Thread: Brass life

One shot, blow the primer out, get new brass

Originally Posted by kiwijames

Have you checked it is the start of separation? Maybe just a bit of a polished spot?

Yeah iv cut cases open.
And yes, maybe mine is a large spec chamber.
With the comparator, off the top of my head the measurement is 1.215 if you have the Hornady comparator it might mean something if the bushings are close to the same.

Originally Posted by MSL

Can you neck down 32-20 as I have some?

Yes you can neck down the 32-20

Cheers
Pete

Originally Posted by bully

Yeah iv cut cases open.
And yes, maybe mine is a large spec chamber.
With the comparator, off the top of my head the measurement is 1.215 if you have the Hornady comparator it might mean something if the bushings are close to the same.

That's not right, it's something . 1215

Originally Posted by bully

That's not right, it's something . 1215

LOL. I'lll take a nose at mine as I have the Hornady too.

It must be a rainy day to judge by the number of replies so quick.
I hope you start to feel better soon James.

I've had about 15 loads so far out of my Norma 7mm08 brass. I Full Length size every time (too lazy to get neck dies) and I size them down by 0.003" (shoulder datum) so that's minimal working. I'm starting to get a couple of split necks in each batch of 50 but have never had a case head separation. I haven't annealed, just because I can't. For me its primer packets loosening. After just 3 or 4 loadings some start to loosen up and a few more go each time so now the 15 reload batches have about half quite loose pockets. They still seem to shoot just fine so I keep using them. I mark the loose pocket bases with felt pen. I wonder if its because I always clean the pocket with the cutting tool.

From the .303 I got about 8 or 10 loads before heads separated. Had to pluck the case out with a we saw blade I carried around for velvet. I marked those cases with big felt pen rings around the body - who know what that did to the sizing ! This was with a hammer-in lee loader. Interesting, all those pockets feel real nice to seat into compared to the 7mm08 now. The separation problem hasn't come back since I got a new bolt head which Din built up with some weld to fix the headspace. Good action the old SMLE.

Cheers for the sympathy, I'm feeling better today, was just a passing cold. Better to stay home and keep the rest of the crew from catching it.
Im using some ex army Lapua 308 in my 7-08. God knows how many times I've loaded these. Tough brass. I always clean pockets too. Wondering if Im sometimes too aggressive with a little bit of brass shed each time, but it all works so I guess its OK.

Originally Posted by kiwijames

Cheers for the sympathy, I'm feeling better today, was just a passing cold. Better to stay home and keep the rest of the crew from catching it.

Bloody Fridayitis more like it
@Bagheera
I bet he was feeling pretty darn good when he pulled up the chair to the loading bench.

Cheers
Pete

I get 4 firings with norma brass in my 300wm then the primers wont stay in so biff it and start again