Any sign to be alarmed? Headspace separation?

[Jinx-)]

I got back to reloading 270 WIN cases, which I haven't done for a while now, but after I ran them through FL sizing die I notice a ring close to the head, could this be a sign of the head space separation? Any ideas what might caused this?



Thank you!

[Johnboy]

looks like you need to run a papper clip down them boys.and if you can feel the ring on the inside toss them boys and start over.and what ever you were useing in that load I would back off a little.or you can keep a good eye on the next run of case's so you want have one to separate.like I think that one will do if you load it again.just make sure it doesn't have a groove in the inside at that same spot.

[woods]

Expansion at the pressure ring is more a function of the size of your chamber than anything else. The brass expands at the spot where it goes from having a solid brass case head to the open powder column



it is not unusual, here it is on a 30-06 case from a standard factory chamber



That is not to say that evidence of a case head separation does not show up in this area, it does. Normally case head separations are in belted cases though

[ourway77]

Most brass will show this sort of mark, doesn't mean headspace rather just expansion marks. If you had head space the case would show definite cracks or complete seperation. FL resise the case run it through your tumbler and the mark should dissapear. Lou

[gunpower]

If you are getting a ring around the case as I see ,it means that you have used the cases ,(1) many times at near max loads,(2) have always full lenght sized, (3)
chamber of the rifle has had many rounds thru it.
I would have the rifle checked out by a gunsmith and see if you need to have the
chamber redone.
Once you see the pressure ring around the case , do not use them or you will have head seperation!

[Jinx-)]

Thank you for replies, I went through all of my 270 brass cases and all of then have pressure rings of some sort, even factory ammo which never been re-sized and fired just once, as far as full length sizing I do it after 4 - 5 neck sizing them and when its time to get them anneal. I think it has to do with my factory chamber, which is made by Savage...

Here is an image of just once fired factory ammo cases



Lately I been reloading 308 WIN cases for my TC ICON PH loading such with 44 grains of IMR 4064 never produced such rings even on the cases which I reloaded at least 10 times...

[larrywillis]

Jinx .......

Your cases appear fine to me, although it's a little hard to see your pictures well enough. If your cases are inclined to separate, it will usually happen much closer to the white arrow. You should be measuring clearance (at the shoulder) that your handoads have in your particular chamber. Excessive chamber clearance is the only thing that causes headspace separation. Read this article Headspace Separation

- Innovative