Help with odd looking brass after full length resize

[Bob with the 66]

These were once fired and then full length resized. Please note the brass just up from the base, they came out of the press looking odd. Is this a sign of previous pressure loads or did I do something wrong in full length resizing?

Had 15 brass out of 50 look this way, should I just trash the brass that came out like these?

I do not want to use weak brass,
Bob

 

[dkhunt14]

Looks to me like the die didn't touch the base. Matt

 

[Immike]

I see the same, is this a mixed lot ?

 

[jrm850]

Any time you see a shiny line like the case on the left, you should be suspicious of a pending case head separation. I'm not saying this case is bad, just be careful. Those cases look like they were fired in a larger chamber. Is this a factory rifle?

 

[fguffey]

Touch the base? The shell holder deck height of the shell holder is .125", there is no way to size the bottom .125" of the case unless the reloader is sizing cases for short chambers. Then there is the part of the case that does not get sized because of the radius.

I have purchased thousands of cases that looked different because of case head protrusion/unsupported case head. Something no one else would do? When checking the case head diameter I have reversed the case and stuck the case into the die backwards. On a few occasions I have had case heads that were too large in diameter to fit into the die, those cases had something wrong with them.

I have 30/06 dies that will not allow a 30/06 case fit in the die case head first.

F. Guffey

 

[jonbearman]

tAKE A PAPER CLIP AND STRAIGHTEN IT OUT AND TAKE PLIERS AND BEND A SHORT SHARP HOOK IN ONE END. iNSERT THE PAPERCLIP AND SEE IF YOU FEEL A GROOVE IN THE AREA WHERE IT IS SHINY. if IT FEELS SMOOTH THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. if YOU FEEL A DEFINATE VALLEY WITH DRAG IT IS ABOUT TO SEPARATE. That means throw it out have seen the same very mark when loading for my 03 springfields in 30-06 and once they are sized you still get a shiny spot where it expanded from a loose chamber. Sorry caps lock was on but you get the idea.

 

[itchyTF]

Try what Jon said to be sure, but those cases don't look abnormal. You will see a "ring" (if that's what you want to call it) wherever the sizing operation stops. Unless, of course, it goes all the way to the extraction groove.

I wouldn't think you would have a head separation indication with once fired unless you have a severe headspace problem or the cases were sized improperly.

 

[fguffey]

These were once fired and then full length resized.

I have cases with different case head thickness, I have 30/06 cases with a case head thickness of .200", I have 30/06 with case head thicknesses of .260". I make an effort to avoid loads that expand the case head.

F. Guffey

 

[broncman]

Seen a loose chamber do this. I even cut them open on a mill to check for seperation. I have a 308 remmy that does that. Cases were fine after I cut them open. Felt nothing with the paper clip but still saw the line.

 

[Ggmac]

I sent you a PM
Gary

 

[mikecr]

Just looks to me where the die stopped sizing, as webs have not expanded to be sized yet. Once fired.
I wouldn't suspect any problem at all.

 

[dantiff2]

Bob,

I have a factory Rem 700 in 30-06 with a slightly oversized chamber that makes my brass look even a little worse than yours. No harm. Not ideal for great accuracy but the the gun still shoots fine. After a run through the sizer die you can really see where the die works the brass just above the web area. I have gotten over dozen loads on brass with no problems.


Dan

 

[SS427]

Looks pretty normal to me. I do agree with scraping the inside of the case to see if there is a thin spot there, just in case.

 

[Catfur]

Looks normal to me too. While case heads can expand (laterally as well as longitudinally), remember the brass there is thicker, so won't expand as much under normal circumstances, and won't be contacted by the die (which isn't designed to work that area for the most part, anyway).

 

[Bob with the 66]

Thanks all for the input, I will check them tonight with a paper clip. I only had 15 out of 50 that came out this way, that's what I get for trying used brass without knowing it's history.

I think I will stick with new brass in the future and reload only what comes out of my rifles.

Being new to reloading, I only have about 400 round under my belt. This is the first time I have seen this happen, good to read that this is considered normal.

Bob

 

[fguffey]

that's what I get for trying used brass without knowing it's history.

These were once fired and then full length resized

I would suggest you check the length of the case from the shoulder to the head of the case, there are time full length sizing/returning the case to minimum length is not necessary.

F. Guffey

 

[CatShooter]

Thanks all for the input, I will check them tonight with a paper clip. I only had 15 out of 50 that came out this way, that's what I get for trying used brass without knowing it's history.

I think I will stick with new brass in the future and reload only what comes out of my rifles.

Being new to reloading, I only have about 400 round under my belt. This is the first time I have seen this happen, good to read that this is considered normal.

Bob

First, there is nothing wrong with the brass - the head does not expand under normal condition, but the body does expand out to the chamber walls... normally, with a smooth finish in the chamber and die, when it is sized, the body is reduced, but there is no change in the appearance in of the case.
The cases are super fine.

You said nothing about the loads... so with that minimal amount of information...

With the group that you show pictures of, the cases were fired in a chamber that had slight reamer marks - when they are sized, the maker flatten and look like that. The cases are fine, load them again, and they will look fine (unless it is your chamber that is doing it )

 

[jsthntn247]

All mine in every caliber look like that

 

[M-61]

All mine in every caliber look like that

Without knowing the load, seeing a pic and not the brass, etc., I have to agree. Nothing odd to me.

 

[bigedp51]

As CatShooter and others have said your brass looks normal, what you see depends on the base diameter of the case and the diameter of the chamber. When you fire commercial cases in larger diameter military chambers the ring at the base is even more pronounced.

In over 46 years of reloading I have never had a case head separation, inspecting your cases closely and not over resizing your cases (excessive shoulder bump) will make your cases last longer.

I use the RCBS Case Mastering Gauge to check and measure the case wall thickness which is a $100.00 paper clip on steroids for checking for stretching and thinning in the base web area.

Again, your shoulder bump or how far you push the shoulder back during resizing and the quality of your brass controls when a case head separation will occur.