Can my brass be used or did I ruin them

[CZ550]

Hey guys I found my culprit with my stiff bolt in my 338 I was way overpressure, I borrowed two pieces of new Lapua brass from a buddy and lowered the charge down from 92 to 88 grains Retumbo and the bolt was as smooth as silk. I also loaded 2 Full Length sized brass of my own with 88 grains and they had the same old sticky bolt at the top of the bolt travel. Did I stretch the brass so bad with the hot load that it is ruined. My resized brass and the new brass were the same dimensions before I fired them so why did mine stick?

 

[bsekf]

After resizing and trimming, I would try just a few at a time. Watch for a bright ring 3/8 inch above the rim. That is an indication of impending case separation. If the primers seat with no resistance you have swelled the primer pockets. Proceed with caution...you may be OK.

 

[fdshuster]

Your problem could be the "new" diameter of the case heads. With overpressure loads the case head, just in front of the extractor groove will be a larger diameter than those from "normal" loads, and as little as .001" larger diameter will cause all kinds of trouble. If really wanting to save the brass you may be able to chuck them up in a drill press and reducing the diameter using 220 grit emery paper wrapped around a flat file. I've done that with some 6BR brass (Lapua) that was fired in a different chamber and could not close the bolt. headspace was not the problem. I was able to polish off less than .001" and the brass is now usable with normal bolt closing and opening after firing.

 

[HPMike800]

Thats a good Idea.

You can small base size them if such a thing is made. Call Redding.

 

[glbreil]

You may want to make sure that your sizing die is bumping the shoulder back enough. Sometimes if the chamber is cut tight the sizing dies need to be trimmed. There was another thread a couple days ago with the same problem and that was the issue.

Here is a link to the thread - http://www.accurateshooter.com/forum/index.php/topic,3752774.0.html

Gary

 

[jonbearman]

I would go with a small base die made by any of the big 3 companys.They will all grind you up one at a price.Redding seems more prone to do it and have heard forester will too.I would also get to annealing those necks after over pressuring the cartridge case as well.It will increase case life dramatically.

 

[dmickey]

How many pieces of brass are we talking about? ??? It may not be worth the expense.