Brass life questions

[GUNNER75]

Have been working the same 500 to 750pc of brass for my .243 and probably have at least 5 or 7 loadings on the majority of brass. Just never kept track.

Was running a mild load pushing the 107's about 2835fps.

Noticed I was starting to get some case separation from the main body of the case to case head. Even a couple completely came apart.

Worked 300pc of brass this evening and most of the brass is starting to show what I call "stretch marks" at where they are separating.

I culled out 15 to 20 cases (some with visual cracks around the case), but would like to know what others think about running them for one more go round, or to trash em. I know that I am going to see many of these come apart at the next shoot. What if any dangers are involved with running brass in this condition?

I upped my loads to get 3,000fps so I am guessing the brass may take a bit more abuse.

Thanks!
WSD

 

[chpprguy]

Re: Brass life questions

If the case head separates, it can be a PITA to get the rest of the case out (not much to grab onto)
and if you aren't not careful, you can scratch your chamber....

I have checked them internally with "some" success, or look for the "stretch " area that you spoke of after polishing.....
FWIW,
Andy

 

[Ol' RD]

Re: Brass life questions

Sorry gunner, your taking a very big risk that I would recommend you don't. Case failure is not something to take lightly, escaping gas from them chamber can blast you right back in the face not to mention a stuck case neck in the chamber. Scrap the bad cases. IMHO.


edited for fat fingers 101

 

[Phil1]

Re: Brass life questions

Thats alot of shooting. Don't be so cheap buy some new brass.

 

[Sig685]

Re: Brass life questions

First off, 5 loads is not that much for brass, especially if you are running mild loads. My guess is that you are pushing the shoulder back too much during the resizing operation and you are allowing the brass too much movement in the chamber.

Second, I keep my brass in boxes of 100 for the life of the brass. I record every time I process a box. When one or more pieces of brass in a box show signs of age, I dump the whole box and restart a fresh batch of 100. I have dozens of such boxes in play, each box with its own data.

The very last thing you want is a case seperation; if you can see the ring just above the web, get rid of that brass. But as been said before, it's your face.

 

[GUNNER75]

Re: Brass life questions

I inspected a handful this morning after tumbling and ran a small steel rod in the case to see if I could feel the separation starting in the case. Some were very obvious. I am going to cull out everything that has the visual marks and "the feel" on the inside of the case.

Thanks for the info fellas. Will probably dump most of these after this next firing (guessing I will see quite a few with the "stretch marks") and keep a little better track of how many loadings I have on them.

 

[Jerry m]

Re: Brass life questions

Use a straightened paperclip with the 90 degree bend in the end to slide on the inside of the web area of the case. You will feel where it is starting to separate before you will notice it on the outside.

Good luck


Jerry

 

[Brians708]

Re: Brass life questions

I think you got your money out of em, put them to rest... If 5-10% of a given batch start to show any issues at the 5+ use mark, I toss em... I'm just saying

 

[Bacarrat]

Re: Brass life questions

How are you resizing the brass now? Are you measuring how far you bump the shoulders back when full length sizing?

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: Brass life questions

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jerry M</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Use a straightened paperclip with the 90 degree bend in the end to slide on the inside of the web area of the case. You will feel where it is starting to separate before you will notice it on the outside.</div></div>

Run a file along the end of the paper clip for greater sensitivity (i.e. make a semi-sharp point.)

 

[GUNNER75]

Re: Brass life questions

Full sizing by RCBS die, 1/8 turn in after touching shellholder. Bumping back, I don't know.

Maybe I should use a few of the tools I bought in the past.

Will definitely cull out all in question and trash all after this load.

I have another 500pc ready to go, but was saving them. Only really to be able to start fresh when something like this came up.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Brass life questions

"Full sizing by RCBS die, 1/8 turn in after touching shellholder. Bumping back, I don't know."

Yep, that's doing it by the directions anyway. Also why so many say to toss cases after 5 loads. It's not good a good way to resize but it works...for awhile anyway. You really do need to know how much you are bumping back, if you want your brass to last keep it to a minimum.

You are pushing VERY HARD against a hazardeous head seperation. You won't like that, toss those cases. NOW!

 

[Bacarrat]

Re: Brass life questions

I'd get a case micrometer that RCBS sells and use that for how much to resize the case. One of my friends was also following the instructions per the die set and his Lapua brass lasted 8 loadings before getting the ring of death. Now he is using the case micrometer and seperate neck and body bushings to reload.

 

[GLShooter]

Re: Brass life questions

I neck size only in my bolt guns and when they get "tight" I full length size. I need to start annealing cases as they do get brittle after about 10 loads. I think that should be acceptable. As long as the pockets are staying tight I would surmise that you are not hot rodding too much.

Greg

 

[Sig685]

Re: Brass life questions

GLshooter, so you're not into consistency then, just ease of handloading?

 

[GUNNER75]

Re: Brass life questions

I pulled out 38 pieces of brass out of the 180 that I am working this evening.

Even the slightest markings were pulled.