hornaday308 brass and had a lot more grief than normal. I broke 2 decap pins and had about half of them offer much resistance going in and out of the shell holder. The cases have a small ring around the primer that at first inspection did not look like a crimp, as it was very close to the primer hole and went all the way to the primer. It looked more like a machining mark from the bit that bored the primer hole. but with this much resistance to sizing it may well be a primer crimp. Does anyone know if Hornaday has ever crimped primers on their 308 ammo?

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

I was sizing 50 pieces of Hornaday308 brass and had a lot more grief than normal. I broke 2 decap pins and had about half of them offer much resistance going in and out of the shell holder. The cases have a small ring around the primer that at first inspection did not look like a crimp, as it was very close to the primer hole and went all the way to the primer. It looked more like a machining mark from the bit that bored the primer hole. but with this much resistance to sizing it may well be a primer crimp. Does anyone know if Hornaday has ever crimped primers on their 308 ammo?

no idea about the crimp, but it sounds like its time for a mighty armory die

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

some pics might help too?

 

[Rob01]

Yes they did crimp the primers on some lines. They didn’t at first with the Superformance but then did after people had issues with primers backing out. I also have some 168 ELD match ammo that is crimped.

 

[K22]

Did you start with virgin Hornady cases?

I'm not sure about their factory loaded ammo but the cases they sale for reloading do not have any provision for crimping the primer, at least the ones I've purchased which is a bunch.

After repeated reloading and firing, sometimes the rims can become worn and distorted due to extractor wear on the rim. I've seen this in fragile rims in small cartridges cases such as the 223 Rem. This condition is often aggravated by shooting out of semi-autos. This can cause resistance when inserting the case into the shell holder.

The only thing I can think of regarding the breaking the decapping pin is that it could be caused by misaligned of the pin with primer hole either due to the primer hole being punched off center or the case not centering in the shell holder.

 

[Rob01]

Two Hornady cases. The one on right is crimped. You can see it better in person. I assumed he was talking about factory ammo as he was decapping.

 

[ebb]

Thank you rob they are like the one on the right. I assume that they will clean up like the Lake City brass?

 

[Rob01]

Yup they will. Just like removing the crimp on the LC brass.

 

[Fullbore308]

no idea about the crimp, but it sounds like its time for a mighty armory die

Second that, it’s a beast. Gave it hell past two seasons without any issues at all.

 

[Ray123]

Just used a bunch of free "found on the ground" Hornady cases with crimp in primers...just process like LC military brass in the Dillion 600 Swage to remove crimp and load.