45ACP Cases Discolored with Powder Residue After Firing-Pressure Too Low?

[gerrym526]

Went to the range yesterday and fired some 45ACP that I reloaded back in 2011-one of my first batches. The fired cases were discolored and many had powder residue around the top half. When they were reloaded, I used once fired brass, cci primers (large pistol), Berry's 230gr round nose, and 3.8gr of Bullseye (lowest load shown in the Lyman manual).
In looking through the Lyman manual, I found that case discoloration could be a symptom of too low of pressure not allowing the case to obturate (swell to seal the barrel) and having the gas "blow back" around the case to discolor it. I use a Lee Classic Turret press and the Lee Pro Auto Disk setup. I measure every 10th cartridge to make sure the proper powder amount is thrown. However, as I mentioned the 3.8gr of Bullseye is the lowest amount shown in the Lyman manual.
Is this in fact what's happening? Can I still use the discolored brass? And will the condition go away if I increase the amount of powder (staying within safe limits)?
Thanks for the help guys.

 

[mljdeckard]

Some powders are just a little dirty.

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, your charge is way too low.

Yes, that is the reason for the case staining.

Yes, you can use the brass again.

Try 4.6 grains Bullseye for a mil-spec duplicate 230 grain load.

rc

 

[beatledog7]

rc nails it again!

I use 4.8 or 5.0 grains of BE under 230-grain jacketed bullets, so 4.6 seems rational for plated.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I'm surprised the gun functioned with that load. Up your load and solve your problems. The brass hasn't been hurt, and will last you many, many more loadings.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[918v]

I second and third the 4.6gr recommendation.

 

[jr_roosa]

Even at 4.6gr you may still get carbon on the brass.

My hot rod jhp loads still soot up a little. Cost of doing business.

I tumble overnight in walnut with flitz and it cuts most of it off, but it still doesn't affect anything other than making your brass less pretty.

-J.

 

[sauer1911]

YOu wanna see some sooty, try looking at your brass after a squib load, that is primer only and forgetting the powder.:banghead:

i had one and the brass was practically all black! DONT FORGET TO TAP THE BULLET OUT OF THE BARREL BEFORE PROCEDING!

 

[tyeo098]

5.0gr Bullseye and a 230gr Hard-cast-powder-coated boolet.

Pretty fricken accurate for my RIA GI 1911.

 

[243winxb]

Keep using that brass, its ok. Brass yields at 15,000 PSI when soft (annealed), and 63,000 PSI when hard. The maximum working pressure for the 45 acp is 23,000 PSI, (+P) loading. What this means is, a maximum load may not expand the brass fully. My standard load is 3.8 Bullseye-200 gr cast lswc. Most of my Starline brass looks discolored, not a big deal IMO. I only care how close the bullet impacts to the X ring.

 

[warhwkbb]

There is nothing wrong with soft shooting loads. As long as they function properly; discolored, sooty cases are not something that needs to be solved. I often use 4.0gr of BE with Cast 230g lead. I tend to seat those a touch deeper than normal to bring up pressure a bit.