excessive headspace

[TackDriv3r]

How idiotic of me that I misread the numbers on my headspace bushings that I used the wrong bushing to check my headspace for the 6BR, I used a .330 instead of the .350 and I just found out that all 40 pieces of Lapua brass has .005" headspace instead of the usual .0015" to .002" that I usually use. I chambered 10 pieces of brass and they all chamber just fine, but I am worried that the brass may stretch after firing or separate? It's been fired twice only.

Can I use these brass and load them up and fire them or discard it? I like to hear from the experienced handloaders here what the possibilities I will encounter. Thanks

 

[Ccrider]

Fire them. Keep them separate and you will be fine. Really not enough difference to be a big deal.

I have set the shoulder back much further by accident on a piece or two setting my die up. I normally will use the piece for a fouler and seat the bullet long, put a little lubricant on the case and fire away. Usually no problem. If you go to far you will have a ftf.

 

[bozo699]

I don’t want to tell you there won’t be any problems then you have one but I personally wouldn’t be scared to shoot them, many factory rounds are that and more.
Wayne

 

[Dusty Stevens]

No problem

 

[RegionRat]

When a new piece of 303 Brit is fired in a typical SMLE chamber, it stretches about 0.030" at the shoulder datum.

Your 0.005" isn't a disaster, its just something you don't want to keep doing over and over.

Check your trim length and watch it after this cycle.

 

[stacy]

ALL IT NEEDS IS A PRIMER SOME POWDER AND A BULLET AND SOMEONE TO PULL THE TRIGGER AND YOUR GOOD

 

[AlNyhus]

How idiotic of me that I misread the numbers on my headspace bushings that I used the wrong bushing to check my headspace for the 6BR, I used a .330 instead of the .350 and I just found out that all 40 pieces of Lapua brass has .005" headspace instead of the usual .0015" to .002" that I usually use. I chambered 10 pieces of brass and they all chamber just fine, but I am worried that the brass may stretch after firing or separate? It's been fired twice only.

Can I use these brass and load them up and fire them or discard it? I like to hear from the experienced handloaders here what the possibilities I will encounter. Thanks

Not to worry. I purposely set the shoulders back further than this on the first firing in almost all my chambers.

Adjust the bullet seating depth to give you about .010 more than the 'just touching the lands' dimension and they will be fine after firing.

Good shootin'. -Al

 

[coldboreshot]

No problem

I'm with Dusty on this one.

 

[PopCharlie]

I've done this too. I just separated them out and fired them. No issues.

 

[JeffT]

I’ve measured new brass that was .007” short

 

[Uncle Ed]

I have had new cases .009 shorter than a GO gauge and they did not stretch and thin on the first firing.

The shoulder bump thumb rule for a semi-auto is between .003 and .006 every time the case is resized as an example

The type, strength and quality of the brass determines its elastic limits before stretching starts.

I have a RCBS case gauge like pictured below and it will tell you if the case is stretching and thinning.

This factory loaded Winchested .303 British case below stretched .009 on its first firing. I think of the gauge as a $100.00 bent paper clip that measures in .001 of an inch.

A .303 British Enfield rifle at the maximum headspace of .074 and a rim thickness of .058 has .016 head clearance. And a fired case will not have a case head separation on the first firing. Your .005 shoulder bump means the case has .005 head clearance and should be within the elastic limits of the brass.

 

[Webster]

How idiotic of me that I misread the numbers on my headspace bushings that I used the wrong bushing to check my headspace for the 6BR, I used a .330 instead of the .350 and I just found out that all 40 pieces of Lapua brass has .005" headspace instead of the usual .0015" to .002" that I usually use. I chambered 10 pieces of brass and they all chamber just fine, but I am worried that the brass may stretch after firing or separate? It's been fired twice only.

Can I use these brass and load them up and fire them or discard it? I like to hear from the experienced handloaders here what the possibilities I will encounter. Thanks

When I FF 6BR to 6BRX the shoulder is blown 0.100" forward. No problem. Like someone else mentioned factory loaded ammo is always short so it will chamber in any rifle.

 

[Ned Ludd]

You should be fine using this brass. As has been suggested, just separate it out for now, and see how it shoots for you. Then, make sure you don't excessively size those same pieces again.

The key here is not excessively bumping the shoulder just once, it's doing it repeatedly. In a .223 Rem case, bumping the shoulder back to the same dimension as found in virgin brass three or four re-sizes in a row can be enough to cause casehead separation in some of the cases. And yet all cases will effectively go through this process after the first firing. Thus, as with many things in life, moderation is the key. Keep the number of times a case goes through an excessive sizing step down to one, or as few as possible.

 

[M-61]

The key here is not excessively bumping the shoulder a single time, it's doing it repeatedly.

Absolutely right.

 

[searcher]

Keep in mind that many cases are fireformed to create a different cartridge - no harm doing it once as others have noted. Repetition is what wears out your brass.

 

[Webster]

Keep in mind that many cases are fireformed to create a different cartridge - no harm doing it once as others have noted. Repetition is what wears out your brass.

If you can easily chamber a fired case it doesn't need any shoulder bump. You may be creating a probem by bumping when it isn't needed.

 

[bozo699]

If you can easily chamber a fired case it doesn't need any shoulder bump. You may be creating a probem by bumping when it isn't needed.

Why wouldn’t you want to bump your shoulder?..The key to accuracy is consistency!
Wayne

 

[Old Navy]

Are your gauges both the same brand? What is the difference between go , no-go and field?

 

[TackDriv3r]

Thanks guys for the suggestions, I'll go ahead and load them up. I'll loosen up the lock ring on the 6BR die and measure shoulder bump again after firing to .001 to .0015" bump with the .350 Hornady comparator headspace bushing next time.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Thanks guys for the suggestions, I'll go ahead and load them up. I'll loosen up the lock ring on the 6BR die and measure shoulder bump again after firing to .001 to .0015" bump with the .350 Hornady comparator headspace bushing next time.

Set up your die each loading session. Your brass will be different every time so locking the lock ring is just inviting a mishap like this.