Reforming cal. / Primer - Charge delay

[VTmtn.man]

I'm new to reforming brass. I am going from .243 to .260. I used too much lube on the starting .243 cases with a .260 die. As a result, the end product has the primer going off - delay - main charge going off a split second later.

I have a bunch more sized and primed not loaded yet, can I put the primed cases back in the tumbler with the polishing medium to dry them out?

Going forward is it best to just be judicious in how much lube gets in the case, trying to keep most of it on the exterior? It's tough because seems as though there needs to be some lube inside the case prior to expanding it from 6mm to 6.5mm

Any thoughts on the existing mistake and how to do better in the future...

 

[GLOOB]

I have made 7-08 brass from 243. Pretty easy. I used hardly any lube, and it wasn't much effort to withdraw the expander. I might have wiped a Q tip around the inside of the neck, with just a little spray lube applied.

I have had way more issue with 308 down to 708. The thicker brass in the neck was giving me a heck of a time resizing these cases, even after several loads. The expander ball just didn't want to come out without a fight.

I found that a Lyman M die is way easier for these cases. I dunno if that's akin to your issue though. I think you could afford to do some more experimenting. Do you really need that much lube?

 

[VTmtn.man]

I'll have to try some spray lube / Q-tip. Thus far, I've been using that thick RCBS stuff for the roll pad. I generally just get a bunch of it on my one hand and rub it all over the case. Like I said, new at this...

From what I've managed to read it's easier necking up than down. I figure that if you are going an entire 1mm up it shouldn't be to hard for me to go .5mm. Thanks

 

[KansasSasquatch]

I don't think it'd be a good idea to rumble primed brass... good chance of media getting stuck in the flash hole. In the future you may consider reforming/resizing then giving the brass a quick tumble and check the flash holes after the tumble. Then you won't have to worry about excess lube inside the brass.

 

[gamestalker]

I might be missing something? But is there some specific reason why you are priming the brass prior to forming it? The reason I ask is, if you form, wipe lube off, and then tumble, you won't have to deal with lube gumming up the works, or the primers and powder, as it appears.

I am OCD when it comes to my reloading and will not even think about priming and charging cases that haven't been completely de-lubed, like squeaky clean de-lubed. I've even been known to rinse my brass with acetone before I tumble, just to make sure they are completely free of lube, or lube residue. I think about like this, if my ammo gets warm in the sun, or sits around for a few months, any lube residue that is left in the case is going to begin producing vapors that could deactivate the primer compound, and also effect the powder burn. Whether or not this is possible, I don't know. All I can say is that in more than 30 yrs. of reloading I have never had a single mis-fire, or had anything out of the ordinary happen when discharged.

GS

 

[stubbicatt]

To OP: I think your primers are compromised, and you should discard them. There is nothing the tumbling media will do to remove the lube from the priming compound if that is indeed what has happened.

What did you use for lubricant?

 

[VTmtn.man]

To Gamestalker... thanks for your post. In general I haven't really though about that extra step of making the brass squeaky clean prior to priming. I did not prime prior to re-forming. What I did was heavily lube a bunch of brass prior to reforming then primed them all right after re-forming them.

I'll use the loaded stuff I have as a training tool, of sorts. The less flinch response I have with the primer going off a spit second before the charge the closer I should hit to the point of aim?.?....

BTW, I have been using the RCBS lube, it's quite thick like the texture of molasses. I've never had this issue before lubing lighter. This time I lubed much heavier thinking it was necessary for necking .5mm up in size. The short of it is, I'll add the extra step of cleansing the re-formed brass prior to priming!

 

[gamestalker]

Just be careful there and don't get yourself hurt. I don't know what all could happen with a delayed detonation like that? It might cause a severe pressure spike, or a possible a low pressure situation that could lodge a bullet in the barrel, KB! Just be cautious so you can enjoy this hobby for years to come.

GS