Winchester brass more prone to hardening?

[Matthew T.]

After three firings, I can't push the shoulder of my Winchester .243 cases back far enough for easy chambering. I full-length resized before the first firing and used the Lee collet die for the last two. This same batch of brass had issues with shaving copper off bullets during seating.

Is Remington brass a little more flexible?

 

[10volt]

Winnie's brass is pretty hard at first load, but after that they loosen up pretty good bullets primers in a fresh "W" case is tight sometimes too tight. Using them for my Kimber 10volt

 

[HSMITH]

Anneal them.

 

[Matthew T.]

I'm still kind of new to rifle reloading.

Is it normal to have to anneal after three firings? If so, it might be less trouble to buy more brass.

 

[HSMITH]

Brass really isn't all that consistent for hardness when you get it. Some might go 5 or 6 loadings, some might want annealing right out of the bag.

Annealing is easy and quick, I think it has been covered quite well and a search will turn up specifics.

 

[dakotasin]

if you are full length re-sizing every time, you are probably work hardening the brass, in addition to the hardening it will get during firing.

also, it is very possible the problem is not in the shoulder at all, but in the case head, in that it may have swollen up enough to make chambering difficult. even full length re-sizing has a tough time getting this part of the case because most dies are chamfered at the head.

shaving bullets is probably coming from brass prep issues. after you trimmed the cases, did you chamfer the inside? if not, seating bullets will be more difficult, and will shave the bullet (and if you don't trim, that may be where your problem is - the brass has grown enough to reach the limit, or beyond).

i think we need just a little more info before we can blame the cases... many people have had a lot of good things to say about winchester cases...

 

[Matthew T.]

Let me clarify my initial post: I FL resized before I shot the brass for the first time. I neck-sized the brass after firing it for the first, second, and third times. This batch has been fired a total of three times.

You can eyeball cases from this batch next to a factory load and see that the shoulder is too far forward. As a side note, the bullet seems to be pushed into the lands regardless of where I seat it. I can see faint marks on the ogive after trying to force a round into the chamber.

I was able to avoid shaving copper off the bullets while seating by using the Lee collet die and dead length seating die. I tried the RCBS and Lee standard die sets prior to this.

 

[LeonCarr]

Hey Matthew,

Full length size your cases again, setting your FL sizer die to size or "bump" the shoulder on the case back three to five thousandths of an inch. This adjustment can be done by smoking a case black with a candle from the shoulder up, carefully inserting it into the FL die and gradually turning down the FL die until the neck is sized and there is a faint line on the shoulder of the case. This should cure your chambering problems. Also, check the overall length of the cases to make sure they don't need trimming. When shooting neck sized cases, you still have to go back every few loadings (number depends on the firearm, action type, etc) to ensure chambering. IMO annealing should not be necessary at this point.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Matthew T.]

Eureka!

HSMITH, you the man! After my virgin attempt at annealing, 15 cases will now chamber that I could barely close the bolt handle on earlier. I consider the $12.50 spent on my Lowe's Benz-O-Matic to be a sound investment.

And thanks to everyone else for their suggestions, too. I still wonder if Remington brass isn't a little more pliable, though.