Case Ring...?

[Saluki91]

Is the ring around this 9mm case (photo attached) indicative of the need for a sizing die adjustment, or is the brass just getting old? If it matters, it is Blazer brass.

Perhaps another issue...?

Thanks!

 

[Charlie98]

Looks fine to me. It does not appear to be a bulge... it is just likely where the sizer stops in the press' cycle.

 

[mdi]

Agree with Charlie, the sizing die rubs the cade OD and the "ring" is where it stops, as far down as it goes. 9mm cases are tapered and the ring is probably a bit larger and is shiny from the carbide ring rubbing/burnishing the brass. Measure a fired case OD in several places before sizing and after sizing, the ring portion may be the only area significantly sized...

 

[stillquietvoice]

I agree with above posts, seen this on many cartridges, not just 9mm, sizer die can only go so far down and leaves a ring.

 

[fxvr5]

 

[Charlie98]

View attachment 1007728

Dumb question... In all the years I've been reloading, I've never had a tapered or straightwall case separate at the case head, but certainly in bottleneck rifle cartridges. I have to ask... has anyone experienced a case head separation on something like 9mm or .45ACP?

 

[mdi]

Dumb question... In all the years I've been reloading, I've never had a tapered or straightwall case separate at the case head, but certainly in bottleneck rifle cartridges. I have to ask... has anyone experienced a case head separation on something like 9mm or .45ACP?

Nope. The only "failures" I've experienced are split walls/necks, loose primer pockets and "blown" primer pockets from heavy loads, mostly in my revolver loads and can't remember any of my semi-auto cases fail...

 

[LiveLife]

... ring around this 9mm case (photo attached) indicative of ... issue?

Looks to me the shiny ring towards the base of case is from expanded brass contacting sizer ring of the die. Brass could have been fired in generous chamber mouth barrels or 9mm Major brass left by match shooters.

Is this an issue?

If the brass is mixed range pick up not fired by you and the shiny ring is not produced when fired in your pistols/barrels, I would not worry too much.

If the brass fired in your pistol continues to produce the shiny ring and you are using max/near max powder charge, I would consider reducing the powder charge.

Do you have the same issue with other headstamp brass?

 

[Saluki91]

Looks to me the shiny ring towards the base of case is from expanded brass contacting sizer ring of the die. Brass could have been fired in generous chamber mouth barrels or 9mm Major brass left by match shooters.

Is this an issue?

If the brass is mixed range pick up not fired by you and the shiny ring is not produced when fired in your pistols/barrels, I would not worry too much.

If the brass fired in your pistol continues to produce the shiny ring and you are using max/near max powder charge, I would consider reducing the powder charge.

Do you have the same issue with other headstamp brass?

I just noticed it today while loading some plinking rounds. All of my plinking 9mm is loaded with Vectan BA9, and at mid-range charges. According to my chronograph and Vectan's load data, they aren't hot loads.

I don't know about this ring on other headstamps. I'll load and shoot some other brass to verify. Thanks!