Re: Stuck casing

26 September 2004, 16:12

jb177

Re: Stuck casing

Hot Core,

I reloaded some fresh brass and noticed a light ring on the cases after I fired them. It is in the same place the other casing broke. Is there something wrong with my chamber? Can a gunsmith fix it?

26 September 2004, 19:02

Swede44mag

Sounds like you are stretching the brass. Maybe pushing the shoulder back when resizing. I had the same problem with a 30-06 until I bought a Wilson case gage. I was pushing the shoulder back about thirty thousands of an inch. I would shoot a few they would separate sometimes they wouldnï¿½t extract sometimes they wouldnï¿½t fire. All because I was full length resizing according to the Hornady die instructions. When I started using a case gage and adjusting the dies accordingly the problem never happened again. My friend was having problems extracting his shells in his 7mag he said it would head space on the belt. When I took one of his once fired brass and set his dies for him with my case gage his problem ceased.
Something to consider as a solution.

27 September 2004, 01:37

Hot Core

Quote:

...I reloaded some fresh brass and noticed a light ring on the cases after I fired them. It is in the same place the other casing broke. Is there something wrong with my chamber? Can a gunsmith fix it?

Hey Justin, Probably nothing wrong with the chamber and probably no need for a GunSmith.

You must have gotten the Separated Case out. First thing to do is look on the recently fired cases in the same spot you are seeing the "light ring" all the way around and see if you locate any small concave or convex spots. If you find any of them that way, check to see if it is the same way on the rest of the cases you just fired.

It could be created by the previously mentioned "Chamber Cutting" or it could be as simple as a single grain of Powder or trash stuck to the chamber. If it is just Powder or trash, a good cleaning with a patch-wrapped brush as I mentioned earlier will probably remove it.

If you do not locate any concave or convex spots, that is indeed great news. It means your chamber was not cut when the Casehead Separation occurred.

If you have a Speer Manual, tell me which one it is and I can head you to some pictures that will help you understand some of this.

---

I'd recommend you relegate any currently fired cases you have to lower power Practice Loads, after checking them as I'm about to describe.

Check all of them with the old bent paperclip trick for the Insipient Casehead Separation line on the inside of the case. Actually any stiff wire will do. Use a set of side-cutters to nip off an end so that end has a sharp flat point. Then about 1/8" from that end put a 90deg bend in it so it is " L " shaped. You use this to "feel" the inside of the case where you are seeing the "light ring" by sticking it in the Casemouth all the way to the bottom and then dragging the L-gauge over that "light ring" spot. If you can feel it snag, the case needs to be trashed because it is about ready to break (Insipient Casehead Separation). If you find one like this, section it lengthwise so you can see what is going on first hand on the inside.

If it doesn't hang, then those cases are "probably" good for a few more shots.

---

I would recommend you look back through this Board for Threads dealing with Fire Forming Cases. There are multiple ways of doing it which will help reduce the problem you have encountered. Your goal is to create Zero Headspace or a slight crush fit for the Case in the Chamber.

Those threads will also discuss Reforming Cases. Here you are typically creating cases (like your 7mmSTW) from larger cases (like an 8mmRemMag) which ensures Zero Headspace. I don't know if you have to go to 30cal first or not in your situation.

---

Once you have them Fire Formed you need to set your Full Length Resizer up so you are Partial-Full Length Resizing(P-FLR) and that can be found easily in the old posts as well.

Or crank up new Threads on each. Lots of new folks need to be aware of this stuff, not just you.

Glad to hear you probably came out fine on the Chamber. Most of us have been through what you are going through, so think of it as just a learning opportunity. Best of luck to you.