Brass flaking off at case mouth

[Conservidave]

Brand new .45 Pro-Mag brass
Speer 230g HP
5.5g HP-38
slight crimp

Brass is flaking at the case mount on several of the fired rounds. One case had a small brass wicker sticking up. This is a new bullet for me but i've never seen
anything like this. Is this a brass issue or is something else going on?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Gadawg88]

Can you post a picture? 5.5gn is above the max of 5.3gn listed in the Hodgdon online data for 230gn fmj, so that could have something to do with it (maybe). Have you tried a lower charge and if so does it happen then also? Does it happen with other headstamp brass? When you say slight crimp, do you mean just enough to remove the bell in the case mouth, because that is all you need.

 

[rcmodel]

Champher & de-burr before loading!

Problem solved.

My work is done here.

rc

 

[tightgroup tiger]

^^^^ What he said. I always find a certain amount of very small brass around crimp die even after chamfering.

 

[tootall]

I tumble my 223 sized/trimmed brass after trimming (RT1200 Dillon), that knocks off the sharp edge and any burrs/trimmings...

For FMJ type in 223, I do not chamfer the case mouths, not needed for general loads (I do for bolt gun neck sized/uniformed precision stuff).

 

[moxie]

Yup, always size, chamfer, and de-burr new brass.

 

[Otto]

Pro-Mag brass? .....never heard of it.

 

[edfardos]

Lee crimp die? Rough stuff in my experience. Brass flakes in the die too? Quick fix is some fine sandpaper wrapped around a dowel and paper towel. No idea other than that. Let us know what you find out.

Edfardos

 

[Rule3]

Brass really can not "flake" Brass is brass a solid. Nickel plating can flake off the brass, If you see flakes of brass it may be from the bullet?? Also what is this Pro Mag brass?? I know Pro Mag makes not very good magazines but brass?

As mentioned chamfer, de burr you can even resize new brass.

 

[Potatohead]

Im using brand spankin new Starlines for the first time ever and the 380s definitely shed some flakes. I cant put my finger on exactly where theyre coming off of the case though.

ive found that new brass reacts a bit differently than mixed range stuff.

 

[Rule3]

I guess it's a matter of semantics. Flakes like snowflakes, corn flakes or like when trimming, more of grains, dust,burrs, small pieces???

 

[mdi]

Yep, sounds like a small burr. Chamfer/de-burr the case mouths prior to reloading, new brass may have some burrs, machining marks from manufacturing...

 

[Artofgolf]

Brand new .45 Pro-Mag brass
......Thanks, Dave

Hey Dave, did you size the new brass first?

 

[Conservidave]

Heres a pic of the case. it does show a small piece of brass sticking up from the edge but not the flaking. Cases were sized first but not chamfered. My guess is that chamfering and deburring will solv this.

the brass is pro grade not pro mag, my bad.
Thanks for the help
Dave

 

[Potatohead]

I guess it's a matter of semantics. Flakes like snowflakes, corn flakes or like when trimming, more of grains, dust,burrs, small pieces???

My flakes are just like dust. Maybe a dandruffy type of consistency

So much so that I thought I was leaking powder til I figured out it was the new brass.

 

[Blue68f100]

Heres a pic of the case. it does show a small piece of brass sticking up from the edge but not the flaking. Cases were sized first but not chamfered. My guess is that chamfering and deburring will solv this.

the brass is pro grade not pro mag, my bad.
Thanks for the help
Dave

That is actually a shaving where something cut into it. Slivers like that can be very sharp and stick you very easily. Deburring will take care of it. Normally on new brass the edge is a little rough and you will get some fine grains/particles off the edge. After the first fireing it normally all gone.