case info help

[NICOSPOP]

I need some help - on everything that I have read from The Warehouse Experiments to info on different forums I can not find any conclusive answers to a couple of questions:
1. What effect do cases with a variance in lengths,.001-.003)have on accuracy?
2.What effect does cleaning or not cleaning case mouths have?
3.When do you know when the case has had enough?
Also on a different note, what would cause a bullet have a horizontal impact? The rifle is zeroed at 100 yrds with great groups and every now and then I would get a flier that would be 2-3 minutes horizontal.
Thanks for any help.

 

[BigJim]

Ok I'm going to try to help

1. The when you fire the cartage in some times it will stretch the brass and if not sized will SOMETIMES not chamber properly. Once the brass has been "fire formed" it can be neck sized and will fit YOUR chamber for the rifle it was fired from.
Use a caliper to measure the case length. if the case length is within max limits you do not have to trim that piece of brass, if it is longer than the standard case length you will need to trim that case. Because each manufacture of brass uses a different mix of metals in each batch, you should measure each case. The neck will need to be sized to bring it back to spec to hold the next bullet properly. Now you ask how do you get the primer out without totally resizing the case. Well you need to purchase a neck sizing die that will decap your case and neck size it without totally resizing the case.

2. Cleaning the inside of the case neck will make sure that there is no powder or other residue that would effect how the bullet exits the case when fired. I do not clean the inside of the case, but then I do not fire comp and do not care if I am sightly off on the target as long as I can hit the x ring.

3. Depending on the brand of brass,not all brass is created equally) you as a RULE should be able to get 5 to 8 reloading from NEW brass. That is just a rule - you will need to inspect each case every time it is used to insure that no undue pressure was developed that might over stress the case. If the neck is cracked or shows signs of stress THROW IT OUT. Check the head of the case,Back end) if it shows signs of separation or stress THROW IT OUT. be careful on belted Magnums they are actually two pieces and can separate without showing obvious signs of failure. If the neck is badly dented or the sides have been damaged during extraction THROW IT OUT. It is cheaper to buy new brass than a new gun or paying for hospital bills. Always throw out brass that does not look right or you think might be bad. Safety, Safety, Safety.

You didn't state what type or caliber was going horizontal I am guessing that it is a .223 and is not stabilizing becase you gun has the wrong twist for that weight bullet. Different twists in each barrel will,spin) stabilize different weight bullets. Go to the home page on this site and review the article for the caliber you are using. It will explain what twist is needed for what bullet weight for that caliber.

I hope this helps

BigJim

 

[NICOSPOP]

Thanks BigJim
Im shooting a .243 with 115 DTAC's. I have had problems with this last bunch of barrels, I go through barrel every couple of months),they were supposed to be 7.5 twist and showed up with a 8 twist. I use the Redding S bushing dies and a separate decapping die. The brass is in good shape and it has a bunch of reloads on them.I am somewhat strapped for time,or just lazy)so I do not do a bunch of prep. I clean them and re size,then I clean again to remove the wax. I dont shoot BR so I dont know if more prep would help or is necessary.