Case head separation

[cameronalbrecht]

Got my first case head separation warning. Federal brass fired 12 times. Out of a batch of 50 3 caught the paperclip. Went back through all 50 with the borescope and the other 47 looked fine, the other 2 that caught the paperclip didn't look quite this bad on the scope. Question is, through out the remaining 47 just to be safe? Seems to me that a few dollars worth of brass isn't worth the potential damage right?

 

[ronsatspokane]

Federal brass? 12 times fired? I'd say you got your money's worth. Why press your luck.

 

[kelbro]

Wow. Good catch. I would toss the whole batch.

 

[LCazador]

Yes you are definitely correct in that it isn't worth money. Do you keep track of head diameter? I would consider this a big signal that my sizing die is not a good match for my chamber. Also I would reevaluate my sizing die set up and keep track of shoulder bump and head expansion.

 

[Doom]

Factory Rifle or Custom? 12 firings isn't bad especially for Federal cases. You get a good amount of brass flow when FLS that comes from case body diameter difference between fired and resized case in addition to the datum dimension (headspace) setback.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Got my first case head separation warning. Federal brass fired 12 times. Out of a batch of 50 3 caught the paperclip. Went back through all 50 with the borescope and the other 47 looked fine, the other 2 that caught the paperclip didn't look quite this bad on the scope. Question is, through out the remaining 47 just to be safe? Seems to me that a few dollars worth of brass isn't worth the potential damage right?
View attachment 1755857

I got 13 firings on my previous batch of Federal .308 cases. . . and I was pushing it as before that I could feel the beginnings of the separation at ~ 8 firings with my paper clip. A couple showed prominent signs on the outside at 9 firings and I ditched them and continued with the others. On the 13th firing, quite a few had prominent signs (see pic) and that's when I ditched that whole batch. My current batch of Federals has 10 firings and no signs yet (probably because I adjusted my sizing die where I'm not bumping the shoulders back much - like only .001 - .0015").

 

[Bat Rastard]

“When in doubt,
I throw it out.”
I think that’s a Ted Nugent quote.
Something like that…

 

[209jones]

I've always figured if I got 10 shots ea out of 100 brass, I got my money's worth, even at 200.00/100 that's 0.20/shot, for 1000 shots. If I can get more, that's just a bonus.

 

[dat]

6x47L, lots of 200, Lapua and peterson brass, never annealed, 20+ firings (the barrels are about done then)
6Bra, Lapua, one set of 200 I shot between 2 barrels, 40 and 41 firings (these were annealed once somewhere in the middle as an experiment) Peterson brass, haven't gotten there yet - only 12 or so firings.

 

[steve210]

A face full of gas, brass, and powder ain't worth getting another firing on a piece of brass. Toss the whole batch and start with fresh brass. I would also check your shoulder bump numbers to make sure it's not excessive.

 

[K22]

Lots of good advice. I agree, toss them.

 

[cb186]

That is way more firings than I would expect from Fed brass. The Hornady I started reloading on all died via separation. Lost track of the number of times I reloaded it, but I would guess around 10 time. It owed me nothing.

 

[LCazador]

6x47L, lots of 200, Lapua and peterson brass, never annealed, 20+ firings (the barrels are about done then)
6Bra, Lapua, one set of 200 I shot between 2 barrels, 40 and 41 firings (these were annealed once somewhere in the middle as an experiment) Peterson brass, haven't gotten there yet - only 12 or so firings.

Now 'dat' is good due to good die set up! LOL! Nothing takes the place of proper sizing die set up.

 

[BHP9]

When I got my 6.5 Creedmore, I could only get Hornady brass. On the first loading I lost 4 to slit necks, on the second I lost 5 and a couple had split bodies. I annealed the remainder, most of which I still have, but I was able to get 200 Lapua brass. That gets annealed after every firing.

Remember guys that friends don't let friend use Hornady brass.

 

[markm87]

There's no danger, but FC brass isn't worth the risk of a full separation with the front of the brass stuck in your chamber. I've had a handful of separations over the years and one time there was a stubborn one that I couldn't get out at the range.

 

[jds holler]

I shoot my 218 Bee brass to full failure sometimes, but that's iddy biddy powder and pressure compared to a full boatload in 308 or sum-such.

Did it fart anything out the back end?? jd

 

[ELR LVR]

I make and sell a blued steel tool for $20 specifically for this
its much more positive and sensitive than a paper clip
if anyone wants one

 

[searcher]

A dozen loadings with most commercial brass (Winchester, Remington, Federal) using a full-length sizing die is usually a little past the maximum life in my experience. Of course, that depends on how much pressure you are running, sizing method, amount of shoulder bump, etc. Based on your methods and the load (and if you keep running the same brand of brass, load, etc.), that brass might be best tossed a few firings sooner. Good that you were inspecting things.

 

[cb186]

When I got my 6.5 Creedmore, I could only get Hornady brass. On the first loading I lost 4 to slit necks, on the second I lost 5 and a couple had split bodies. I annealed the remainder, most of which I still have, but I was able to get 200 Lapua brass. That gets annealed after every firing.

Remember guys that friends don't let friend use Hornady brass.

Hornady brass has its place. Not in competition, but great for hunting(don't care if you lose it), and learning to reload(after buying factory Match ammo).

 

[cameronalbrecht]

A dozen loadings with most commercial brass (Winchester, Remington, Federal) using a full-length sizing die is usually a little past the maximum life in my experience. Of course, that depends on how much pressure you are running, sizing method, amount of shoulder bump, etc. Based on your methods and the load (and if you keep running the same brand of brass, load, etc.), that brass might be best tossed a few firings sooner. Good that you were inspecting things.

I think I'm pretty content with 12 firings. I KNOW I'm happy I caught a problem before it ruined a range day, as an OTR truck driver I don't get enough of those! So I will likely heed that advice and scrap the next batch of FC at 10 firings.