Question on Pressures (New need help)

[Navybowhunter]

Hello all,

I have attached a picture, of 4 pieces of brass. The brass on the left side, if Federal Gold Medal Match factory, never reloaded. The 3 pieces on the right, are second time loads Winchester new brass. I am shooting a POF-308 semi auto, and loading H4895 at 42.2 grains, with a Sierra HPBT Match King 168 grain bullet, using Federal 210 Large Rifle Primers.

I am a little nervous, as this is the first time I have seen that "ring", the necks of the brass are fine, and no primer issues, or extractor marks on the heads.

I am wondering, is this "normal". Would you comfortably reload this brass again?

Appreciate the replies, like I said, I am a little nervous and don't know if this is a pressure issue or not.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[milo 2.0]

Your pic isn't the greatest, but in my opinion, that line is from the bottom of your die when sizing. Case head separation should be slightly higher up the case. Bend a paper clip so you a about a 3/16" 90 degree pick, and feel around on the inside of the brass, if it's separating, you'll feel the line on the inside.

 

[Sniper Uncle]

Yeah, I concur. I often see that type of color difference from the contact of the die. My dies are adjusted to my rifle chamber, and that looks just about exactly like mine do. The paperclip will ease your mind.

 

[Navybowhunter]

Thanks Milo,

I read that about the sizing die somewhere else in here also. I will wet tumble the stuff, and check in tomorrow with the paperclip. I also did mark one case up with a sharpie, and ran in sizing die, the mark is at the bottom of the die.

Also, took a case, and loaded in my rifle, it chambered easily, and slammed the bolt closed. Extracted easily also.

Appreciate the paper clip idea, will try that tomorrow when they are clean.

R/
Chris

 

[Bulletmoto]

+3 on this, my Lapua brass looks the same way from my sizing die.

 

[milo 2.0]

If it's a die line, it'll be there for the life of the case, every time you size. I once changed die brands and had two distinct lines, it was a WTF moment for sure!

 

[Navybowhunter]

I had to try that paperclip test. They appear to be OK, although still not cleaned. If it was starting to crack, the clip would "catch" the crack correct? I actually took a safety pin, and bent the tip 90degrees, and ran that through a few. No sticks.

I did notice, under the magnifying glass, that the brass is "scratched" almost as if it were worked with steel wool, exactly up to the point where that "line/ring" is. Has to be the sizing die.

Is there anything I can do to alleviate that?

Appreciate the replies.

R/
Chris

 

[melloyello]

I have some Winchester cases that looked that way after they were reloaded the first time. They have been fired a total of 5 times so far with no issues.

 

[milo 2.0]

No, it's normal, and will diminish with cleaning.

 

[Navybowhunter]

No, it's normal, and will diminish with cleaning.

Milo, and everyone else! AWESOME!!!
I cleaned today, wet tumbled, and it is barely noticeable at all.

Learning here..., thing that sucks now, is in researching this, I read that you must clean your dies, even if new, and also, prep dies for storage? Anyways, I lost the reference on my dies, by cleaning! LOL..., should not be hard to get back. I never cleaned dies before in my life. Normally carbide dies for pistol..., I cleaned em all with the gunscrubber, and cleaned em all.

Question on that "airhole"/"pinhole".....I must be all FUBAR, on my .308 die, that airhole is actually covered by the locking ring, normal, or am I FUBAR?! Appreciate the replies....

 

[milo 2.0]

Even though the hole is covered by threads of the ring, it's not tight enough to not work. IMHO the holes need to be on case-shoulder junction to any good. It'll work out, heck, Redding dies don't even have the hole.