buck460XVR
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^^^This. Might not be a problem with the brass tho, but a problem with the gun or your reloading technique. I would examine all of three closely.
paper clip test then what!
- Thread starter HankC
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^^^This. Might not be a problem with the brass tho, but a problem with the gun or your reloading technique. I would examine all of three closely.
Charlie98
Member
*scratches head* As far as the OP, we are only talking about 150 pieces, not 1000. I wouldn't even bat an eye... that stuff would be in the scrap bucket by now. Granted, my issues have always been with once-fired 7.62mm brass in my M1a... including case head separations, and in the case I mentioned prior, a complete fracture of the case head (through the case head) that blew out the magazine. Do that 3 times and tell me to waste my time trying to salvage 150 pieces of brass...
243winxb
Member
Yes, excess head clearance from firing cast, then full power loads. IMO. I noticed/measured a shorter head to datum measurement after firing Hodgdon Youth Loads in a 30-06 with jacketed bullets.
M16 fired brass with shoulder set back .014" in photo. The front part stays in the chamber. There was no outward signs of the separations on firing.
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I am not seeing this as the same type issue.
In the OP's case, if they pass the visual and internal test, I would use them unless overall I just wasn't comfortable with the cases for whatever reason. That second part we can't advise him on.
If there is no sign of an internal rut there is no issue with incipient case head separation unless he over sizes them, uses them in a rifle with excess headspace, or a bit of both. That doesn't mean there can't be another issue we can't see from here or hasn't been mentioned.
Scooter22
Member
Thanks for that pic. I knew there was some type of case seperation that can occur from shooting light loads then full power with the same case. From what the OP describes I'll bet thats it.
Charlie98
Member
Well... and I wondered about that, and I see what you are driving at. I guess in this instance maybe park the brass, introduce a small amount of new cases without any issues (to eliminate that as a variable) and proceed, and maybe have that headspace checked, too. It is an odd one...
Ironicaintit
Member
I check them all on a cas by case basis, regardless of headstamp or "lot".
They either pass or fail on their own merits.
I found something even faster than the paper clip test....
Shine a pen light through the flash hole as you peer, off center, in through the neck. Roll it through your fingers to see the full circumference, and that's it.
Every single dent, scratch, crack, or otherwise thin spots become glaringly obvious.
Try it out (I don't know if people already do that) and you'll probably end up scrapping brass that had passed the paper clip test. It's almost a curse of too much data.
They either pass or fail on their own merits.
I found something even faster than the paper clip test....
Shine a pen light through the flash hole as you peer, off center, in through the neck. Roll it through your fingers to see the full circumference, and that's it.
Every single dent, scratch, crack, or otherwise thin spots become glaringly obvious.
Try it out (I don't know if people already do that) and you'll probably end up scrapping brass that had passed the paper clip test. It's almost a curse of too much data.
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