i bought some once fired .270 winchester brass off ebay. upon inspection of the brass, it appears the brass was used to test high pressure loads. the primers are a bit flattened and there is a bulge in the brass. is the brass suitable for reloading???

I've seen Winny ammo. that hot from the factory. By the streach mark it might have come from a long head spaced rifle witch would flatten the primer in the same faction. If the primer pocket is still tight you can reload it,but you might have a head seperation problem. 338vt

I'm a cautious guy by nature ... brass is cheap given the potential risk. Start with something that has not been so significantly stressed.

I'd reload it.
I sure hope they was cheap.....even new brass isn't bank breaking!!!

proof loads are mostly nickel with red dye on the head. factory loads fired through my steyr-mannlicher look worse than what you bought. just be careful until you know your rifle well.

Looks quite typical for brass fired in a slightly oversized but still within factory specs chamber, to me. I'd re-size & decap a few rounds and then recap them. If the primers still seated with some effort, I'd then use a bent paper-clip to feel the inside of the bulge and see if the clip caught on a little crease or "ring" there. If it didn't, I'd go ahead and use the brass with low & moderate loads but not top ones. (Shouldn't be transferring max loads to different brass without working up again anyway).

If the paperclip DID catch on something on the inside of that bulge, I'd section two pieces of the brass (cut them in half lengthwise) and look at them. If they appear noticeably thinned at the bulge, I'd toss the lot. I'd also chuck the brass if new primers seated with very little or no effort.

the brass was fairly inexpensive. $15 for 100 shipped.

I've measured American made .270, .308, 8mm and 06 brass whose Head diameter is as low as .464". The largest swelling in these measured .474"( chamber size) in diameter. that's a good bit.

FWIW* If the primers fit snuggly and you check the cases for separation use them. At this point it isn't a matter of ecconomics as much as it is education and disspelling unwarranted fears. Enough learning and those " Morros con machettes " will no longer darken your door. roger

I don't reckon it's a problem. Do they fit into your chamber as is??
Either way just don't FLS them any more than necessary to get them into your chamber.

I believe any seperation will take a few "flexings" to start, usually the "ridge" part of the buldge will go brighter first, usually they mostly only crack half way around, and the ones that letgo all togeather don't damage anything.

Some characters always carry a stuck case remover around to get the bits out of the chamber.

What Canuck said only I cut around the circumference just above the "ring" and it's then easy to look inside.

So once fired brass like that should be good.

I've been torture testing my brass for 35yrs and my general rule of thumb is, if the primer pocket is fairly tight ther OK to hunt with. On gibbs and ackley cases I run a little hook inside to see if theres a ring or crack near the base. When hunting bears I always run everyone through the magazine and chamber before it goes into the box. 45above & rain

primers looks like factory 270....

or less

jeffe

Once fired Mauser case head brass at 65,000 psi .270Win specs IS over pressure brass.

Why do you think the newer 260Rem is only 60,000 psi?

quote:

Originally posted by exsanguinate:
i bought some once fired .270 winchester brass off ebay. upon inspection of the brass, it appears the brass was used to test high pressure loads. the primers are a bit flattened and there is a bulge in the brass. is the brass suitable for reloading???

The chamber they were shot in was a little on the "generous" side, but I see NOTHING WRONG with those cases. Those really aren't "excessively flattened primers"!! That bulge is NOT a sign of case stretching/beginnings of incipient head separation!

Resize them, and seat a primer. If the primer pockets are tight, you should have no trouble with these cases.....

Nothing wrong w/ it, looks like typical once fired factory brass from som efactory rifles that may have alittle oversize chambers.

If you FL size it to start w/ and then Neck size or Partial Size, they should last for several firings.

I buy the Once fired stuff off ebay sometimes as well. I usually use it for about 3-4 firings and pitch it. I've gotten my money out of it by then.

Good Luck

Reloader

My Encore does that to pretty much all rounds, factory or handloads. I would guess that it will take a little force to full length resize them so make sure you use a good lube, especially on the inside of the neck.