Strange design of 9mm Ammoload brass?

[woodweasel58]

I just got some 9mm brass, resized and cleaned. I was cleaning and uniforming primer pockets and noticed what looked like a ring of brass inside. About half way down there is a step down in diameter. I've never seen this, does anyone know what's up with this?

 

[longhill]

Ammoload brass

Funny, I found some in my range pick ups too.
After searching some forums, nothing good was said about them.
I put them into the recycle bin.

 

[Blue68f100]

It's a ledge to stop the bullet from slipping deeper into the case. So confirm the bullets you use have the OAL you need. If you go past it it will expand the case so it will not fit the chamber.

 

[rcmodel]

Also used by Federal in .380 ACP, and perhaps other calibers now too.

As noted, it is to prevent bullet set-back during feed ramp impact in an auto pistol.

I would not have thrown them away!

rc

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Who's the mfg of these in 9mm, I haven't seen one yet. Is this something new?

 

[woodweasel58]

I was thinking that it was possibly to keep bullet from being pushed, it seems like a very good idea, doesn't it require the right amount of powder and a specific bullet for this to work?

 

[32_d3gr33s]

ive reloaded a few hundred so far with no issues...

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=719951&highlight=Ammoload

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

I've heard you want to be careful and workup a lighter load for these since there is less case capacity. Especially if you are doing odd things with 9mm like I am with 150gr SWCs that seat nearly halfway down into the case and don't leave much capacity in the first place. With a 115gr RN I'm sure the effect would be reduced as it is less of a percentage change than with reduced room.

 

[woodweasel58]

The head stamp says Ammoload? I've never heard of them.

 

[rcmodel]

http://www.ammoload.com/

rc

 

[gamestalker]

It's actually nothing new, maybe more of a reintroduced thing. I saw a lot of it on older brass, all kinds of older brass. Speer spoke of it, specifically regarding 9mm back in the 70's when bullet set back was a major concern with 9mm.

GS

 

[warhwkbb]

The cannalure gets flattened with the first firing. Perfectly safe to reload with your favorite bullet and powder recipe.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have seen cannelured brass, I have applied cannelures to prevent setback, but this is the first actual ledge in wall thickness I have seen.

 

[warhwkbb]

I stand corrected...

 

[jcwit]

Click on link on post # 7.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Jim Watson,

Look inside the newer Federal and Blazer .380 brass and you'll notice the same thing. For the manufacturers, it's rather ingenious, as long as they're loading one length of bullet in that caliber. It does away with the problems of bullet setback, and since they're not concerned about reloading, or reloaders, it makes sense from that standpoint.

I've found that the 95 gr. pulled .380 bullets that RMR was selling last year fit perfectly in the Blazer and Federal .380 brass with the step, as long as you load to the factory OAL. If you go deeper, it bulges the brass to the extent it won't chamber, unless the chamber is overly generous.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Jim Watson]

I guess that explains it, I don't shoot much .380 and have a box of old brass for when I get the notion to load some. I'll be sorry to see this change show up in range pickup 9mm and .45. Need to get a Quickloader to check the case volume and see if there is an effect on internal ballistics.

Interesting that they find it cheaper to form a step in wall thickness instead of just rolling in a cannelure. This will give reloaders fits as they try to cram in longer bullets and worry about case volume.

 

[Potatohead]

Also used by Federal in .380 ACP, and perhaps other calibers now too.

As noted, it is to prevent bullet set-back during feed ramp impact in an auto pistol.

I would not have thrown them away!

rc

Speer (Lawman?) in 380 also I believe

Nevermind, i see someone touched on this above.

 

[longdayjake]

I have actually seen the brass being made. Unlike what you have been told, it is not a ledge to keep the bullet from falling in. It is because the machines they use to make it do not have enough stations to taper the brass wall thickness like other companies do. They are using old machinery with brand new tooling. There is nothing wrong with the brass at all, it just doesn't get as much work done to it as more modern style brass machines get. They told me that it "also helps keep the bullet from falling in." It wasn't designed that way but it sure makes for a positive marketing explanation.

 

[longdayjake]

Oh, and it comes from freedom munitions ammo.

 

[longhill]

Ammoload cases

I cleaned, roll sized and full length sized.
Had a problem with the base of the case not wanting to slide into the case gauge fully. Seem the brass is fairly soft, noticed a lot of nicks and dents in the bases.
To the recycling bin they go.