The Accurate Reloading Forums
Small cracks at the upper part of the neck......
04 March 2002, 06:31
<magnarps>Small cracks at the upper part of the neck......
After reloading my .308 Norma brass 4 times I can see that the brass has got some small cracks at the upper part of the neck. They are just a mm or two long. The brass has only been fired in my rifle.
Anyone else seen this?, What could be the reason?
I use the 168grs Sierra MK and 43 grs of VV N150 powder that gives me 2460 fps.
The rifle is a Remington 700.
Magnar
04 March 2002, 06:48
GeorgeSIt sounds like the brass is brittle, perhaps to work-hardening during resizing.
Discard the cracked brass, and anneal your case necks.
George
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Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!
04 March 2002, 07:41
<Don G>George is right, I think...
You might check your dies to see if they are working the brass more than necessary.
If you crimp your loads it can make this happen much more quickly as well. I anneal every three loadings if I crimp my brass.
Don
04 March 2002, 07:48
<magnarps>Don G.
I'll do that.
I think I might clean my dies as well to see if that will do the trick.
Magnar
04 March 2002, 10:24
Alex SzaboMagnarps,
Do you currently resize the neck [only] or is it a full-size resizing operation each time?
I support annealing in this instance. With top of the line brass acting in this manner sounds as if neck is being overworked.
You positively will not go wrong.
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Best regards,
Alex
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote! - Benjamin Franklin 1759
04 March 2002, 18:00
<PaulS>Magnarps,
Do you crimp your cases? The cracking that you describe sounds like what I see on my pistol cases. I only crimp the pistol cases and I see that when cases have been loaded with high velocity rounds (as compared to taget plinkers) after a few loadings.
Just another thought on the symptoms.
PaulS
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stay safe and live long!
04 March 2002, 20:43
<magnarps>Alex & PaulS.
I only resize about 2/3 of the neck.
And no, I do not crimp the cases.
Regards
Magnar
05 March 2002, 18:05
rejpellyYours reloads must be near the limit;I have seen that with a .30-378 Wby,cracks after four firings ,is what happened to me.Trimming a couple less .001" may help.There are too much stess on the case neck.Some guys had a case neck neck rupture,I dont think it is relating to you,go a couple grs down;if the problem is always there,you will need some more help...
06 March 2002, 04:14
dan belisleI don't know about the loads being near max, I had this happen with Federal factory loads in 25-06. I thought they might not have been annealed properly. FWIW - Dan
06 March 2002, 10:31
<magnarps>I'm embarrased. My english is not up to date. Could you please explain what "annealed" means.
I feel stupid.
Thanks
Magnar
06 March 2002, 14:11
dan belisleHeating a metal to a certain temperature (depends on the metal) and then cooling at a certain rate, basically. It restores elasticity to the brass necks, as they become brittle with use. - Dan
06 March 2002, 14:42
<PaulS>Magnarps,
With brass cases the temperature to heat the NECKS ONLY to is about 680 degrees F. The cases should be sitting in water about half way up the body of the case and quenched by knocking the heated cartridge over into the water. More heat only adversely affects the crystaline structure of the alloy.
PaulS
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stay safe and live long!
06 March 2002, 15:31
Nutoymag, I had the same problem till I learned about neck sizing dies. They do not work the brass as much as full length sizing. Also annealing will (re-soften) the shoulder and neck and extend case life. In your case you may want to try annealing your cases after the 2nd or 3rd firing.
I process I use is as PaulS decribes except I cool water bath the cases to just below (.125") the shoulder and I do not knock the cases over after heating. Care should be taken not to overheat the cases. I have cases that have 15 - 20 loads on then and are still going strong.
Good luck and good shooting. *Nut*
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If guns are outlawed, Only outlaws will have guns.
06 March 2002, 19:23
<magnarps>Thank you very much gentlemen.
I think I will try annealing some cases, and see if that helps.
Regards
Magnar
07 March 2002, 02:05
Fritz Krautquote:
Originally posted by magnarps:
I'm embarrased. My english is not up to date. Could you please explain what "annealed" means.I feel stupid.
Thanks
Magnar
Anneal: gl�dga, avh�rda. I hope the swedish words are the same in Norwegian. 
Ha det!
fritz
07 March 2002, 02:20
<magnarps>Fritz.
Yes the words are much the same.
Tackar s� mycket.
Magnar