Issue with Remington Brass

[Sekora]

I recently starting loading for a new 35 Whelen. This is not a gun I am going to be picky with. I bought the gun because I was always interested in the caliber and thought it would be fun to hunt with from time to time. I am only looking to get groups around an inch at 100 yards which seems like is going to be very possible with this rifle. The potential problem I am seeing is with the Remington brass I bought for this rifle. The flash holes are not centered in several of the cases. I sized all of them with no issue prior to firing them. As of now, I only have fired around 20 of them to break in the barrel and the brass and to see where my load is going to be. After firing, I decapped a few of the cases to get measurements on my chamber to properly set up my sizing die. One of the cases stuck in the die pretty tight due to the offset flash hole. This did not happen on initial sizing, just after the first firing and decapping. Has anyone else seen this issue with Remington brass? Should I just junk these cases that are offcentered? If I go through the 100 cases I originally purchased, I am guessing I will have around 20 to 25 cases that I will probably be having the same issue with.

 

[PRR1957]

That is one of reasons I stopped using Remington cartridge cases a long time ago. Remington about twenty five years or so ago started to let their QC degrade with every product line, and that is why they ended up, as of recent, being broken up and auctioned off.

Norma and Nosler offer ready made 35 Whelen cases and Hornedy has a limited run on that cartridge. All three are better then anything Remington offers.

 

[Bill K]

Don't think the fact of the off set of the flash hole, caused the case to stick in your die. That is normally caused by not enough case lube on the body of the die, when sizing it in a FL die.

 

[jds holler]

Don't think the fact of the off set of the flash hole, caused the case to stick in your die. That is normally caused by not enough case lube on the body of the die, when sizing it in a FL die.

I'm gonna agree with this. It's possible that your lube was skimpy or inferior, and that your chamber specs out on the large side.

Not saying I like the off-center flash hole situation, but it would have to be pretty bad to seriously affect your 1 MOA expectations. If it was too bad it might break a decapper pin. jd

 

[jepp2]

Another vote for a lube problem. Off center flash holes seem to occur in all but the very best brass. LC 5.56 certain years and if you really want to see some bad ones, get some GFL Fiocchi brass. Way off center. Can't say I would expect them to take you from your goal on this rifle (1" at 100 yards).

This did not happen on initial sizing, just after the first firing and decapping.

About all your doing on this sizing was reducing the neck diameter and expanding it. You die probably did no sizing on the brass at all. What lube are you using?

 

[tommeboy]

I have thousands of GFL 223 brass and none of them have off center flash holes. I check all of my brass and have not found any off center holes in years. I pick up over 1.5 55 gal barrels of 556 brass every year from the local ranges. GFL is one I sort out for myself.

 

[Homerange]

I recently starting loading for a new 35 Whelen. This is not a gun I am going to be picky with. I bought the gun because I was always interested in the caliber and thought it would be fun to hunt with from time to time. I am only looking to get groups around an inch at 100 yards which seems like is going to be very possible with this rifle. The potential problem I am seeing is with the Remington brass I bought for this rifle. The flash holes are not centered in several of the cases. I sized all of them with no issue prior to firing them. As of now, I only have fired around 20 of them to break in the barrel and the brass and to see where my load is going to be. After firing, I decapped a few of the cases to get measurements on my chamber to properly set up my sizing die. One of the cases stuck in the die pretty tight due to the offset flash hole. This did not happen on initial sizing, just after the first firing and decapping. Has anyone else seen this issue with Remington brass? Should I just junk these cases that are offcentered? If I go through the 100 cases I originally purchased, I am guessing I will have around 20 to 25 cases that I will probably be having the same issue with.

Sort the dud cases and take them back with the lot # and ask for replacements or a refund.
Cases like that would fair f**k with my head especially WRT concentricity issues if you were using a LCD for example where the NS mandrel uses the flash hole for alignment.
I have a bit of once fired Rem range brass that I haven't yet got to use but now it's all going in the bin !

Impressive caliber the Whelen especially when you look up what it can do with a 180gr compared to the venerable 30/06. Buddy has one as his tramping gun with only aperture sights so to keep its weight to a minimum and he shoots 2" 100yd groups with it !

 

[hoz53]

I recently starting loading for a new 35 Whelen. This is not a gun I am going to be picky with. I bought the gun because I was always interested in the caliber and thought it would be fun to hunt with from time to time. I am only looking to get groups around an inch at 100 yards which seems like is going to be very possible with this rifle. The potential problem I am seeing is with the Remington brass I bought for this rifle. The flash holes are not centered in several of the cases. I sized all of them with no issue prior to firing them. As of now, I only have fired around 20 of them to break in the barrel and the brass and to see where my load is going to be. After firing, I decapped a few of the cases to get measurements on my chamber to properly set up my sizing die. One of the cases stuck in the die pretty tight due to the offset flash hole. This did not happen on initial sizing, just after the first firing and decapping. Has anyone else seen this issue with Remington brass? Should I just junk these cases that are offcentered? If I go through the 100 cases I originally purchased, I am guessing I will have around 20 to 25 cases that I will probably be having the same issue with.

youre gonna have those quality issues these days with many of the less than premium brands. 20% sounds kind of high. if the holes are really off center the decapping pin wont be lined up and go through. id never use the off center flash hole ones to start with. throw them in the scrap bin along with the crunched or deformed ones and use the rest. And i agree probably lack of lube on the stuck case, or mabie you need a different lube.

 

[Sekora]

I use RCBS lube and have never had a problem. When I say "off center", I mean really off centered. They are not even close. I did not know Norma made brass for the Whelen or I would of went that route. When I purchased it, I only had Remington and Hornady options as they were the only brands available. I think I will go through all of the brass and junk the bad ones. If I end up with 70 - 80 cases, that will be enough for me and my intentions for this rifle. Thanks everyone.

 

[Bill K]

Sekora: If they are so far off the primer pin will not hit them and push the primer out, as they should, without breaking pins, then pitch them. As for the stuck case, clean your die, interior, good, maybe even polish it some, then switch to Imperial case wax or One shot, or a good lube like them. Don't over due the lube on the case and you should not get stuck cases. Just a thought. Bill K

 

[piie]

You should also be able to fireform from 30-06 without too much pain- usually quality 30-06 brass is more readily available and most likely way cheaper too.