Used brass too far gone?

mctrigger

mctrigger

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Southern Alberta.
So I recently picked up some second hand 7.62x54r brass. Some 400 rounds. About half is new PPU and the other is fired win and s&b. The fired brass looks to be shot from a poorly head spaced rifle. It’s been deprimmed but not sized as far as I can tell. There is a noticeable and felt edge on the exterior where it’s stretched. However I can’t see or feel anything with a pick on the interior. Question is, is it worth keeping? Can the 54r take a stretch and not separate? Not sure how many firings on these. I have a nice m39 I’ll be reloading for.

Thanks for the input.

https://i.imgur.com/vTO4t6W.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/nlgovnb.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xLfyVv9.jpg
 
I’ve resized and reloaded 303 British that was like your x54 and it was ok
Just make sure to inspect the brass good every time you resize it and if it concerns you then just don’t use it
Got about 5 reloads out of the 303 and it still looks good but may retire the brass as I’ve heard that the Enfields were hard on brass
I reload for a Mosin sniper too and haven’t had any issues with the brass on it, your m39 will probably be good
 
mctrigger said:
So I recently picked up some second hand 7.62x54r brass. Some 400 rounds. About half is new PPU and the other is fired win and s&b. The fired brass looks to be shot from a poorly head spaced rifle. It’s been deprimmed but not sized as far as I can tell. There is a noticeable and felt edge on the exterior where it’s stretched. However I can’t see or feel anything with a pick on the interior. Question is, is it worth keeping? Can the 54r take a stretch and not separate? Not sure how many firings on these. I have a nice m39 I’ll be reloading for.

Thanks for the input.

https://i.imgur.com/vTO4t6W.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/nlgovnb.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xLfyVv9.jpg
Click to expand...

use it at the range (as opposed to hunting)
make sure the whole case ejects before chambering the next round
 
the ppu brass is good but the s&b brass tends to split on the neck after a few loads, I think the brass is a bit harder and splits easy under high stress.
 
mctrigger said:
It wasn’t my brass so I’ll have to fl size. My m39 is pretty minty so I reckon the headspace is tight on spec.
Click to expand...

If you think your rifle has a tight chamber start off by resizing only 3/4 of the case neck. Try that case in your rifle. If it is too tight to chamber screw your size die down about 1/2 turn and resize the case again. Keep doing this until you can close the action on a resized case with just a hint of resistance. You will not be pushing the neck back and stretching the case everytime you fire it and the cases will last a long time. As for the S&B cases that are splitting at the neck. They need to be annealed. Take a metal cake pan and put about 3/4 inch of water in it. Stand your cases up in the pan. Heat the case necks with a propane torch just until they start to turn a dull cherry colour then tip the case over into the water.Case is annealed. Dry cases ,resize load and fire.
 
Never had much luck with brass life on rimmed S+B or winchester. Both thin and brittle especially around the web, ppu is the cats meow based off of 303br some going beyond 6-7 reloads now. The win gets 2-3 in the same rifle with just necking.
 
I have one caseguard box of 100 3030 Winchester that has been reloaded 29 times (I had to look at my notes twice) with 35 grains of 748 with 150 grain slug and 33 grains of 748 with a 180 grain slug . Another caseguard box of 100 7BR that has been reloaded 13 times with 29 grains of 748 with a 150 grain slug. The brass is still good. Very rare to ever have a neck crack. Never annealed. These were fired in the early Thompson Contender 3030 with 10 inch barrel and Remington XP100 in 7BR.
 
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