M1 Garand - strange gunpowder marks on 30-06 brass?

A large headspace can create this sludge by not sealing properly at the shoulder while the case expands. Then you have this sludge caused by the repeated (small) gas leak.
 
A Savage 99 "Springy" I don't think so. You needed a new barrel or to have the existing one set back and rechambered.
Scott

We talking Savage 99? Lever action, lots of moving parts?

savage99.jpg
 
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Since I couldn't reload for it, I sold it. Don't really miss it, the stock configuration was such that felt recoil was a offensive (i.e. beat the dickens out of me). Too much drop in the comb for my tastes.
I have a 99C in .308 that is exactly the same as that. A real shoulder kicker.
 
+1 on a dirty chamber. With a Semi-auto that is very likely.

The main reason for that happening is due to it being a Semi-auto rifle. The action is already starting to move just a fraction of an inch as soon as that cartrige is discharged. Due to the very high amount of pressure now building in the chamber and barrel the pressure is already pushing back past the head of the shell. That pressure is smoke, burning powder and unburnt powed. That is turn will leave you with dirty chambers and shells. The black on the case neck is just a burn from the ignition blowing back, the tiny black dots on the shell is just powder burning, and the black on the bottom is just a smudge from a dirty chamber. It is not a flaw, it is just how every Semi-auto rifle works.
 
Another solution to the issue is that when the headspace is too long - the brass can't form a perfect seal, why he is seeing powder marks near the case head. It is possible with this rifle that the brass may not show signs of head separation on initial firings depending on how much his headspace is out. It is likely if he reloads that he will start to see head separation after a few firings but it is impossible to tell how much the brass is flowing. I am willing to bet that if he were to reload this brass (neck size) there would not be any powder residue on the case head again. If the rifle is firing well and you are not a reloader, I wouldn't worry about it. Otherwise take it in to the smith and have him headspace the rifle.
 
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