357 Mag Cracked and Bulged Brass

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dodgecrew

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What causes horizontal cracks or bulges on one side in 357 Mag brass about 3/16 to 1/4 inch from the brass head. Factory Blazer and Remington shot from 4 different rifles bulged on one side of case that you can see and feel with finger nail. The once reloaded Blazer and Federal cases do the same thing, some have a very noticeable line like it is ready to crack in this spot. The sizing die goes down slightly past this spot. Had 2 that actually cracked horizontally in the same spot where there was powder residue. Older other manufactures brass looked good and had been reloaded 2 or 3 times already. Using minimum loads with 2400, 4227 and HS7(Old Win 571). 125 and 158 grain bullets. Factory ammo chronographed 1800fps - 2100fps depending on bullet weight, reloads 1700fps-1800fps range.
Guns used Ruger 77/357 18.5 in, Henry Big Boy Brass 20in Lever, Ciappa 20in Lever, Rossi 16in Lever
 
dodgecrew said:
What causes horizontal cracks or bulges on one side in 357 Mag brass about 3/16 to 1/4 inch from the brass head. Factory Blazer and Remington shot from 4 different rifles bulged on one side of case that you can see and feel with finger nail. The once reloaded Blazer and Federal cases do the same thing, some have a very noticeable line like it is ready to crack in this spot. The sizing die goes down slightly past this spot. Had 2 that actually cracked horizontally in the same spot where there was powder residue. Older other manufactures brass looked good and had been reloaded 2 or 3 times already. Using minimum loads with 2400, 4227 and HS7(Old Win 571). 125 and 158 grain bullets. Factory ammo chronographed 1800fps - 2100fps depending on bullet weight, reloads 1700fps-1800fps range.
Guns used Ruger 77/357 18.5 in, Henry Big Boy Brass 20in Lever, Ciappa 20in Lever, Rossi 16in Lever
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If it was only 1 brand I'd blame the brass, but 2 different brands it's more probable that one of your gun has a problem. Do all 4 guns do that? Try 20 rounds of each brand in each gun, and make sure you note which combination leads to bulged brass. Chances are one gun or one brand of ammo is a lot more problematic than the rest.
 
If you are using a carbide die, the carbide ring may have a small inside diameter thats at minimum case diameter.

You may need to raise the die off the shell holder and not make the cases so wasp waisted.

It sounds like you are over sizing the case and reducing the case diameter excessively and over working the brass.

Chambers and dies vary in size and you may have fat chambers and a skinny resizing die.
 
HI; FAT chambers and hot loads. Marlin rifle 45 colt chambers are large. Gun fires, case lays on bottom of the chamber and pushs up before the bullet pushs out the barrel. With soft loads this will not happen, like cowboy lead loads. Get near max. of listed loads and swelled cases happen.
 
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