federal 45 shell casing

powerboatr · January 10, 2009, 02:15 PM

I found this odd ball shell yesterday, at the indoor range
it has serrations completely around the circumference and even has printed through to the inside,
obviously it shouldn't be reloaded, but is this a new thing from federal or di this puppy slip through quality control when it was produced.
it is a ONCE fired shell, they don't allow reloads at the inside range nor can you reclaim your spent brass, so they sweep em up and sell em as bulk brass at pretty decent prices per 500 shells
i surmise if its reloaded, that the shell would split at the serrations and cause some serious weird eject problems to say the least

**Mike Irwin** · January 10, 2009, 02:17 PM

I'm not entirely sure what the purpose is (probably to help lock the bullet in place to prevent setback, it's just another form of crimping, maybe), but I have quite a few that I have reloaded many times with absolutely no problems at all.

kraigwy · January 10, 2009, 02:24 PM

Its a mild crimp at the base of the bullet with the ideal that the bullet wouldnt slide back into the case under recoil.

Although with a proper taper crimp it isnt necessary. It dosnt effect the reloading of the round.

steveno · January 10, 2009, 02:30 PM

it is probably to prevent bullet setback. it is on the 185 grain hp's that I have. however it isn't on the boxes of American Eagle hardball I have. the hardball however shows a slight bulge in the case where the base of the bullet is and I don't think that bullets is going to have any setback

**Unclenick** · January 10, 2009, 02:57 PM

Case crimping was started in the last quarter or the 1800's (I still can't get over not being able to say, "in the last century" without referring to something recent). I was told that some of the early commercial loading gear used that crimp (now a cannelure, but then often just a smooth groove as if a dull tubing cutter had been rolled over the thing) as a bullet stop. The case was made large enough for that, or the bullet small enough, depending on how you look at it. The bullets were set into the charged case by hand, then went straight to the the final crimp. I can't think why adding that complexity would be better than a fixed depth seater? Perhaps they couldn't figure out how to place a bullet on tight brass and seat it all automatically back then?

At any rate, these things show up in straight wall .38 and .357 cases all the time. They blow out and fireform to the chamber, so the case is just normal at that point. I suppose it gives you a quick way to see what size bullet you've got hold of, but I can't see why a manufacturer would take the extra step today? Something must justify it? If I get a chance to ask an actually cartridge designer for one of the big outfits, I will.

powerboatr · January 11, 2009, 10:19 PM

thanks
i have seen tons of 45 casings and this was the first one like this. over at another site i was told it is highly common
soooooo
i chalk it up as a learning curve

i still wont use it to reload, my areo engineering tells me its a weak spot to fail
and since wifey shoots the 45 more than me, i opt out to the safe level for her

again thanks

January 10, 2009, 02:24 PM	#3
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	Its a mild crimp at the base of the bullet with the ideal that the bullet wouldnt slide back into the case under recoil. Although with a proper taper crimp it isnt necessary. It dosnt effect the reloading of the round. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

January 10, 2009, 02:57 PM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	Case crimping was started in the last quarter or the 1800's (I still can't get over not being able to say, "in the last century" without referring to something recent). I was told that some of the early commercial loading gear used that crimp (now a cannelure, but then often just a smooth groove as if a dull tubing cutter had been rolled over the thing) as a bullet stop. The case was made large enough for that, or the bullet small enough, depending on how you look at it. The bullets were set into the charged case by hand, then went straight to the the final crimp. I can't think why adding that complexity would be better than a fixed depth seater? Perhaps they couldn't figure out how to place a bullet on tight brass and seat it all automatically back then? At any rate, these things show up in straight wall .38 and .357 cases all the time. They blow out and fireform to the chamber, so the case is just normal at that point. I suppose it gives you a quick way to see what size bullet you've got hold of, but I can't see why a manufacturer would take the extra step today? Something must justify it? If I get a chance to ask an actually cartridge designer for one of the big outfits, I will. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

January 11, 2009, 10:19 PM	#6
powerboatr Member Join Date: December 3, 2008 Location: North East Texas Posts: 42	thanks i have seen tons of 45 casings and this was the first one like this. over at another site i was told it is highly common soooooo i chalk it up as a learning curve i still wont use it to reload, my areo engineering tells me its a weak spot to fail and since wifey shoots the 45 more than me, i opt out to the safe level for her again thanks __________________ Retired Navy, living on a 365 day paid vacation full time grad student now using a dillon square deal reloader

January 10, 2009, 02:17 PM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,381	I'm not entirely sure what the purpose is (probably to help lock the bullet in place to prevent setback, it's just another form of crimping, maybe), but I have quite a few that I have reloaded many times with absolutely no problems at all.

January 10, 2009, 02:30 PM	#4
steveno Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Minden , Nebraska Posts: 1,407	it is probably to prevent bullet setback. it is on the 185 grain hp's that I have. however it isn't on the boxes of American Eagle hardball I have. the hardball however shows a slight bulge in the case where the base of the bullet is and I don't think that bullets is going to have any setback