30-06 brass

colonel3006

colonel3006

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I am fairly new to reloading and I have some 30-06 brass that I had someone else reload for me.It has been loaded twice and I am starting to load it again for the 1st time myself.My manual says max C.O.L is 2.494 and trim to 2,484.After measuring it I found that some of it is anywhere from 2.470 to 2.485.My question is is the brass that is shorter than trim length still safe to reload?I know it is probably a stupid question,but being new to reloading I am probably a little to cautious.All I can figure is the guy who reloaded them before for me trimmed them too short:confused:
 
About all that will happen is some sooting/carbon in the barrel neck area in front of the brass. But with normal cleaning this will not be a problem. The brass will keep stretching over multiple cycles.

More important is whether the brass is showing indications of case head separation or loose primers. If not then I'd say keep on shooting them.
 
colonel3006 said:
I am fairly new to reloading and I have some 30-06 brass that I had someone else reload for me.It has been loaded twice and I am starting to load it again for the 1st time myself.My manual says max C.O.L is 2.494 and trim to 2,484.After measuring it I found that some of it is anywhere from 2.470 to 2.485.My question is is the brass that is shorter than trim length still safe to reload?I know it is probably a stupid question,but being new to reloading I am probably a little to cautious.All I can figure is the guy who reloaded them before for me trimmed them too short:confused:
Click to expand...

The advice given to you by elkhuntr is right on the money.And remember,there are no stupid questions when it comes to reloading and firearms in general.
 
I have noticed on some of the cases there is a little ring a quarter inch up from the bottom of the case,but using a really fine pick inside I cant feel a dip or bump.I thought the ring may be from the resizing die.I know using the pick is probably not the greatest way,but will you feel it if it is starting to seperate?
 
Go ahead and use it as long as there are no signs of fatigue just above the "web" of the case.
I know a number of shooters who make 308 Norma brass from 7mm Rem Mag or 338 Win Mag cases.
It will be short by some .050" at first.
No harm comes from using this brass whatsoever.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
colonel3006 said:
I have noticed on some of the cases there is a little ring a quarter inch up from the bottom of the case,but using a really fine pick inside I cant feel a dip or bump.I thought the ring may be from the resizing die.I know using the pick is probably not the greatest way,but will you feel it if it is starting to seperate?
Click to expand...

There will always be a line just above the web of the case, because the case expands slightly to fit the chamber.
When you FL resize the case, this "line" often becomes more visible.

However, you are doing the right thing by checking for a "dip" in the brass case on the inside.

Excessive case stretch will often show as a bright, somewhat irregular, "ring" just above the normal line of expansion.
This is an incipient case separation, and you should not reload this case.

Hope this helps a bit.

Regards, Eagleye.
 
Yes, you will feel the bump and it will become pronounced. A pick is a great tool, you can also use a paper clip in a pinch. Try hack sawing some brass in half some day and you will see the problem form.

I also see the ring you are seeing. I believe this is the area where the brass is thicker vs thinner and expands to the chamber dimension the most.

Case head separation is hastened with over doing your FL sizing. All you need is just enough bump to have smooth chambering (ie fire forming your brass to your chamber). So try backing off the die a bit and size. It may feel a bit stiff upon chambering. Then play with depth until the brass chambers smoothly. Set the die and have fun. Good luck.
 
A little shorter case is not a problem, case will stretch and grow with every resizing, the wall shoulder and neck of the case will flow forward to fill the chamber when fired, when you resize you are are pushing back at the same the excess brass will move the neck forward. Is important you verify the lenght is not exceeding max, because that could and will increase the pressure if the end of the neck holding the bullet will jam on the rifling.
If your brass have been reloaded only few time the ring near the rim of the case is done by the resizing die, I had couple of case separations when I did stretch the life of the brass above 25 reloading.
Also if you use the same brass on that specific rifle you could increase the life of the brass by using neck size in stead of full lenght resizing.... some people may disagree, but my experience neck sizing will give me a marginal better group than cartridges F.L.resized. I must ad that this practice is not advisable if you using a pump or semi auto rifle.
 
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