Have I ruined my brass?

[RH Somerset]

I made up a batch of 243 using 95gr bullets and RS60. This is a high energy powder and produced much higher velocities than I was expecting, about 3,100 to 3,150. The empty cases also often had circular pressure marks on the heads, which is a clear sign of over pressure. See pictures below.

Obviously I should have pulled them when I first noticed this, but I had used the same powder charge before (different 95gr bullets) and just put it down to hot weather. I also don’t have a puller. Anyway I ended up firing them all.

Upon reloading the cases I found that these cases did not fit into the shell holder as easily as the others.

I have only identified 6 that have been reloaded (all fired) and I know that one of them was a flier - about 1.5 inches from the others in the group, which were loaded from good cases.

I now have 24 Lapua cases, out of 100 total, that won’t easily go into a shell holder and have the pressure marks.

The question is should I bin them, or just forget about the one flier I have identified and keep using them?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Muir]

They are toast. Pitch them, or put them on a wall plaque as a reminder.
Where did you get the data that did the damage?~Muir

PS: The not fitting in the shell holder is a large clue.

 

[takbok]

If it's only 24 cases I'd maybe bin them. How tight are the primer pockets?

 

[Mike L]

Bin them……. Is it worth the risk for a few quid?

 

[bluesako]

what muir said bin em

 

[RH Somerset]

Thanks everyone.

That is what I was thinking, just wanted to check in case this often happened. I’ve not been doing this long.

Regarding the load data - I don’t honestly remember. I think these were made up last summer and have sat around waiting for reloading since.

 

[cjm1066]

The cartridge case is protecting your eyes from high pressure grit blasting if a case fails.

Bin them, ideally crushing then, it's therapeutic, you can reflect on your learning and aoids others using them .

 

[Muir]

Thanks everyone.

That is what I was thinking, just wanted to check in case this often happened. I’ve not been doing this long.

Regarding the load data - I don’t honestly remember. I think these were made up last summer and have sat around waiting for reloading since.

You don't remember where you got the data?? You're not starting off too well, but, lesson learned. Use reliable manufacturers data, keep notes. Start low, work up. Saves headaches.~Muir

 

[RH Somerset]

I’ve just checked my notes. The load data was Hornady’s max load for RL17, which is the same as RS60.

 

[paul o']

Seen and used worse me old pressure boy wouldn't worry yourself into a stew every days a school day .

 

[NP435]

Follow the instinct to bin them, the eyes and fingers you will save are yours.

 

[finnbear270]

Had some factory Superformance 25-06 this morning, stiff bolt lift, think they are sailing close to the wind with this stuff.

 

[Foxyboy43]

I made up a batch of 243 using 95gr bullets and RS60. This is a high energy powder and produced much higher velocities than I was expecting, about 3,100 to 3,150. The empty cases also often had circular pressure marks on the heads, which is a clear sign of over pressure. See pictures below.

Obviously I should have pulled them when I first noticed this, but I had used the same powder charge before (different 95gr bullets) and just put it down to hot weather. I also don’t have a puller. Anyway I ended up firing them all.

Upon reloading the cases I found that these cases did not fit into the shell holder as easily as the others.

I have only identified 6 that have been reloaded (all fired) and I know that one of them was a flier - about 1.5 inches from the others in the group, which were loaded from good cases.

I now have 24 Lapua cases, out of 100 total, that won’t easily go into a shell holder and have the pressure marks.

The question is should I bin them, or just forget about the one flier I have identified and keep using them?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Hmm. Definitely hot so back off substantially on your powder charges and work up in small increments - if you “notice” marks like these it is a very good idea to stop there and then, put the unfired ones away and pull them when you first can rather than “fire them off”. Remember pressure signs are clear warnings of potential catastrophe - your poor gun is saying stop! The non-acceptance by the case holder is only confirming what the brass has already told you. Did you notice more effort was required in lifting the bolt?
It is very sound practice to carefully examine each brass individually immediately after firing if you have changed anything whatsoever in your round be it length, crimp, powder, powder volume, bullet, case etc……
A bit odd though that the same Lapua cases have such entirely different extractor marks - assuming they had the same acquisition/reloading/firing history!

 

[RH Somerset]

Hmm. Definitely hot so back off substantially on your powder charges and work up in small increments - if you “notice” marks like these it is a very good idea to stop there and then, put the unfired ones away and pull them when you first can rather than “fire them off”. Remember pressure signs are clear warnings of potential catastrophe - your poor gun is saying stop! The non-acceptance by the case holder is only confirming what the brass has already told you. Did you notice more effort was required in lifting the bolt?
It is very sound practice to carefully examine each brass individually immediately after firing if you have changed anything whatsoever in your round be it length, crimp, powder, powder volume, bullet, case etc……
A bit odd though that the same Lapua cases have such entirely different extractor marks - assuming they had the same acquisition/reloading/firing history!

It’s been a while since I fired them, but I don’t think there was a noticeably heavy bolt.

What do you mean by different extractor marks?

Both of those cases are from the same box and both twice fired.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Could be the photos but one looks a lot more defined than the other suggesting differing pressures.

 

[Smellydog]

Congratulations on loading and shooting them hot, bet they were screaming. Some folk wet themselves tipping a starting charge weight in a case. You were never in danger buddy but don't use them anymore if you have a ring around the base of the case and head area.

As a rule of thumb with high pressure rounds. Measure just forward of the extractor groove and jot it down. Go shoot and remeasure. If under .004" growth in girth your ok.

 

[RH Somerset]

Congratulations on loading and shooting them hot, bet they were screaming. Some folk wet themselves tipping a starting charge weight in a case. You were never in danger buddy but don't use them anymore if you have a ring around the base of the case and head area.

As a rule of thumb with high pressure rounds. Measure just forward of the extractor groove and jot it down. Go shoot and remeasure. If under .004" growth in girth your ok.

To be honest I wasn’t worried about any danger, I’m sure I was a long way from exploding the rifle. I going to chuck them though as they are clearly now a different size from the rest of my cases, so will be inconsistent.

It is surprising though that that they were 150fps faster than the Hornady data suggests - and Hornady are using a 24” barrel - mine is 20”.

 

[jaseo69er]

I made up a batch of 243 using 95gr bullets and RS60. This is a high energy powder and produced much higher velocities than I was expecting, about 3,100 to 3,150. The empty cases also often had circular pressure marks on the heads, which is a clear sign of over pressure. See pictures below.

Obviously I should have pulled them when I first noticed this, but I had used the same powder charge before (different 95gr bullets) and just put it down to hot weather. I also don’t have a puller. Anyway I ended up firing them all.

Upon reloading the cases I found that these cases did not fit into the shell holder as easily as the others.

I have only identified 6 that have been reloaded (all fired) and I know that one of them was a flier - about 1.5 inches from the others in the group, which were loaded from good cases.

I now have 24 Lapua cases, out of 100 total, that won’t easily go into a shell holder and have the pressure marks.

The question is should I bin them, or just forget about the one flier I have identified and keep using them?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Throw them away pal better be safe then sorry

 

[Boosh]

The bullets are shifting for 95grn, more like 75 grn vmax speeds.
Makes me wonder what I could get out of them!
Stop those naughty thoughts now.

 

[RH Somerset]

The bullets are shifting for 95grn, more like 75 grn vmax speeds.
Makes me wonder what I could get out of them!
Stop those naughty thoughts now.

Just try a little bit too much RS60!