Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
Articles
Latest reviews
Author list
Classifieds
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Reloading
Help determining actual incipient head case seperation signs
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Barrelnut" data-source="post: 1467288" data-attributes="member: 74902"><p>I use a dental pic and a straightened paper clip. Sometimes I like the paper clip better as it flexes easier and I can get a better feel sometimes.</p><p></p><p>I push the tool down until it bottoms out on the case head and them pull back slowly without a lot of firm pressure on the tool. If you feel a small valley, that is where the brass is starting to thin. It is subtle, but you can feel it. I push/pull the tool back and forth lightly over the area when I suspect I feel an area that is thinning. It is like a small depression and will not really grab the tool, but you can feel the depression. This depression will not necessarily be all the way around the case either. Now, if the depression does grab the tool, that means the case is very worn and could separate on the next firing. When I feel the depression on a case I like to cut it open with a dremel and have a look.</p><p></p><p>I keep all of my cases sorted by the same firing in groups of 50, Once I find a case wearing, I toss all 50. I can get 10 firings out of Hornady Creedmoor brass, but have had a few too close to separating at 10 firings. So how I toss them after 8 firings.</p><p></p><p>A case that is close to separation will have a shiny ring just above the web on the outside. Once you see the shiny ring on the outside, your tool will probably start to grab on the depression on the inside. The ring will be just above the small shiny rings on the web you get when FL sizing a case. It will look more like a scratch. You will probably be able to feel it with your fingernail. It will not be the same all the way around the case either. It will not be a perfect ring that is the same distance from the base either. It will dip lower in some spots. This is because the web is not exactly the same thickness all the way around.</p><p></p><p>RCBS or Redding has a gauge you can use to measure the thinning of the web. I don't see a need for that tool though, since once you get a feel for things with the dental pick, it is easy and faster.</p><p></p><p>I also have a borescope, so sometimes I put it in the case after I have cleaned the cases. You can see the depression that way sometimes too.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Barrelnut, post: 1467288, member: 74902"] I use a dental pic and a straightened paper clip. Sometimes I like the paper clip better as it flexes easier and I can get a better feel sometimes. I push the tool down until it bottoms out on the case head and them pull back slowly without a lot of firm pressure on the tool. If you feel a small valley, that is where the brass is starting to thin. It is subtle, but you can feel it. I push/pull the tool back and forth lightly over the area when I suspect I feel an area that is thinning. It is like a small depression and will not really grab the tool, but you can feel the depression. This depression will not necessarily be all the way around the case either. Now, if the depression does grab the tool, that means the case is very worn and could separate on the next firing. When I feel the depression on a case I like to cut it open with a dremel and have a look. I keep all of my cases sorted by the same firing in groups of 50, Once I find a case wearing, I toss all 50. I can get 10 firings out of Hornady Creedmoor brass, but have had a few too close to separating at 10 firings. So how I toss them after 8 firings. A case that is close to separation will have a shiny ring just above the web on the outside. Once you see the shiny ring on the outside, your tool will probably start to grab on the depression on the inside. The ring will be just above the small shiny rings on the web you get when FL sizing a case. It will look more like a scratch. You will probably be able to feel it with your fingernail. It will not be the same all the way around the case either. It will not be a perfect ring that is the same distance from the base either. It will dip lower in some spots. This is because the web is not exactly the same thickness all the way around. RCBS or Redding has a gauge you can use to measure the thinning of the web. I don't see a need for that tool though, since once you get a feel for things with the dental pick, it is easy and faster. I also have a borescope, so sometimes I put it in the case after I have cleaned the cases. You can see the depression that way sometimes too. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Reloading
Help determining actual incipient head case seperation signs
Top