Wolf brass

[KYregular]

Inspecting some Wolf once fired 223 brass. I am often finding what look like small cracks around the case head, you will have to do a close up to see. Cant really tell if its early signs of case head seperation or not. Any experiences or opinions?

 

[Walkalong]

You mean that little ding?

 

[Walkalong]

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/incipient-case-head-separation.734058/

 

[KYregular]

You mean that little ding?

No, down on the case head os a tiny crack going all the way around. You will have to really zoom in.

 

[edwardware]

That looks too low to be a head separation. Maybe section one to look?

 

[KYregular]

That looks too low to be a head separation. Maybe section one to look?

Thats what i thought, but almost every Wolf case has that small crack on the outside. You can definitely feel it with a needle or other pointy tool.

 

[Walkalong]

Cannot zoom the pic, but I take your word for it. Get something to check it internally, as shown in the link, for the rut that goes along with it if it is starting to separate. If it's new and only once fired and it is starting to separate you have a gun issue.

 

[KYregular]

Cannot zoom the pic, but I take your word for it. Get something to check it internally, as shown in the link, for the rut that goes along with it if it is starting to separate. If it's new and only once fired and it is starting to separate you have a gun issue.

Not my gun, range pickup. My paperclip tool doe not go down far enough to feel internally, which is making me think that a crack of the base head is something that could be new to us all. Thanks

 

[edwardware]

. . . almost every Wolf case has that small crack on the outside. You can definitely feel it with a needle or other pointy tool.

Given that it's not exactly Lapua-quality brass, I could believe that a problem in case forming produced a consistent wrinkle there. I think you should cut and polish a section through the head, for the education of all mankind.

 

[KYregular]

here is a better pic, I can actually feel it with my fingernail.

 

[Walkalong]

here is a better pic, I can actually feel it with my fingernail.

Might be superficial, but it would concern me too.

 

[KYregular]

Might be superficial, but it would concern me too.

When in doubt, throw it out.

 

[HankC]

"almost every Wolf case has that small crack on the outside."
I have fired a few hundreds Wolf 223, don't have that. Pickup many from range, don't see that either. Reloaded many wolf brass at least twice so far, still going strong. I check with paper clip.
"Not my gun, range pickup."
Maybe someone's gun has a problem, maybe cosmetic, paper clip test will tell you. 223 is cheap enough just throw it away anyway.

 

[FROGO207]

Yeah that is strange. I would cut one and see if there is a problem. None of mine show this either. Looks to have happened in the forming process and I would recycle them after crushing the necks were they mine.

 

[KYregular]

"almost every Wolf case has that small crack on the outside."
I have fired a few hundreds Wolf 223, don't have that. Pickup many from range, don't see that either. Reloaded many wolf brass at least twice so far, still going strong. I check with paper clip.
"Not my gun, range pickup."
Maybe someone's gun has a problem, maybe cosmetic, paper clip test will tell you. 223 is cheap enough just throw it away anyway.

I actually compared with brass that I bought, same issue. The paper clip does not go down far enough, because this is below the case wall.

 

[FROGO207]

Not such high QC over there? They might be safe to shoot if you really needed them. I would keep them separate and watch them though if you use them.
I have other calibers of Wolf rifle brass and they have been as good as the other medium priced brass FWIW.

 

[hdwhit]

I just got in a batch of range pick-up brass that had 21 Wolf cases and they all had that rough spot in the surface of the brass identical to that shown in Post #10.

I inspected the cases mechanically with a steel probe and visually with an otoscope and found no indication of cracking or head separation. The consistency of both the location and shape of the rough spot suggests that it is an artifact of the manufacturing process.

Congratulations are in order for KYregular. Both seeing the rough spot and recognizing it to be an abnormality is a testimony to the thoroughness of his inspection.

 

[KYregular]

Funny how many dont like federal, which I have had good luck with. Since I have started loading for 223 though, I am only on my third firing at most. LC, WCC, and Remington along with IMI seem great though.

 

[Dudedog]

Good catch.
I tend to go with the if in doubt throw it out school of thought.
(recycle can)