Reloading Crusher -- I mean press

[plightning]

Ok so I had my dies set wrong and when I ran the neck sizing or the bullet seating dies something horrible happened to the cases - they got "collapsed/crushed" right around the shoulder.

Of course I found this out at the range when I had trouble chambering rounds.

Another lesson learned: inspect them carefully and make sure I can chamber them after sizing them.

So anyway here's the next question: Is the brass salvageable? I pulled the bullets and gathered the powder so now i have a bunch of .308 cases, primed, some of which are crushed around the shoulder.

After I run it through the full length die, it chambers in the rifle quite nicely, but the shape doesn't look quite right. If I reload a case that has passed through the crusher, will it get fire formed the next time through back to its original shape?

If this is a no-way - great, good to know - i don't mind chucking a few bucks of brass.

If this is a maybe - then I'd sooner chuck the brass anyway.

If this is a sure no problem - is it safe?

any thoughts appreciated.

pictured beneath -- on the left: case passed through the crusher. center: resized, but still ugly. On the right: .308 case untouched by my heavily over levered paws.

 

[joe-nwt]

Well your picture is kinda fuzzy.

There is the possibility that you have created a case that has it's headspace altered. That means the shoulder is too far back. This case has a very good chance of rupturing if you fire it.

I would put those cases in the recycle bin (trash) and sort out what you are doing wrong with the neck size die.

Do not start with the neck die screwed down to touch the shellholder. Start with the die backed out several turns. Smoke/paint the case with a marker, run into the die, note where the mark from the die is on the neck and adjust so that you size the neck but does not touch the shoulder.

Hope this helps. Let us know how your next attempt goes.

 

[plightning]

Thank you Joe. I think I may have actually turned the neck die down instead of up. I will be making another batch tonight.

Question: besides visual inspection and being able to chamber a round, is there a way to measure/ensure a correct shoulder sizing?

BTW: this forum is great for newbies, I'm sure these answers have kept a great number of kabooms from occurring!