Is this case head separation?

I was pushing these pretty hard with 52gr of IMR 4198. Only a few have the ring. These are 3 separate pieces.

 

Can't really see well, ohihunter2014. Pics of cartridges are blurry, but the load data is focused well.

 

Are you still doing the one full turn crimp?

Could be cases starting to buckle if you are.

 

Sorry I keep forgetting about the paper clip test. I loaded, crimped and put everything away for the night and noticed the rings.

 

Nope I’m doing 3 turns this time

I actually noticed the last one before crimping. 1/8 turn for crimp.

 

Sorry the lights are terrible. I have a ceiling light that’s about 8ft behind me and an old adjustable desk light mounted on top of the bench and LED on the press.

 

From your first blurry photo it looks like the ring is well above the case web (which would indicate an incipient seperation).

If you put a magnifier on it can you see any cracking?

 

i got some starline 357 mag brass that breaks in the same place. i will lose one or two about every other match. not hot loads, just the way it goes. case head seperation is closer to the end.

 

Levers, because of the way the bolt locks up at the rear do tend to flex and can cause case head separation in straight wall cases when loads are high and brass used too many times for high pressure loads. But I agree with Walkalong, the only way to know is to do the paper clip test. BTW......Really hard to get a separated case from a lever chamber.

 

These have been loaded about 6 times for a Marlin 1895. In the beginning of their life it was high end trap door and low end Marlin data until the last 2-3 loading's of mid range Hodgdon data. I will pull the worst looking one tonight and see if there is a divot.

 

reach in with a paper clip. see if you feel an edge inside case. this has been covered 100+ times