Reloading and Case Separation

Norm99

Norm99

CGN Regular
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Location
Newfoundland
I've been reloading since winter and now have loaded my Fed. Savage 300 brass 6 times. They do show a line around the case head, but IIRC it showed that after the first firing! I'm wondering should I dump them at this point. I know I should take the safe road,but I already have them primed. Some of you experienced reloaders should be able to give me some advice, and I'd rather be safe than sorry.

brass3.jpg

brass2.jpg
 
those look perfectly fine, the separations that I've seen will show a small black line, where the crack has started. I don't recall the explanation but that "waisting" at the bottom is normal.
 
that's just the pressure ring from firing- all cases will get that- i've been loading for over 30 years and only had 1 case seperate- now i keep an accurate count of the NUMBER OF TIMES that case has been fired and DON'T USE RANGE BRASS- the case that did fail DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF INCIPIENT SEPARATION - NO BLOWN OUT PRIMER, RING OR ANYTHING ELSE-
so i junked the lot and bought all brass- and yes i count the first time fired too- since we're dealing with an m14/305/whatever , i junk at a 4 count
 
Thanks guys, that makes me breathe a bit easier. As I said, I thought I'd better make sure. For those of you FL reloading for 99s, how many reloads do you get out of your brass?
 
Straighten a paper clip and but a 90 degree bend near the end. Slip it into the case and drag it up the walls. They should be smooth. If you feel a crack at the point near the head where the rings are then you should cull the cases and get new brass.
 
maybe i'm over -cautious,but i've gotten into the habit ( and btw, i D0 have a 99 ( i assume you're talking savage) of junking after 4 regardless-i try to keep each rifle seperate with it's brass but the 4 round rule serves me well ;
1 remington 742, 1 savage 99, 3 real m14s( which i can't use anymore) and 1 chinese m14( the early 1, not the 305) - and yes, i'm a 12(3)-new brass is cheap compared to the price of a new rifle and or losing something- and i know my savage is headspaced LONG so that also shortens case life
 
CyaN1de said:
Straighten a paper clip and but a 90 degree bend near the end. Slip it into the case and drag it up the walls. They should be smooth. If you feel a crack at the point near the head where the rings are then you should cull the cases and get new brass.
Click to expand...

I do this check if I have any doubts about a case. You really can feel a thinned case wall this way. If still in doubt, cut one case lengthwise thru the base with a hacksaw.

If you neck size your cases and use good brass cases can last almost indefinately. I have some Norma .308 cases that I have loaded at least 40 times just too see how long they will last. At one point I could feel that the necks were getting work hardened because it was getting harder to pull the sizer ball out, so I annealed the necks with a propane torch and they were fine again.

But if you are full length sizing don't count on above results. If your chamber is tight you may get more than 4 reloads but when reloading always error on the side of caution.
 
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