Salvaging over-sized brass

[GentleBen]

I have a little more than 1,000 pieces of new Hornady 6.5C brass. While full-length sizing the first 350 pieces of new brass, I noticed that I bumped the shoulders back too much. Instead of measuring an optimum 1.532 at the ogive, they are coming in at 1.522 -- 0.010 more than called for. This in turn threw off other measurements, etc. by one hundredth of an inch...or if you prefer, by 10 thousandths of an inch.

The rounds I loaded liked this, did fire well (no FTEs, FTFs, chambering problems or signs of pressure). But groups were only decent (1 to 1.5 inches at 100 yards) and not spectacular or consistent. Good news is that once all these cases were fired they were blown back into my Rem700 Custom chamber's dimensions and measure right at 1.532 at the ogive. So there is no future loss there. I will just neck size them for a few cycles and reset my Redding full length sizing die depths.

Question is what would be the best way to handle the remaining 250 or so new, prepped, primed and ready to load cases that are set back too far by 0.010 inches? Screw it and just have fun, using them for foulers and plinkers? Should I still try to load them for accuracy with my Berger 130s and 140s, Sierra 140s and Hornady 140 AMaxes? To do that would take more than a pound of my precious H4350.

Here is my plan, unless someone suggests otherwise: Take some of my less expensive Hornady 100gr bullets and develop some light recoil loads (intended for 100 yards only) with some other powders I have on hand like Varget, TAC, R-17, V-N550, Hybrid 100V. They will do the job of blowing my brass back into chamber size.

Or, am I fretting about nothing and this is all an exercise in reloading paranoia?

Any thoughts?

 

[Aimsmall55]

I doubt that it will hurt you or your rifle since its brand new brass. I'd just keep it segregated. That being said I've never seen the point of fl sizing new brass in 6.5 creedmor. Just get you a neck die with a bushing ( or not ) and uniform the necks. That's the most I've ever done. Hell, to be honest I don't do anything but chamfer and deburr. Tumble, prime, and load em up!!

 

[Aimsmall55]

Or you could just load the bullets a little longer... See if that will compensate for your shoulder. Just a thought. No need in wasting good bbl life. I'm no expert but I think that you could tweak the load to make them shoot. I've sized the shoulders WAYYY to far back on my Win mag before.. Like 15/1000's after I fire formed and it was below SAMMI. Still shot just fine

 

[918v]

Your lack of accuracy has nothing to do with the .010" of clearance you induced by FL sizing. Your load sucks.

 

[Ultraman550]

You're fretting too much. Unless you're using the brass in a competition and every measurement needs to be precise just load it and shoot it. If you're worried about case life and work hardening have it annealed after you fire it once.

 

[ZombieMonkey]

As 918v stated, it sounds more like your load sucks and you need to do a proper workup. The brass will be fine and it will recover from that, just anneal it at some point in a few loadings to help extend that case life.

 

[GentleBen]

Zombie and 918V, I tend to agree with you both...a lot. The day I was getting suck-ass groups was the same day I was using multiple load settings and had fired about 100 rounds down the barrel in about 90 minutes. It got pretty hot at times. It was later at home when getting to do some more hand-loads that I noticed the deep shoulders and just wondered if it had affected my accuracy. But I guess treating my Creed like a semi-auto didn't work out so good. But still got some pretty good groups early on.

At least I got my loads chrono-ed and found that the Hornady formula of 41.5 gr of H4350 was best for the 140s and was rivaled only by 42.0 gr of H4350.

Thanks for confirming what I didn't want to admit. And, I won't worry about those "setback" cases.

 

[GentleBen]

Zombie and 918V, I tend to agree with you both...a lot. The day I was getting suck-ass groups was the same day I was using multiple load settings and had fired about 100 rounds down the barrel in about 90 minutes. It got pretty hot at times. It was later at home when getting to do some more hand-loads that I noticed the deep shoulders and just wondered if it had affected my accuracy. But I guess treating my Creed like a semi-auto didn't work out so good. But still got some pretty good groups early on.

At least I got my loads chrono-ed and found that the Hornady formula of 41.5 gr of H4350 was best for the 140s and was rivaled only by 42.0 gr of H4350.

Thanks for confirming what I didn't want to admit. And, I won't worry about those "setback" cases.

 

[GentleBen]

By the way, do any of you bother to full-length size new virgin Hornady brass? Every piece that I have measured or dropped into a Lee Wilson case gauge has been right on the mark.

Can I get away with just neck sizing the brass so as to round out the mouths and apply neck tension. (Then trim on my Giraud.)

 

[Aimsmall55]

By the way, do any of you bother to full-length size new virgin Hornady brass? Every piece that I have measured or dropped into a Lee Wilson case gauge has been right on the mark.

Can I get away with just neck sizing the brass so as to round out the mouths and apply neck tension. (Then trim on my Giraud.)

Chamfer, deburr, prime, load and shoot ! Not once since I've loaded for a creedmor have I done ANYTHING. Other than listed. Trim after your first firing.