So here is the deal, I got tired of paying for match ammo and figured I could do better anyways. I've been loading .223 now for a few weeks, started out only using virgin brass. After great success last week I decided to throw together some loads using once fired LC brass.
It seemed to all work out until I was inspecting my final product when I noticed there seemed to be a slight deformation right at the start of the shoulder. It seems my resizing die was not properly adjusted and created a small "ridge". It was very subtle but of course when I placed the round into the chamber and slowly eased the bolt forward it would not fully lock. When I allowed the bolt to slam forward (AR15) the bolt was able to lock. After removing and inspecting the round it appears the force of the bolt slamming forward was enough to re-size the brass against the chamber.
So my question is, is this unsafe to fire? What would have happen if I had not caught these on my final inspection and taken these to the range and fired them? My thinking is if the bolt is able to lock, then it has obtained proper head spacing and you are good to go. I've fire brass before that were deformed, mostly large dents but never quite like this. However the safety minded devil on my shoulder seems to think this might create some unsafe pressures. Its only 10 rounds so no big loss to me.
Here some pics (hopefully), the ridge is very subtle but noticeable when compared to the virgin Lapua brass.
(edit: damn computers, I'll see if I can't get the photos up later.)
It seemed to all work out until I was inspecting my final product when I noticed there seemed to be a slight deformation right at the start of the shoulder. It seems my resizing die was not properly adjusted and created a small "ridge". It was very subtle but of course when I placed the round into the chamber and slowly eased the bolt forward it would not fully lock. When I allowed the bolt to slam forward (AR15) the bolt was able to lock. After removing and inspecting the round it appears the force of the bolt slamming forward was enough to re-size the brass against the chamber.
So my question is, is this unsafe to fire? What would have happen if I had not caught these on my final inspection and taken these to the range and fired them? My thinking is if the bolt is able to lock, then it has obtained proper head spacing and you are good to go. I've fire brass before that were deformed, mostly large dents but never quite like this. However the safety minded devil on my shoulder seems to think this might create some unsafe pressures. Its only 10 rounds so no big loss to me.
Here some pics (hopefully), the ridge is very subtle but noticeable when compared to the virgin Lapua brass.
(edit: damn computers, I'll see if I can't get the photos up later.)
