Need some tips on brass prep after 1st time firing

[ptf18]

Fellows: Per a previous posting of mine, I had 100 NEW 22-250 W-W cases that I had upsized to 6mm250.

In the process of doing do I had necks that were way out of wack. Now I do believe it was my fault of using a expander that wasnt tapered enough.

Short story of a long endeavor, I fired formed the 100 cases using 6mm bullets I had on hand and in the process had my daughter shooting clay birds that we had placed on my clubs backstop. She enjoyed it and I got fire formed cases.

Enough of that story.

I checked the cases and they are about .001-.002" out of round on the neck. I think thats OK as I had not turned the necks. The shoulders blew out to O to .001 under as measured on my RCBS pre-mic. I havent tried rechambering a fired empty yet.

What I'ld like to get some feed back on is case prep for the next time firing. I dont need bench rest quality as I'll be shooting NRA mid-range matches with the cartridge.

Hers's my thoughts.

1) Clean the brass. I use wet S/S media.

2) Turn the necks...... maybe?

2) Anneal the necks

3) Resize the case. Here I need some ideas. If the emptied, firefomed case chambers easily should I full length size it? If it doesn't chamber easily I will full length size it. Either way I'll bump the shoulder back..... just a bit (.002?).

Or if I just neck size it only go down the neck to the area above any where that a doughnut might appear? Dont know if a doughnut could/would be a problem in the future.

4)Check OAL of the case, Trim if needed and chamfer mouth.

ANy other ideas?

Thanks,

ptf18

 

[CatShooter]

Hers's my thoughts.

1) Clean the brass. I use wet S/S media.

2) Turn the necks...... maybe?

3) Anneal the necks

4) Resize the case. Here I need some ideas. If the emptied, firefomed case chambers easily should I full length size it? If it doesn't chamber easily I will full length size it. Either way I'll bump the shoulder back..... just a bit (.002?).

Or if I just neck size it only go down the neck to the area above any where that a doughnut might appear? Don't know if a doughnut could/would be a problem in the future.

5)Check OAL of the case, Trim if needed and chamfer mouth.

Any other ideas?

Thanks,

ptf18

If the fire formed case chambers easily, why would you push the shoulder back - leave it alone and shoot the cases. When (if) you get resistance to closing the bolt that is more than you want, then give the shoulder a teeny shove.

It is too early to worry about donuts - just enjoy it.

 

[madderg]

If you have a tight neck chamber be sure to resize the entire neck or you will not be able to chamber the last 1/8 in or so...not a good day at the range!!

 

[357Mag]

PTF -

Howdy !

I recommend you also give primer flash holes a de-burr on the inside.
Also, check flash holes to see if any are over-size or located off-center.

Use a primer pocket " uniformer ", to make all primer pockets as close to being the same as possible.

Try just doing a neck size only, and shoulder " bump " the cases, to ensure chamber fit.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[1shot]

Just a short addition to what 357Mag said. I always do all the things he listed AFTER the 1st firing because the web of the case will take a "set" on the 1st firing and I want everything in the ignition system to be as close as possible.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd

 

[jr600yd]

I'd do all the above. I've also found the brass isn't fully fireformed until after the 2nd firing. Load, shoot, have fun with your daughter.

 

[amlevin]

I'd do all the above. I've also found the brass isn't fully fireformed until after the 2nd firing. Load, shoot, have fun with your daughter.

Unless you fireformed with a hot load.

I personally don't do anything to the case other than neck sizing until I've "hammered it" at least twice. By then everything's where it's going to be.

 

[CatShooter]

If you have a tight neck chamber be sure to resize the entire neck or you will not be able to chamber the last 1/8 in or so...not a good day at the range!!

???

He has already fired the cases, and hasn't turned them yet - so how could he have a tight neck?? IF he had a tight neck, he could not have fired the cases????????

I shoot several tight neck rifles, and I partially size the necks - the cases chamber just fine - if the case neck came out of the chamber, it WILL go back in... always!!

 

[madderg]

When you partialy size the neck, you could push a bulge down to the unsized portion of the neck, which could make it to large to chamber...especially with thin turned necks. It does happen and it's something to keep in mind. Good shooting, Gary

 

[CatShooter]

When you partialy size the neck, you could push a bulge down to the unsized portion of the neck, which could make it to large to chamber...especially with thin turned necks. It does happen and it's something to keep in mind. Good shooting, Gary

Huh???

I shoot a .262 neck 6mmBR and use very thin 0.0075" neck walls, and in that gun, I size 1/3rd of the neck... such a thing as you describe is impossible.

 

[madderg]

When you partialy size the neck, you could push a bulge down to the unsized portion of the neck, which could make it to large to chamber...especially with thin turned necks. It does happen and it's something to keep in mind. Good shooting, Gary

Huh???

I shoot a .262 neck 6mmBR and use very thin 0.0075" neck walls, and in that gun, I size 1/3rd of the neck... such a thing as you describe is impossible.
I shoot a 30 BR and have had it happen to me... maybe I'm just unlucky?

 

[ptf18]

Thanks Fellows. The cleaned empties chamber into the rifle easily. I dont have a tight necked chamber.

Im just happy that the mess I made of the cases when I "upsized" them has been "fixed'.

I had deburred the flash holes before I used the cases.

Preceding with caution.

Thanks again.

ptf18

 

[Joe R]

ptf18 said:
What I'ld like to get some feed back on is case prep for the next time firing. I dont need bench rest quality as I'll be shooting NRA mid-range matches with the cartridge.

Hers's my thoughts.

1) Clean the brass. I use wet S/S media.

2) Turn the necks...... maybe?

2) Anneal the necks

3) Resize the case. Here I need some ideas. If the emptied, firefomed case chambers easily should I full length size it? If it doesn't chamber easily I will full length size it. Either way I'll bump the shoulder back..... just a bit (.002?).

Or if I just neck size it only go down the neck to the area above any where that a doughnut might appear? Dont know if a doughnut could/would be a problem in the future.

4)Check OAL of the case, Trim if needed and chamfer mouth.

ANy other ideas?

That is pretty much how I used to do it. But at some point I began experiencing more resistance to seating the bullets. What I discovered is that the heat while annealing makes the neck brass more grabby making bullets seating more difficult. Some people resort to lubricating the bullet or neck. After some thought it occurred to me that SS not only clean but also polish. So I reversed the order to:
1. deprime
2. anneal
3. clean and polish with SS media for one hour.
4. etc...

I use 10 pounds of pins per 100-150 cases (308). When I used to tumble for 3 hours I started getting "peening" on the case mouths, you can search for it in other threads.

Good luck.