Assesing Brass Condition

powdergun

powdergun

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I've recently gotten hold of some " once fired brass " from ebay and would like your oppinions.
1) The shoulder and neck areas are discoloured as if they were heated. Is this a sign of Annealing ?
2) Some of the brass will not fit into the seating thingy that sits on the ram of the press " sorry brain fart can't remember the right name "
3) Primers show excess pressure signs ( cratering )

Is this stuff junk or can it be used and what is the life span ? I haven't found any cracks. The gun is a hefty magnum so I don't want to take chances but the brass is very pricy new.
 
I would run it thru a tumbler and inspect it once cleaned. Can you clarify that is won't fit on the shell holder, are you using the correct one for the cartridge, if so why won't it fit...

What cartridge are you referrring to.
 
brass

The brass is realtively clean. As for the shell holder it is the right one. Out of the 100 or so brass I had 20 that would not fit the holder. I've had sme that did this before and I avoided the stuff that did not fit. No problem with the stuff I did use. But I have to wonder with this next batch. The round is .338 lapua mag and the brass is lapua brand. Also, the primers shw very distinct cratering. The stuff I load did not . Does shooting overly hot loads wreck brass ?
 
I still don't understand if using the correct shell holder why that brass will not fit.... is it distorted or something....

I have reloaded approx 15 different cartridges and have never, ever had one that wouldn't fit in the shell holder.... a lot of them are really close, but only one is correct for the cartridge, what is the brand of shell holder and number....


I would resize it, install some new primers (make sure they fit snug and don't go in loose) do a good visual inspection for cracks etc.... If you are not loading them overly hot, I would have no issues about reusing them if they checkout OK after repriming. Lapua brass is pretty good stuff.....
 
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Odd colour is annealing on Laupua brass, what brand shell holder are you using? Have found Redding shell holders some times on the "tight" side because of the way they are made to hold case in.
 
Rcbs

I am using RCBS # 14. After some grunt and groan I magaged to push the into the seat and resize them. They resized easy but my concern is will they cause bolt closing problems. I don't have the gun at this time to check.
 
Die setting

I usually set my full length sizing so the shell holder makes light contact with the bottom of the die. Should I modify this ?
 
That is the starting point, I usually find you have to tighten down the die in 1/16" adjustments up to a 1/2 a turn or more before the case will properly chamber in a rifle. Some are pickier than others. Resize and adjust die down until it properly chambers in your particular rifle.
 
powdergun said:
I
3) Primers show excess pressure signs ( cratering )

Is this stuff junk or can it be used and what is the life span ? I haven't found any cracks. The gun is a hefty magnum so I don't want to take chances but the brass is very pricy new.
Click to expand...

Cratering isn't necessarily a sign of high pressure. Could be the firing pin hole in the bolt face was over-size.

How did the primers look otherwise.
 
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