Shoot 'em or pull 'em... .40 content

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bangbig

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Dec 29, 2011
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Been loading for my Glock 23 for several years now. For the 1st time I've seen on purchased once fired brass the "smilie", and now have a dozen or so that are reloaded that look ok but are .001 to .002" over at the bottom of the case after resizing on a standard Lyman sizing die. Only way I found them is I run every round into a case gauge before boxing.

They chamber in my barrel just fine. At what point do I need to worry about bulge at the bottom of the case? Is any too much?
 
I have an EMP with a SAMMI minimum chamber, so I use a case gauge to check all my sized brass. If it fits the gauge, it will fit that chamber, but if it doesn't, it will probably be tight or jam in that chamber, so, if it doesn't fit my gauge I scrap it. I never have any problem with ammo loaded in brass that fits my gauge. I do not gauge the ammo, just the sized brass. My other 9MM chambers are more average, and those cases that fail the gauge will fit them. I lose about 10% of range brass doing this, and much less than that using the same brass again. I have had a few hot loads that I had to back off on that stressed some cases. You might consider gauging sized brass instead of the finished round. Another option is the Lee FCD for pistols. I am not a fan, but they will ensure a fat reload will now fit your chamber.

All that said, if they fit your chamber, and they do not look bad, I would probably shoot them. The time to judge that case for over bulging is before sizing.
 
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