Are these okay to reload with the case like this?

[slowr1der]

So I've got some brass I was getting ready to prime to reload and I noticed this at the case. Normally, I can see a ring here, but with this it's almost like the bottom part below this isn't as high as the rest of the case. Almost looks like the bottom under the ring is crimped in. The weird thing is this brass only has 2 firings on it. It's .243 brass and the brand is Winchester. I'm pretty sure I bought this as just new empty brass and fired it 2x, but I might have bought it as factory Winchester ammo, then shot it once and reloaded it once, either way I know it's 2x fired. Here are a couple of pictures?





So should I load these up, or should they go in the scrap bin?

 

[Presto]

Run a feeler made out of a bent paper clip or similar down the inside wall. No "troughs" no problems. It kind of looks like an optical illusion caused by the sizing die ring anyway.

 

[slowr1der]

I tried that and couldn't really feel much on the inside, however, I can feel it slightly with my finger on the outside where it dips down so I'm sure it's there on the inside too and just hard to feel. I'm not sure that it's not caused by the resizing die, but it may be the gun too, I'm really not sure.

 

[918v]

They are fine.

 

[A-FIXER]

Are you FL or next sizing the brass are you shooting it from a AR- in .243 or a bolt gun if your NS only and firing out of an bolt then, As I am looking at it the lower part is original size and above the ring shows a fireformed to the chamber and will show variance in chambered brass ''example would be the glock bulge'' but in reverse as the machining of chamber. But again this is only an shot at explaining without much info.... let us know more to better help you.

 

[slowr1der]

I'm full length resizing them each and every time and firing them out of a bolt action. I do want to be able to shoot these out of different rifles though which is why I'm full length resizing them.

So, I picked out one of these that looked fairly bad and cut it open. Here is what it looks like on the inside.





So on the inside I don't see anything that appears to be the case separating like I see on the Youtube videos showing a case cut apart that's near separation. So looking at the inside of these, what's you guys opinion of this? It seems like the ring mark is almost right at the bottom of this case. Not quite, but not far from it when looking at it on the inside, it's right near the bottom.

One a side note this was the first time I ever cut a case open, but it was a pretty neat experience.

 

[918v]

Quit stressing, jeez!

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, quit worrying about it.

What you are seeing is where the harder, solid case head is not expanded, but where the case wall in front of the case head has expanded. Case head separation occurs a little farther up the case where the case wall tapers from thick to thin.

Size em and load em.

 

[snuffy]

It sounds like you WANT to see a problem! Get it though your head that there's nothing wrong with your cases. Except you ruined one that can never be reloaded!

 

[longdayjake]

Good to see someone taking reloading seriously. I have had some rough experiences lately and seeing this level of paranoia is actually quite refreshing.

 

[Jim Watson]

Your chamber diameter may be toward the large end of specifications, or your brass might be toward the small end, causing more obvious expansion than you might expect. You are not seeing case stretching with risk of casehead separation.
Load 'em back up and go shooting.
But Walkalong already said that. OK

 

[res45]

Your cases are fine,there is no thinning of the web in those cases. Here is some case head separation if you want to see some.

http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2010/05/reloading-case-head-separations.html

 

[amlevin]

Get it though your head that there's nothing wrong with your cases. Except you ruined one that can never be reloaded!

You mean that J-B Weld won't fix this? Probably a first.

 

[slowr1der]

Thanks guys. I don't want to see a problem, but I don't want to risk it blowing up in my gun and destroying my gun and or self either over a $.25 piece of brass. Having personally seen a Glock Kaboom, I definitely don't want that to happen to me.

 

[suzukisam]

I don't see cutting one case paranoid at all..I actually think it's kinda cool. It is a cheap education about your cases.. and now you(the op) have a very good understanding of the case structure...you'll be an expert on your rifle and it relationship to brass fired through it... that is invaluable info to have... but having said that even if you get a little case seperation, you still won't get a kaboom.. just always wear safety glasses.. I can show you the doctors bill that comes free with every stupid reloading mistake! Glasses are CHEAP!

 

[Seedtick]

Thanks guys. I don't want to see a problem, but I don't want to risk it blowing up in my gun and destroying my gun and or self either over a $.25 piece of brass. Having personally seen a Glock Kaboom, I definitely don't want that to happen to me.

You're doing just fine, slowr1der. Keep paying attention and asking questions when you got em.

Seedtick

 

[mokin]

Don't feel bad about cutting a case open every now and then. I figure it is a lot cheaper than a rifle and doctor bills. I've cut quite a few open and learned that not all shiny rings around the base of a case is immenent doom. Besides, it is kind of fun.

 

[Cemetery21]

That brass shows no sign of stretching/separating. Over the years, I have had several cases separate in the chamber in several calibers. None caused damage to the rifle and I would not have known except that just the first
3/8" or so ejected .
I have learned to do a better job of setting up FL sizing dies to the headspace of a chamber to reduce stretching brass.

 

[gamestalker]

Cutting that case open was a good learning tool for you, you now have a better idea of what your looking at. I would also agree that the chamber in that rifle may be a little big and might cause you to go through brass a little quicker.