Perplexing issues with a 280 Rem!

Unsure how old this brass was but remember that the US has been under enormous pressures to make and ship it out the door.

When volumes reach stupid levels, QC is sure to slip. I have had 22LR ammo that was missing primer AND powder. Seemed they were just tweaking their production as they went along... GRRRR

Seen a variety of ills so be careful and check, check, check.

The irony is that pumping bad product out the door always cost more in the long run.
Jerry
 
358Rooster said:
Yep, I'm with you bud. I read this whole thread a couple days back and I probably missed it but how is it you found that number (.048") again? Just to satisfy my curiosity, measure your gauges with your comparator and then measure a case that's been fired in that chamber a few times, please. My mind's on a track and I want to know if I'm thinking straight. Thanks.

As for the Winchester brass, I haven't personally noticed any of mine in that kind of shape (mis-marked / mis-processed) but it makes a fella really think about things, doesn't it? Personally, I've used Winchester brass a lot and other than one or two from a bag with creased / kinked necks or shoulders and a fair bit more hand work needed to get them as close to uniform as possible, I have no real issue with them. You can be certain that I'll be inspecting the next new lot much more closely now, though.

Rooster
Click to expand...

On post #47, you will notice on the top picture that the case is sittng down way below the top surface of the case guage. The case head is supposed to be positioned between the top of the guage (flush fit) and no lower than the secondary lower step (groove machined accross the guage top surface) on the guage. Its a little hard for me to explain with the visual details that the picture can illustrate.

On the bottom picture, I have a depth micrometer that I measured the distance from the top surface of the guage to the case head surface. This was the .046-.048" measurement I was referring to.

Sometimes my explainations are as clear as mud, I Hope this helps!
 
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Interesting thread. A lot of food for thought here. I have seen the opposite effect, factory shells that are too "long" to chamber at the range twice now. Both times one cartridge out of a box of 20. Once for sure it was Winchester.
 
dthunter said:
update!

Found the issue definitively!
When I got home, I took my New Wilson 280 Remington Case Guage, and measured the "CASE HEAD CLEARANCE".

A total of 15 cases in a batch of 100 unfired cases had .046-.048" exsessive clearance! BIG TIME ISSUE! Some serious quality control issues at Winchester!
....
Wow eh!?
Click to expand...


did you note the Lot# and notify Winchester?

or would that be pointless?
 
nanuk said:
did you note the Lot# and notify Winchester?

or would that be pointless?
Click to expand...


I dont know why that would be pointless.

I guess Thats a good idea. When I get home for christmas in a week, i will dig through the old bulk brass bags I have. I should be able to find them. Because I common processed all the cases, I may not be able
To isolate which EXACT lot is effected.
 
dthunter said:
Thankyou for your attempt to help.

If you READ my post, you will see that I mentioned that the brass that had the incipient case head seperation issues had significant case stretch/flow "to further emphasize the Confirmation of the thinning". More information than maybe needed.

Yes the cases need to be formed with the proper headspace as well. I will simply neck up the cases and resize them back to 280, to create a crush fit to zero head space.

I just wanted to see if anyone else has seen this issue with 280rem brass
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This is normal when the size of the brass at the head is too far off the chamber diameter dimension at the same place,
ideally the reamer should be sized to more closely match the brass, it is a little more involved requiring carefull measuring and
making correct choices, since the reloading dies must also work in the overall equation. You will have to live with the streching
and resize accordingly to limit the workhardening or else you will be separating cases soon enough.
Good luck
 
bigbull said:
This is normal when the size of the brass at the head is too far off the chamber diameter dimension at the same place,
ideally the reamer should be sized to more closely match the brass, it is a little more involved requiring carefull measuring and
making correct choices, since the reloading dies must also work in the overall equation. You will have to live with the streching
and resize accordingly to limit the workhardening or else you will be separating cases soon enough.
Good luck
Click to expand...

Limiting the amount of sizing is always a good practice. If you dont have to move the metal, dont.

After careful measuments and inspection, the only issue was the case head clearance. 270 brass with 280rem headstamp mixed into the bulk brass at the factory. Having the tools to confirm measurements is hugely valuable!

I believe the chamber is cut with a tight, match reamer. So excessive clearance in chamber diameter isnt a problem in this case. Fired cases are very close to unfired case dimensions in the case head web area. I wish I could remember the measuement, but I dont. I am at work now and will not be able to check that for a week or so.

I have fired 20-30 rounds since that issue, and all is just fine.
 
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Here is two of the groups I shot with the 280, just after figuring out and fixing the problems.









These groups were fired in the sequence they appear. The last group sure made me smile!
She seems to be shooting fine now!
 
So you got a 280Rem to group 0.284".... that is pretty cool.

Enjoy the gun and glad it has all worked out nicely for you. Try it further and I bet the smiles will keep growing.

But I would definitely consider tossing the nickel plated brass. It is going to be a PITA to deal with in a few firings.

Jerry
 
Thanks Jerry! I got quite a chuckle when the calculator spat out that number!

I have access to a "Bench Source, Vortex" case annealler. I was thinking of giving that a try.
 
On Nickle brass.... really don't think it will do much of anything. I can only assume that plating occurs AFTER the brass is fully prepped????

On reg brass, wonderful tools.

But if you do decide to anneal, let us know how it works out for you.
Jerry
 
Over 40 years ago in Benchrest we were using Federal nickle plated .222 Remington Magnum brass to make the old 6 x 47 round. Turned the necks. It worked just fine. Two toned brass after turning but the plating caused no problems and stayed very clean.
 
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