hi all, new to the forum, but i like all the info in here. I am new to reloading, i have been at it for only a year. My question is has anbody had a problem with the hornady brass swelling?
After the 4th loading some brass will not fit in my
lee priming tool. This bothers me.. the winchester brass does not seem to do this. my load is..
28.5 grains blc2
39 grain s bk
cci 450
trim brass to 1.840

I am shooting a ruger 77 heavy barrel

If the case won't fit in the priming tool, it means there has been actual expansion of the head of the case. This means that either your loads are too hot or the brass is too soft (probably the former).

I have never had a problem with Winchester brass.

quote:

This means that either your loads are too hot or the brass is too soft (probably the former).

or to put it another way....your loads are too hot for the brass.....and that's your control factor anyway.

So, do you all think i solved my problem by
switching to winchester brass? The load that my rifle likes is 1.5 grains below max

quote:

Originally posted by BulletBradley:
So, do you all think i solved my problem by
switching to winchester brass? The load that my rifle likes is 1.5 grains below max

This much seems to be the case.....you are currently loading too hot for the case you're using.

Try a few Winchester cases and see what happens, but remember....max isn't determined by what is written in a book...it's determined by your experience and right now it appears that you're well past max.

thanks Vapodog, the winchester brass does not seem to do this after the 3rd loading of a shell case.
So do you think it is the hornady brass? I am starting to think so.

quote:

Originally posted by BulletBradley:
thanks Vapodog, the winchester brass does not seem to do this after the 3rd loading of a shell case.
So do you think it is the hornady brass? I am starting to think so.

One needs to remember his goal...shooting safely and good performance.

Drawing conclusions as to what causes something is normal and human but be careful...it's so easy to be very wrong and that can lead to future bad decisions.

It's possible that that Hornady brass is softer than normal.....unless you have access to measuring tools to make that assessment you are guessing based on your observations.....

here's the thing.....if Winchester brass allows you to better your performance then take it and run...But remember...the next batch of Winchester brass may not be that way. The next batch of Hornady brass may allow the opposite effect......good shooting to you.