Cleaning new brass

[rwj]

Had one lot of 223 and another of 6XC small primer Peterson brass.

Peterson would likely appreciate the feedback (including lot numbers)… appears that their final cleaning step was either skipped or inadequate.

 

[358WCF]

Initially, I did not wash the brass before loading. Just ran them thru my FL die n then loaded the brass as I normally would.
Now,all I have done is extensively tumbled the brass in dish soap n water. Takes a couple of hours in the wash n they now come out free of internal residue. Now they load n fire fine.
From the manufacturer, there is some contamination inside the brass that affects the powder. Primers fired but as they should, but powder clumped n didn’t burn.
View attachment 1657766

The yellow kernels have started to burn but looks like the fire went out. I had something similar happen a long time ago & if I remember right the clumps are a combustus interruptus byproduct.

Unknown super secret chambering/powder/primer combination? Just taking a guess with the limited info provided... wrong primer, old lot of poorly stored primers, maybe even excessive new brass headspace (min brass/max chamber) leading to a light primer strike?

If there is some sort of oil in the cases, I would think 90% isopropyl would clean better, quicker, & easier all around. I'll bet Peterson would like to known if, in fact, there is something left in the cases. I've never had to clean new brass before loading, just partial neck size & expander ball to make them round. Some 7-08 Alpha brass I got a couple years back needed shoulders bumped a few thou for easy chambering. I wish all new brass was a tad too long.

 

[nmkid]

I have been loading since 1972 and have never heard of this anywhere. If I had already had a couple of shots of Jameson, I would add some more.

 

[Bob3700]

I have been loading since 1972 and have never heard of this anywhere. If I had already had a couple of shots of Jameson, I would add some more.

I appreciate ur thoughts. Have been loading since around ur time as well n never encountered this before either. The powder was a jug I have been using all along with no issues. Primers were CCI 450s. No issues there.
When the FF rounds were disassembled, all of the primers had fired. There was something (oil, final polishing compound?) that contaminated the powder in the new case. Out of 25 rounds loaded, 5 were FF, with 12 or so hang fires.
Washed the brass with dish soap n water, loaded with the same components and all is good. Go figure!

 

[rwj]

There was something (oil, final polishing compound?) that contaminated the powder in the new case.

Most likely remnants of the lube applied before the last case forming process…

 

[LHSmith]

My hang fires were Click —Boom. A delay of a couple microseconds. U could hear the click n then boom.

Classic indication of primers not fully seated. You may have multiple problems working against you.

 

[Curmudgeon]

If you are full length sizing new brass how are you applying lube to the cases?

 

[Dave M.]

Initially, I did not wash the brass before loading. Just ran them thru my FL die n then loaded the brass as I normally would.
Now,all I have done is extensively tumbled the brass in dish soap n water. Takes a couple of hours in the wash n they now come out free of internal residue. Now they load n fire fine.
From the manufacturer, there is some contamination inside the brass that affects the powder. Primers fired but as they should, but powder clumped n didn’t burn.
View attachment 1657766

Did you by chance bring them inside from being outside in the cold? I’m thinking you could have a situation where some of the brass was very cold and brought into a warm reloading room where condensation was allowed to form inside the cases.
Dave

 

[searcher]

Just a thought. Pushing the shoulder back too far can result in light primer strikes. The only times I have run into the clumpy powder was back when I washed my brass to remove lubes from necking up/down and neck turning and the brass apparently was not completely dry inside. I had a few failure-to-fire rounds, and I pulled the bullets to find the clumpy powder - by my doing. That is a classic symptom of a bit of moisture in your case and/or powder. If you live in a humid environment and left your powder opened or stored in the hopper, it is possible the moisture in the powder created hard ignition and it could cause it to clump in the case, being damp enough to chemically fuse.

 

[CJ6]

You would think that if there was that much (oil whatever) contamination in the cases there would be evidence of it in the boxes the brass was shipped in.

 

[precision1]

Should never need cleaning new brass,.............
At most run sizing ball just barely to clean up dented case mouth

Now most including myself run brass through mandrel die to set neck tension to make use of fire forming to develop loads closer to intended dimension or to get brass closer to fire formed neck tension...start load development early by setting neck tension to mandrel you'll be using

 

[rg1]

Only had that happen once. Shopping I picked up a plastic bag of 100 RP new cases. Loaded them with Win 748 powder. Later I wanted those for a project and pulled the bullets. The powder was clumped looking like clumped black suger? The powder was good. Must have been 223 brass with contamination from forming lube or vanishing oil and not clean from the factory? Lucky I caught them before firing them. Other loads with the same exact powder was ok. I now tumble all new brass!!

 

[precision1]

You should see oil or something similar in any amount to cause this.... should be noticable

Otherwise it's the powder

 

[Charlie-NY]

It sounds like a compressed load with a weak or contaminated primer. But it seems that you have solved the problem otherwise.

 

[Bob3700]

If you are full length sizing new brass how are you applying lube to the cases?

Imperial sizing die wax with ur fingers.

Did you by chance bring them inside from being outside in the cold? I’m thinking you could have a situation where some of the brass was very cold and brought into a warm reloading room where condensation was allowed to form inside the cases.
Dave

Appreciate all of the input. I had one box (50rds) of new brass. Swabbed the inside of the cases with a Q-Tip and some sort of oily material was deposited on my swab. Tumbled the brass in dish soap and water, dried them in the oven. Loaded with the same powder, primers, and bullets. Everyone fired just fine.
It was some contaminate inside the cases from new.

 

[searcher]

You should see oil or something similar in any amount to cause this.... should be noticable

Otherwise it's the powder

I'd tend to agree with this. If the brass wasn't tumbled by the factory - any similar residue on the exterior of the cases would be a big red flag, and commercially, I know of no method that might be employed by factories to only clean the exterior of the cases. Mystery....

 

[Bob3700]

Up date: took 50 rds once fired Peterson 6 xc brass n loaded it with the same powder n primers. No failure to fires or hangfires.
The problem had to be some sort of contamination in the new brass.
The new BR brass that I washed, dried n loaded worked perfectly.
Never had any issues with any other make of brass. Once cleaned, the Peterson worked swell. Same load as Lapua n never turned a knob to zero.
Go figure.

 

[Big Mc]

I did not put anything into the new brass except powder. There is some contamination in the brass from the manufacturer. U need to wash the brass thoroughly to remove this “ oily” substance that effects the powder.

Buy another brand . Tommy Mc