FC brass - quality control issues?

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leonardj

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While prepping my newest batch of once fired .30 M1 carbine brass, i have run into an issue which I can only describe as "soft cases". While resizing them in my carbide sizing die, some of the cases sized normally, while others appear to have formed a "wave" of brass ahead of the sizing ring, which is carried right to the case head, forming an enlarged ring around the case where the sizing die ring stops. The case head is also deformed - forming a step where the primer pocket relief of the shellholder meets the case. The soft cases end up being between 0.020" to 0.030" shorter than the normal cases after sizing, even though they start out the same lengths before sizing. There is absolutely no difference felt when operating the press handle - the only key to the deformed cases is the fact that they become stuck in the shellholder and have to be tapped out of it. Of this batch of brass, 30% were deformed in this manner by sizing.
I have not had this happen with any other manufacturer's brass, and all the FC brass that I have used in the past has been trouble free. Has anyone else run into this problem?

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Are you using any case lube? If not, try some and it might reduce the friction so the die slides over the case easier, reducing the downward pressure on the case wall.
 
Carbide dies aren't supposed to require lube, but that's a good suggestion.

You might also want to try backing the sizing die off 1/4 turn or so
 
I had the same thing happen a few years ago - cant be sure, but I believe it was Federal in 303. I attributed it to thin brass/ lack of lubrication/oversize chambers.
 
FC cartridges seem to vary from really good stuff (Say what came out of Lake City after they acquired it.) To really soft crap that got loose primer pockets after one firing of well in spec loads.

There was some concern about this in .223/5.56 a while back and I took some cases and did hardness testing and the hardness ranged from quite hard to very soft.

And Surprise Surprise every soft case had a primer pocket so loose after one firing that the spent primers would fall out.

So consider this Quality Control and bin the soft ones, and in future remember than just about FC cases may have this problem.
 
Sticker said:
As a rule you are right, but .30 carbine is the exception to the rule. Carbide or not, you lube a .30 carbine case when sizing.
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Please elaborate. I have easily done 2-3 thousand .30 carbine cases without using case lube, with no problems - until this one cropped up. My primary reason in purchasing the carbide die set was to avoid having to lube the cases.
 
You probably shouldn't need case lube on 30 Carbine since the case only has a very slight taper. Carbide is used to prevent wear to the dies, it does not not necessairly mean that cases don't need to be lubed for other reasons such as friction.

Dillon recommends lube for their carbide dies in 223 and 308.

If the Federal brass is very soft then lube might help to reduce vertical forces that are buckling the cases.

K
 
SandRoad said:
You probably shouldn't need case lube on 30 Carbine since the case only has a very slight taper. Carbide is used to prevent wear to the dies, it does not not necessairly mean that cases don't need to be lubed for other reasons such as friction.

Dillon recommends lube for their carbide dies in 223 and 308.

If the Federal brass is very soft then lube might help to reduce vertical forces that are buckling the cases.

K
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You still need lube with .30 carbine. Not a lot, but some.
 
never underestimate the power of a little lube. Pretty much every sizing issue I've ever had has been due to lack of sufficient lube.
 
I do not like Federal brass, since I have had issues with certain lots since way back when. I find the brass to be a bit on the soft side anyway, compared to WW & R-P. Primer pockets certainly loosen up way quicker than WW brass. I also have had several neck splits on the first reload. Not my favorite, for sure. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Eagleye said:
I do not like Federal brass, since I have had issues with certain lots since way back when. I find the brass to be a bit on the soft side anyway, compared to WW & R-P. Primer pockets certainly loosen up way quicker than WW brass. I also have had several neck splits on the first reload. Not my favorite, for sure. Regards, Eagleye.
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I'm finding the new .223 Rem brass is better, but old lots were not wonderful.
 
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