Posted By: jeepercreeper
Case head separation signs? - 12/29/15 03:47 AM
Just FL resized some brass with brand new Lee dies and noticed a ring at the base of the brass. I think this is simply where the die resizing stops but i dont see this with my other dies and brass after a FL resize.
This is all once-fired Hornady brass out of a bolt gun. First time Ive worked with factory Hornady brass. Thinking about running a paper clip and/or cutting a couple cases to see what the inside looks like.
Please excuse the dirty brass. Hasnt been cleaned yet
Posted By: RiverRider
Re: Case head separation signs? - 12/29/15 03:52 AM
I'd check it. Looks like the bright ring of doom to me, but hard to be sure looking at a photo.
Posted By: jeepercreeper
Re: Case head separation signs? - 12/29/15 03:56 AM
I'd check it. Looks like the bright ring of doom to me, but hard to be sure looking at a photo.
Uggghhh. I just resized about 50rds and 45 of them look like this. These are all once fired too!
Posted By: jeff1383
Re: Case head separation signs? - 12/29/15 04:14 AM
If they're once fired I seriously doubt you're seeing case head separation unless you've got a chamber with waaaay too much headspace
Posted By: RiverRider
Re: Case head separation signs? - 12/29/15 04:16 AM
I know exactly what you mean. You know how to check em with a bent paperclip, though. They may be fine. And I could be just wrong about how they look. I'd expect the bright band to be a little wider, but...so I'd check.
Posted By: jeepercreeper
Re: Case head separation signs? - 12/29/15 02:24 PM
I'm gonna go ahead and cut a couple and check them out. I value the gun (and my face) way more than a few pieces of brass.
Posted By: cabosandinh
Re: Case head separation signs? - 12/29/15 03:44 PM
If they're once fired I seriously doubt you're seeing case head separation unless you've got a chamber with waaaay too much headspace
This or was hot load that caused case to expand out of normal
Posted By: RiverRider
Re: Case head separation signs? - 12/29/15 05:23 PM
What cartridge are they, and what rifle were they fired in?
Posted By: jeepercreeper
Re: Case head separation signs? - 12/29/15 06:28 PM
What cartridge are they, and what rifle were they fired in?
Oops, I guess I should have mentioned that.
Hornady 130gr SST 270win out of a Sako A7.
Posted By: jeepercreeper
Re: Case head separation signs? - 12/30/15 03:35 AM
Ran paper clip through about 10 cases and not feeling anything.
Also cut a couple cases and doesnt look bad to me. What do you guys think? Just resizing marks?
Posted By: RiverRider
Re: Case head separation signs? - 12/30/15 03:39 AM
Looks fine.
That line is just about always there after sizing a rifle case, but usually it's not so bright. Fooled us both, it did.
Better to err on the side of caution than the alternative, though.
Posted By: jeepercreeper
Re: Case head separation signs? - 12/30/15 04:03 AM
Yeah it certainly had me second guessing with the ring being so bright. We'll see how the rings look after the tumbler.
Posted By: ChadTRG42
Re: Case head separation signs? - 12/30/15 04:45 AM
Yes, I get the bright line at the case head sometimes after FL sizing. When you have actual case head separation signs, there will be a slight concave look at the case head area (where you see the shiny line). My 300 WM Nosler brass has MULTIPLE reloads on the brass from many firings through 2 different chambers. The last time I FL sized them I noticed the concave look at the webbing. Some of the rounds I shot had case head separation. But I'm running a 225 BTHP at 2911 fps! You will see the concave look and some stretching in that area. It does look similar to what you have now, but more severe.
Posted By: papa45
Re: Case head separation signs? - 12/30/15 06:38 PM
Agree with River Rider. I always see that line on my brass, but not so bright, probably because I resize after tumbling. Also, in my experience, a case-head-separation line is usually a little higher, wider, and not so shiny as the one you are seeing (may depend on the brass.)
Posted By: jeff1383
Re: Case head separation signs? - 01/01/16 02:16 AM
Use a little more case lube also
Posted By: Junior Samples
Re: Case head separation signs? - 01/19/16 06:17 AM
Had the same symptom with sizing cases. I think it is time to clean my die?
Could that be a dirty die? Well, with some dirt piling up on the rim of the die, pass after pass, over the spent cases. The rim of the die, at bottom of the sizing stroke, is pressed against the tension of the unsized portion of the case, against that very edge, then turned back against the dirt trapped at the rim, upon extraction. Case taper immediately reliefs that tension, printing a thin ring. I liked the cut-away pic. thanks