Thread: Split brass

Originally Posted by T.FOYE

I don't reckon it's true you can't get life beyond a couple firings. If you induction anneal and use a rear collet die to bring the bulge back in you should get it to the point of a loose primer pocket (at least 5 or 6 firings or more).

Spot on,
You need to deal with any bulge just in front of the rim seperately and prior to sizing the rest of the case. You can do this with a bulge buster kit or a stripped .300 Win mag die, the former being best. You only need to do this if you have a problem as some rifle case combinations will be fine. Once the bulge is dealt with you can full length size to get your required shoulder bump. The crack develops not through work hardening but from case stretching. Each time the round is fired the cartridge is shunted to the front of the chamber by the firing pin with the primer finishing the job. As pressure builds the case head is forced back to the bolt face with most of the case body stuck to the chamber walls. All of the stretching happens in a small area a short distance in front of the case head resulting in a thinning of the brass at that point. This happens inside the case and will show up as a bright line on the outside. One more shot and the case separates (cracks) at that point. Sometimes the case extracts OK but sometimes the head pulls of the case leaving the body in the chamber. Something to be avoided at all costs. Far more than one chamber has been ruined trying to dig the front of the case out.
Regard Grandpamac.