Howdy everyone. This may be more appropriate for the reloading section, but I reckon you folks have the most experience in this topic.
Took the Trapdoor out for the 4th of July shoot this weekend. I just have to add that this thing is as accurate a rifle as I own, maybe the best of the bunch. But I noticed that the brass was bulging around the base in exactly the same spot on every shell, and not all the way around, just a lump on one side of the base.
These were loaded with brand new Starline brass; I can't say I noticed this bulge on the first ten test loads I made up a few months ago with mixed brass, although I do remember that they had the same issue with extraction (I have yet to see a fired case extract properly, while unfired brass ejects every time). There is absolutely no issue with ballistic performance, it puts the lead exactly where it should every time, even after 20+ firings.
It's obviously an old rifle and I've heard all manner of things that can be inconsistent with these Trapdoors. Is it possible my chamber is just a little misformed? For the record, all of the cartridges were sized, expanded, loaded with 65 grains of Olde Eynsford 2F, a cardboard wad, and a 20:1 cast bullet with little to no crimp applied. EDIT: And Winchester Large Rifle primers were used, if that's useful information.
I guess what I'm asking is whether or not this is a normal occurrence, and whether or not the brass should be used again. I haven't experienced any other apparent issues with the brass such as splitting, just the bulge. Would that size out? I imagine the brass certainly won't last as long with these bulges happening, but it would be nice to get at least two uses out of each case, being as expensive as they are... I'm still pretty new to BPCR so I figured it would be worth an ask before proceeding. Thanks in advance.
Took the Trapdoor out for the 4th of July shoot this weekend. I just have to add that this thing is as accurate a rifle as I own, maybe the best of the bunch. But I noticed that the brass was bulging around the base in exactly the same spot on every shell, and not all the way around, just a lump on one side of the base.
These were loaded with brand new Starline brass; I can't say I noticed this bulge on the first ten test loads I made up a few months ago with mixed brass, although I do remember that they had the same issue with extraction (I have yet to see a fired case extract properly, while unfired brass ejects every time). There is absolutely no issue with ballistic performance, it puts the lead exactly where it should every time, even after 20+ firings.
It's obviously an old rifle and I've heard all manner of things that can be inconsistent with these Trapdoors. Is it possible my chamber is just a little misformed? For the record, all of the cartridges were sized, expanded, loaded with 65 grains of Olde Eynsford 2F, a cardboard wad, and a 20:1 cast bullet with little to no crimp applied. EDIT: And Winchester Large Rifle primers were used, if that's useful information.
I guess what I'm asking is whether or not this is a normal occurrence, and whether or not the brass should be used again. I haven't experienced any other apparent issues with the brass such as splitting, just the bulge. Would that size out? I imagine the brass certainly won't last as long with these bulges happening, but it would be nice to get at least two uses out of each case, being as expensive as they are... I'm still pretty new to BPCR so I figured it would be worth an ask before proceeding. Thanks in advance.