Thread: Case pressure signs

Hi guys, was shooting at the range and one case extracted with a bright ring on the case about 15mm from the case head. Cases are 6.5x55 on about their 8 or 9th reload with annealed necks 2x sizings ago.


Im going for a stab in the dark that the case has split? Can feel inside with a paper clip a bit of a ridge. I think its fair to say this ones going in the bin!

Is that the first sign of case head separation?

Sounds like that case has done its time. Time to check the others now to see if they aee developing the same.issue. how hot were you running them?

Straighten a paper clip, and put a little right angle on the end. Put it into the mouth of the case and run it down the case wall, and you are likely to feel the concave side of the ring from the inside.

Bin the lot (there goes my good deed for the day).
8-9 loads is OK going I guess for that case.
How often do you FL size? Less work on the brass can extend its useful life.

i think they have been full lengthed twice, others just neck sized. But yeah, its a hot load. I pressed out the primer and that fell out with out much effort.

Heres a pic , as is.

That case separation is a fair way away from the head.

But if you can feel a ridge inside thats what it is.

Section that case with a hacksaw & clean it up to have a good look at it, grab another that looks like it's starting to do the same & section that one too, it will give you a better understanding of whats going on, chuck a picture up here as well if you can be bothered.

If all the cases are showing signs bin them now before they cause more serious issues.

If you have the cases standing in a reloading block they will get a shiny mark around them just like that from being moved around & rubbing on the block......

As kiwi Greg says cut the case open, plus one other as a comparison, I'd be very interested as well.


regards

8-9 times Hot reloads is not too bad and in all probability is the cause once you have confirmed it is case head seperation.

Good time to check your headspace too especially if your using "Hot Loads" as this can also contribute to case head seperation.

While headspace issues are less likely, you should never discount anything until you know for sure what the root cause is.

Cheers
Pete

Young fella down the road brought his brass up for cleaning ,,,his has done exactly the same actually cracking ,,,,708 ,,only thing his his is only twice fired rem brass??????not hot loads 42 of 2208 any ideas?? it is a horrible horrible remington 770

Originally Posted by Bushrash

Young fella down the road brought his brass up for cleaning ,,,his has done exactly the same actually cracking ,,,,708 ,,only thing his his is only twice fired rem brass??????not hot loads 42 of 2208 any ideas?? it is a horrible horrible remington 770

Very long chamber and fl sizeing way to short giving lots of headspace ? Or bought off trade me as once fired

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Yup thanks mate,,, just going down to work to lathe up a bushing to check the headspace ,002" max bump back??
"

That sounds good. I just keep winding down till a case will chamber with just the slightest hint of resistantance on bolt close

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Cut a section out and cleaned it up a little. Was impressed how defined the ridge is. Almost like someone has used a punch to do it.

This is lapua brass by the way. Fired in a Tikka t3 so would hope that its not a headspace problem. But yeah, more than likely hot loads!

If it was hot loads your primer pocket would not hold a primer well before that happened.
Brass wont last for ever.