380 brass case mouth dented from gun

[TennJed]

I just picked up my first 380 auto...a kel tec p3at. I am waiting for all my reloading components to come. In the meantime I picked up 1 box of Federal and 1 box of Rem UMC to break the gun it. It shot well for those 100 rounds.

As I was sorting thru the brass tonight I noticed EVERY case mouth was dented at one side. Also the spot on the side right below the dent was "buffed" or "scuffed" a little. Don't know if those is the right words but hopefully you get the picture.

I have been reloading for a few months so I am still new at this, but I have reloaded a 2 or so thousand rounds of 9mm, 38sp, 357 mag, and 45 colt. I have seen the occasional indention or dent but not every round.

I am assuming it is being dented while it is being feed into the ramp. Should I be concerned with this? Will it lessen the life of my brass by a noticable amount?

Hopefully these pictures will help you see

 

[Shimitup]

That won't hurt a thing. As soon as you size it save for the scratches it'll be just fine as long as it's not actually cutting a groove. What you're showing is actually described as the case mouth, the rim is on the other end. The dent is from spinning around and hitting the slide in the area around the ejection port after extraction. If you look closely at the back of the port with a good light you may see a some faint brass smears, perhaps on the bottom edge of the port from skimming area that since you see some scuffing down the side. To help you analyze whats happening take a look at the case more or less in in line with the dented mouth and you will likely see a shiny burr or distortion on the grooved side of the rim where the extractor pulls the case back from the chamber, also you will note an impression more or less opposite that on the base where the ejector marks it. I like reading my brass, part of the fun of reloading.

P.S. Just rereading your description of a scuff below the dent may well be from feeding over the top of the ramp into the chamber.

 

[TennJed]

Thanks...oh and I edited to correct the wording..

 

[Dr_B]

I think you'll see some dents on the case mouths in the brass you got from me as well. My P238 did that, so did my LCP, and sometimes I see dents and/or smears on my .45 ACP brass. I don't reload .380, but the .45's shape up just fine during resizing.

 

[cfullgraf]

Those dings in the case mouths are nothing. They will iron out when resized.

I have saved cases dented worse than that. Use something to work most of the dent out and then resize as normal. I have used needle nose pliers.

 

[TennJed]

I think you'll see some dents on the case mouths in the brass you got from me as well. My P238 did that, so did my LCP, and sometimes I see dents and/or smears on my .45 ACP brass. I don't reload .380, but the .45's shape up just fine during resizing.

Dr. B first off thanks for everything.....I noticed on a few of yours but overall your brass seems to be in very good shape. What got me concerned was that every one of the 100 I shot had it. I was afraid my gun was going to cause a problem.

I mainly reload for revolvers so this is kinda of new

 

[gamestalker]

That will go right into the sizing die, no problem. You'll never know they were ever dented. And my best guess is they are getting dented during ejection. I have several AL's that do the same thing.

 

[Rule3]

Just be careful when you resize and flare the cases. If they are not exactly centered under the die you will crush the case mouth. 380 and 32 brass are not very substantial and you can completely crush or mess up the mouth if you are not careful.

 

[Cherokee]

My P3AT does the same thing...no problem.