Newbie Question on Pressure signs using factory ammo?

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Baal

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Three brands of factory ammo fired in my 1955 Lee Enfield No4 Mk2.

Remington UMC, 174 grain mc. The brass and primer (before i removed it) looks perfect to me.

Winchester 180 grain power-point. Slight flattening of the primer. Wouldn't really be noticable unless compared to an unfired cartridge, or to the fired Remington cartridge. There's also a noticable ridge on the cartridge case about 6mm up from the head, which extends about halfway around the cartridge.

Federal Classic 180 grain pro-hunter. Primer is very flattened and the entire head seems to be slightly larger in diameter. There is the same ridge about 6mm up from the head, extending halfway around the cartridge.

So now the questions. Is this ridge normal, or is it a sign that the chamber is defective? There's no sign of the ridge on the Remington brass. Is the Winchester and Federal brass still safe to reload? And if so, should it be full length resized?

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Thanks
B
 
The visible ridge near the base is from excessive headspace in your rifle.
It would almost be abnormal if this didn't appear on a case fired in a Lee Enfield!
Certainly not excessive pressure sign on the primers.
 
Well - The ridge is from an oversize chamber - not to worry, all LE's do this to some degree. The Rem doesnt show the ridge because it is either thicker brass or larger casing dia.
First sign of excessive headspace in a LE is a bulging primer.
 
cosmic said:
Well - The ridge is from an oversize chamber - not to worry, all LE's do this to some degree. The Rem doesnt show the ridge because it is either thicker brass or larger casing dia.
First sign of excessive headspace in a LE is a bulging primer.
Click to expand...

I had a friend show me a brass he had shot out of an old LE. The base just ahead of the rim looked like a little belt. I cant imagine how far out of spec the chamber must be to do that.
 
Head space...primers are not cratered punctured or flattened. And there is no bolt face tattoo imprinted on the case.
 
What you are seeing is pretty much normal on the lee enfield. Take a bent paper clip and feel for a line inside the case to match the one you see outside.
If it's there, the case is toast.
Yes, a #3 bolt head might help, but the chambers on these rifles are cut to military specs, and tend to be a bit on the large side, so you may still see something.
What I'd try first, is neck sizing the better cases, and not loading too hot.
 
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