Opinions please: Retire this brass?

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TheCracker

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Ok folks, this is my first "precision" rifle and I've been using Lapua brass. This brass has been loaded 9 times since I bought it 2 years ago. It has been annealed and full length re sized on the 7th loading. Every other time I have just used my lee collet neck sizer.

My 308 load is 45.1 grains of Varget, win lp, 168 grain nosler cc bullets @2712fps. If memory serve right 46 grains or a har over is max.

Anyhow, I've had excellent results and wanted to get as much use possible out of this stuff since t is so expensive. However, I don't want to damage my rifle that I have $1500 into!

In the picture notice the black ring around the primer! I can also see a little trial where it looks like the gasses shot out along the case head. Smoke (not much) did come out of my receiver on both of these rounds!

I know I should probably retire them but I really thought I should be able to get around 15 loads especially since I annealed them.

Could this be a fluke I'ma couple bad primers? Or maybe the primer pockets are just wore out?
 

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If primer pockets are leaking?
The primer pockets are toast.

Either from:
1. Wear from too many loadings.
2. Or case head expansion from repeated hammering.

It is false economy to try to get 15 reloads out of any brass, if you are risking a $1,500 rifles bolt face to do it.

rc
 
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How would I tell if any damage has been done to te bolt face?

Btw, this is a Remington 700 5r milspec. Supposedly was built from a barrel blank of a M24. Its superbly accurate, compared my other rifles at least!
 
Prior to the Challenger explosion,
NASA would have said those cases are good to go...

Look at the boltface. If you see a tiny ring of eroded metal -lightly pitted or sandblasted look- that is the same diameter as the primer pocket, you have found the damage.
 
twofifty said:
Look at the boltface. If you see a tiny ring of eroded metal -lightly pitted or sandblasted look- that is the same diameter as the primer pocket, you have found the damage.
Click to expand...

Well, I can defiantly see a ring. I can also feel a rough spot! Im going I clean the rifle and scrub the bolt face with some solvent an a brush to remove the fouling then post a picture. I'll be curious to see if you guys think I have messed anything up too bad.
 
Out of curiosity I pulled the bolt out of my 270 an can see the same ring on it!

Does this creat a unsafe condition?
 
If I had any doubts about the brass, I wouldn't shoot it.

But it is your rifle, your hands, your eyes, your life. Are they worth the risk to save some change getting "one more" load out of some worn out casings?
 
Here is the bolt face. There is a indention.

Does this look abnormal?
 

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Looking at your first picture it appears to me you have excessive dimpling in the primer, especially the one on the right. That is an indication you are shooting a hot load. One or two tenths less powder might be worth a try.
 
1) yep, the brass needs to go to the recycle bin, or, make a tool out of them. i take brass like that, and seat and crimp a bullet into it, to make a quick set up tool. different bullets will need a different set-up, so this makes fast work of it. 2) i have no idea of your experience, so i am going to ask a question that i did not see so far, when you 'ANNEALED" THE BRASS, YOU ONLY ANNEALED THE NECK AREA, RIGHT? I have seen posts where a person annealed the entire cartridge, taking the temper out of the bottom part of the case. and that is a HUGE mistake.
 
Yes, I only annealed the neck And shoulder, did a 9 second count if I remember right. Made sure not to get it too hot and burn the zinc out!

Also water quenched it immediately. I watched plenty videos and read a lot about it b4 trying. I'm confident I didn't get the case head hot at all. Seems like they would have blown on the loading after the annealing if I had screwed it up.
 
Dude: Cut your loads!

Leaking primers are a positive indication of too high of pressures.

As for the gas cutting on your bolt face, live with it.

If you want to make it worse, shoot some more hot loads.
 
Not trying to hijack the thread but falls into the same catagory. Recently purchased some bulk pre-used brass. Trying to determine what is acceptable and what is scrap.

I've attached a couple of pictures. The three pieces of brass on the left are ones I threw into the scrap box. They have "rust" colored patches on them. If you find the smallest specks of "rust" after tumbling on your brass do you scrap it? or is small specks ok? The 4 cases on the right are ones that have a black "tarnish"? on them. Not sure if these should find their way to the scrap box as well. All of these cases have been tumbled. How would you handle these pieces?
 

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My 308 load is 45.1 grains of Varget, win lp, 168 grain nosler cc bullets @2712fps. If memory serve right 46 grains or a har over is max.
Click to expand...

Not with Lapua brass!!! The 46.0gr load is with Winchester brass. BIG DIFFERENCE! You have been running VERY high pressure loads, and that is why your brass is toast.

Don
 
You fried you brass prematurely and the hot gases escaping around the primer pockets burned a hole in your bolt face. Two things:

1. Get some new brass
2. Back off on your load and work up a proper accuracy load for your rifle.

Note: You'll likely get better accuracy than the hot load you're currently using that's ruined your brass and damaged your rifle. The muzzle velocity won't be hurt enough to worry about and you'll be tons safe with longer lasting brass, more accurate loads and a longer lasting rifle. A no lose decision.
 
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