Small flash hole

[DLT]

So in my 6xc journey I decided to set my dies up or get them very close on some brass that was fired in a barrel I bought. It’s a 6xc, Peterson srp brass. First piece I stuck the decapping pin in the brass. I got the pin out and got it turned down. Question is on the piece it got stuck in…. I know the brass is safe but the flash hole has to be a few thou bigger than the others. I’d like to save it but I’m certain it will show up. Is the best thing to do is go ahead and trash it or would you load it and compare to others ?

Untouched flash hole measures .065
My goof measures .068
Using pin gages from here at work.

 

[ShtrRdy]

I would load it and compare to the others. But before you load it file a notch in the rim to mark it.

 

[47WillysGuy]

So in my 6xc journey I decided to set my dies up or get them very close on some brass that was fired in a barrel I bought. It’s a 6xc Peterson srp brass. First piece I stuck the decapper in the brass. I got the pin out and got it turned down. Question is on the piece it got stuck in…. I know the brass is safe but the flash hole has to be a few thou bigger than the others. I’d like to save it but I’m certain it will show up. Is the best thing to do is go ahead and trash it or would you load it and compare to others ?

I also had that happen to me on 6.5 CM. I load those cases and shoot them and I can not see any difference.

 

[Conaso]

Turning down decapping pins sounds tedious. Also, I do not decap with my sizing dies, I want them to stay clean as possible. I use dedicated (universal) Hornady or RCBS decapping dies.

SAAMI spec. for rifle cases, large primer, flash-hole = 0.078 - 0.082”. Pistol and rifle cases, small primer, flash-hole = .074 - .078.” Some European CIP (European equivalent to SAAMI) brass has 1.6-1.7mm (.059”) flash holes.

Lapua 6.5 Creedmoor brass uses a small primer pocket with an undersized flash-hole, 2010 or later “Blue Box” (.062”, ~1.58mm). Standard small decapping pins are 1/16" needle bearings, or 0.0625”, so the smaller flash-holes of older brass (Lapua Gold Box), i.e., .059” (1.5mm), may yank the decapping pin from the decapping stem.

Hornady - Headed, Stepped, Decapping Pin Small .055" (#396618).
Redding - Undersized Decapping Pin 0.057" PPC (#01059).
RCBS – Extra Small Decapping Pin .057” (#9631).
Lee - Lee Collet Neck-Sizing Die decapping mandrel diameter .262”.

I don't use any other Lee dies, so I can't comment.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Drill them all out to .082. You'll see better ignition!

 

[DLT]

Drill them all out to .082. You'll see better ignition!

Thanks for the suggestion, but unless I have any problems I’ll probably leave them as they are. I have already got the pin ground down to it fits. My Lee decapper fits them also.

 

[boltfluter]

Shoot it and I would be shocked if you know which one is the defective case. Rock on!
Paul

 

[Bill Norris]

Shoot it and I would be shocked if you know which one is the defective case. Rock on!
Paul

Yea I would load it and test it to see if there was any difference.

 

[Larry Koch]

some like small flash holes. I would not bore them out. But I really on shoot 6ppc and 30br.

 

[Laurie]

some like small flash holes. I would not bore them out. But I really on shoot 6ppc and 30br.

Many tests by BR shooters drilling out the standard 1.5mm dia. flash-holes in the BR and 220 Russ / PPC case over the years have always shown poorer results once they reach or exceed the 70 thou' point.

Lapua decided on the basis of comparative tests between large rifle / small rifle primer size and the two flash-holes that the BR / PPC formula also worked best on its prototype 6.5X47 Lapua brass, so adopted that formula.

Whether that applies to, or if so to the same extent, with still larger cases, ie Creedmoor and 308 Win based examples, is more open. Alpha Munitions says that it got better results with the larger (2mm 0.079-inch) flash-hole in its small primer 308 Win brass and I believe has stuck with it in its new 6mm GT cases. Hornady and Starline have also adopted the SP primer / larger flash-hole mix where they offer it including some smaller cases including the Grendel and ARC .

Conversely, Lapua (Peterson too?) have kept the small flash-hole in all their SP variants of such cases, , and I'd be very surprised if Lapua 6GT brass when it appears moves to the larger flash-hole as per Alpha.

 

[rwj]

Conversely, Lapua (Peterson too?) have kept the small flash-hole in all their SP variants of such cases, , and I'd be very surprised if Lapua 6GT brass when it appears moves to the larger flash-hole as per Alpha.

The Peterson 6mm BR Norma cases I bought have the small primer flash hole.

 

[Jayplace]

So in my 6xc journey I decided to set my dies up or get them very close on some brass that was fired in a barrel I bought. It’s a 6xc, Peterson srp brass. First piece I stuck the decapping pin in the brass. I got the pin out and got it turned down. Question is on the piece it got stuck in…. I know the brass is safe but the flash hole has to be a few thou bigger than the others. I’d like to save it but I’m certain it will show up. Is the best thing to do is go ahead and trash it or would you load it and compare to others ?

Untouched flash hole measures .065
My goof measures .068
Using pin gages from here at work.

That .003 difference is such a small difference that I doubt you'd ever know the difference. As others have suggested, shoot it along with some others and see if you see a difference.

 

[Bill K]

I don't think you will see any difference between it and the others. But you can mark the primer on that one with a felt marking pen and check it a couple times to varify.

 

[Mike Rock]

Where in SAAMI did you find that flash hole information?


SAAMI spec. for rifle cases, large primer, flash-hole = 0.078 - 0.082”. Pistol and rifle cases, small primer, flash-hole = .074 - .078.” Some European CIP (European equivalent to SAAMI) brass has 1.6-1.7mm (.059”) flash holes.

 

[Lance21]

Can you out shoot that .003 difference? I know I couldn't. But, to be fair it might make a big change..idk.