Incipient case head separation?

[Rick]

John, you shouldn't have chambering issues and you know the history of the brass plus it's all been fired in the same gun. So no the web area of your brass didn't expand. He's talking about completely unknown brass and if it won't chamber properly because the web area is expanded there is only one way for that to happen. Pressure.

 

[Winelover]

He also said his measurements were varying by .002 where as my resized cases were greater at .003 inches. Other than an occasional sticky cartridge, incipient head separation wasn't apparent.

Just for the record, I have more than one 357 Magnum.....

I have experienced case head separation with my Marlin 1894 in 44 Magnum. Brass was reloaded more than twenty times and IIRC, was back when I was using J-words, exclusively. Since then, I make it a habit to record the amount of firings per case. When they get over 10 firings, I reserve them for plinking revolver loads.

 

[JSH]

Mac, if this brass is what you got from me PM or email me.
I am pretty sure it is.
This had ALL been fired in an FA. As to number of loads and type of loads, I honestly could not say. I bought the FA from an IHMSA mentor of mine. One of the most cautious and conservative shooters I know.
I really really doubt a high pressure load. Maybe loaded a lot.
A revolver guru local to me looked the FA over real hard after I bought it. I knew it had been shot a LOT and was just wanting to make sure everything was good before I started with it or if it needed to go back to FA for a rebuild. It was fine as expected other than a bit of wear from use.

I have experienced as mentioned above a "belt" of sorts showing up on brass over time from use. I have some 30-20 brass that has been loaded a bunch that exhibits the belt. Split it length wise with a dremel just to check it, looked like a donut on the out side, inside looked as virgin.

Not making excuses or dismissing anything. From me being here the short time, I am pretty sure we are all alike in not throwing things away. Thus my usage of high mileage cases.

Jeff

 

[JSH]

http://www.lasc.us/RangingShotFreedomArms357CastBulletPT2.htm

A link to the load source for my FA load.

 

[Rick]

Todd took some writers liberties when writing up that article on me but it's mostly correct.

 

[S Mac]

Jeff, these were the cases I bought from you. You told me going in that they were well used, you don't owe me anything. I think I'm learning something here. I bet your chambers are a bit larger than mine, A .001 or 2 can make a big difference.

 

[KHornet]

I agree with Rick! As for me, if there is ANY problem with brass, it goes in the scrap
bucket.

Paul

 

[JSH]

Mac, so I take it your using these in an FA?
If not you better keep one that is that tight.

You by chance don't have a couple that are long and the crimp mess up?

I have a half dozen other 357's SW and Ruger. Once brass is fired in them you will never be able to get it to fit in my FA.
Same goes for 44 brass in my buddies FA. I messed up and brought the wrong boxes of ammo, it had been fired in a Black Hawk, lacked about 1/8" of chambering on 90% of them.

My two 30-20's one a BF and one is a TC. I have tried to size down the web on brass that had been fired in the TC, had about 1500 and very little for the BF and no virgin to be found at that time.

I will sure make it right with Mac, not a problem.

This is the very reason I keep all of my ammo to a specific gun.

 

[S Mac]

Not an FA, a Ruger SP101. I dissected a couple of cases, I can see no thinning of the case on the inside. This "belt" is at the very top of the web, the thickest part of the side walls.

 

[Rick]

Then probably what you have is where a carbide sizer die pushed brass to the near the web after repeated sizing.