Impression rings formed around a resized case.

[asimpleman]

I just began reloading some Winchester/Remington once fired 30-06 cases with a Lee full length sizing die and noticed an impression ring that formed below the shoulder. As the instructions depicted for setting the die: I raised the ram all the way up and screwed the die until it made contact with the ram. Once contact was made, I lowered the ram and gave the die a 1/4 turn more. After the quarter turn I then raised the ram to make contact with the die, to hold it in place, while I secured the lock nut (making sure the die did not turn any more). After lubricating the cases (not the shoulders) and the case mouth I began to re-size. As I was reloading the first few I inspected the cases to ensure no complications, and continued reloading the rest of the cases. Upon cleaning the primer pockets I notices an impressed ring that formed on about 75/100 of my cases. The ring is visibly noticeable, I can slightly feel the ring with my thumbnail, the ring appears on both Remington and Winchester cases, and the ring is not very deep at all. So here are my questions; What went wrong, how should I fix it, are these cases safe to reload and fire, and how do I prevent this in the future? I was thinking that my die was set to deep but that doesn't seem correct because as the ram meets the die while the case is being resized then the Lee full length sizer should be perfectly forming the cases. I was thinking that perhaps there was too much case lube on it that may have compressed the brass as it was resized.

Other info: -The brass was tumbled and inspected thoroughly prior to resizing
-This was the first time the die was used (straight out of the box and into the press.
-No excessive force was noticed to be needed when resizing

Thanks for your input,
asimpleman

 

[bbuddtec]

I don't know 30-06 specifically, but if there are no cracks, you are in the neighborhood. After it gets fireformed in your rifle, some may end up cracked etc. but it should be ok. Eliminate the damaged cases as usual.

Someone tell me I'm wrong. I load .223 and there's gonna be dents etc. in once-fired. only cracked/split necks are ditched. Let the next load sort em out, even keep them separate and make note... there is a chamber there that they slam up against as they ignite... otherwise there'd be no reloading at all, in a sense. If it still bugs you, put it in the "to be annealed" pile and move on.

 

[Col]

I use Lee dies for my 308 and I have noticed this what I would call ring mark all around the circumference of the case about a hald inch or so from the bottom of the case. I also would like to know the cause but have continued using these cases for several loadings and have had no problems. In fact after I size etc I tumble and the ring disappears so I have always assumed its a mark the die leave after compressing the case to shape, my advice would be to use them,