Tight squeeze?

[Leo_B]

I was looking at an S&B .30 carbine round. I noticed a line on the case. Looks almost like it was squeezed so tightly around the bullet it molded the case around it. It's basically a line across the front matching the line of the top of my finger across the back. Not easy to see but definitely there. Not sure what it is or if it should be concerning. Emailed S&B, waiting to hear back. Thought I'd inquire here also.

 

[PhilC]

Apparently they didn't expand the neck enough prior to seating the bullet, look at the ring near the bullet nose caused by the seating stem.

 

[Doug Casner]

You might be crimping before yo u seat the bullet all the way. Try running your die body up and your seating stem down.

 

[Doug Casner]

I dont know what kind of die you got. I dont know what S and B is. If it was rcbs thats what Id try. Doug

 

[STS]

It’s factory ammo. He didn’t load it.

 

[jimmymac]

Plenty of neck tension!

 

[RegionRat]

We call that a "wasp waist", when the diameter of the body just past the bullet is visibly smaller than the zone over the bullet. It is common and by itself isn't dangerous.

If the diameter over the bullet is within specs, if the length of the case is within specs, and the overall length of the ammo is within specs, it isn't a problem.

You can find those values in the SAAMI specs for that cartridge. Ask again if you need help with those details.

 

[Doug Casner]

Sorry Bud, didnt know it was a factory load. They must have a helluva inspection dept. to let that get through. Doug

 

[Leo_B]

Sorry, shouldn't have abbreviated. Sellier & Belliot (or however it's spelled) factory. And after posting I studied it more, and entirely, and noticed two rings on the bullet, one at the mouth and one farther up. I emailed them and waiting for a reply. But I knew I could get good information here too.

 

[Fire Dog]

Sorry, shouldn't have abbreviated. Sellier & Belliot (or however it's spelled) factory. And after posting I studied it more, and entirely, and noticed two rings on the bullet, one at the mouth and one farther up. I emailed them and waiting for a reply. But I knew I could get good information here too.

How do they chamber? If they chamber than I just wouldn’t worry.
As pointed out, the case was sized too small for the bullet diameter and when seated it not only bulged the case out to it’s minimum diameter = brass thickness + bullet diameter and the seating force was enough to also leave a ring toward the nose of the bullet from the seating stem… I hope you got them cheap… S&B is usually good ammo and shoots well for factory ammo… They have been making ammo for more than 100 years.
It will be interesting to see what their response to you query is.

 

[Leo_B]

Probably not cheap but not a fortune, $23.50/bx of 50, 47c each.

 

[charlie b]

Are you sure that isn't a cannelure on the bullet? The ring at the nose is probably seating stem mark as mentioned above.

I wouldn't worry about either as long as they load and shoot.

 

[Doom]

Not uncommon to see this, especially in pistol rounds. The usual cause is case wall thickness a little greater than normal so the bullet expands the case slightly in seating. Never knew it had a name!

 

[wedgy]

It looks like the bullet may have pushed out a bit after it was seated, maybe a compressed load ?

 

[PhilC]

Look at the case bulge where his finger is, that's the bullet base and the 'ring' OP is referring to. The cannelure is visible just above the case mouth.

Still amazed at the impression on bullet nose from seating stem, makes me wonder how they seated it wihout shaving copper from the jacket.

 

[charlie b]

OK, I see the bulge line now. Heck, many of my reloads looked like that. I always figured it was just a bit small size die.

 

[DShortt]

Had a similar situation on powder coated lead bullets for .45ACP. They were given to me by a trusted friend/reloader.

I chose a different set-up when I reloaded mine.

Less sizing in the sizing die, bullets at standard diameter vs over-diameter due to the powder coating.

Not an apples to apples comparison so, I'll elaborate.

If you pull a bullet and it's of the correct diameter, measure the case mouth thickness and it's correct then you'll know where the issue lies. Case was sized down too far.

If the bullet is out of spec/too big or the case mouth is too thick, then you'll know that, too.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

If you go on S&B ws, the bullet is shown next to a complete rd. The crimp ring at the case mouth is clearly shown on the bullet. The wasp waist pretty common, not a performance/reliability issue. Neither is the seating die ring, especially on a fmj bullet at 30 carbine velocity. A plated bullet, I wouldn't want to see that. I haven't reloaded any of their brass, but others have noted decent quality. Bit more case mouth expansion before bullet seating seems to prevent the wasp waist(at least in my pistol loading experience). Save your brass.

 

[swd]

Incredibly common if you look at enough ammo. Shoot it..