Brass question

[grubbylabs]

I am loading 308 and on some of my brass I am noticing a bulge type ring around the neck just above the shoulder. I checked a few and they will take a bullet and chamber, should I be concerned, is it a problem with my die adjustment?

[DiscoRacing]

ive heard... its from having case lube too plentiful..or too close to the shoulder... tho a bit unsightly... there is no harm in shooting them.

[grubbylabs]

Cool thanks.

[grubbylabs]

Here is a pick it might help.

[DiscoRacing]

that actually looks as though your die isnt set low enough...it is not sizing the entire neck

[amamnn]

+1 on the die being incorrectly set up. Too much lube generally gives the opposite result, i.e. a dimple on the shoulder.

[grubbylabs]

Ok I will see if I can make a difference here.

[grubbylabs]

You guys are genius. I ran the die down some more and it fixed it. I pulled it back some because I was getting a crushed shoulder, but I think that was due to to much case lube. decreased the case lube and lowered the die and it works great. I took the decaping pin out and even redid the shells I primed before I noticed I had a problem.

[DiscoRacing]

Now get to loadin... dont just sit there

[oneoldsap]

Don't put lube on the shoulder or outside of neck and very little on the inside . I lube every 4th or 5th neck !

[grubbylabs]

I would but I need a powder funnel and some one to watch my two kids. Its not exactly easy to load while refereeing a 1 year old and a 4year old.

[medalguy]

Don't mean to come down on you, but DON'T RELOAD UNLESS YOU CAN CONCENTRATE 100% ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING! Don't try to babysit while loading. That's a sure way to have a severe problem resulting in a KABOOM and possibly hurting yourself or someone else.

Reloading is a serious business, and if you cannot concentrate 100% on what you're doing, don't do it. Wait until you can be alone. I don't even like to listen to a radio while loading because I found it distracted me, and all it takes is one time. Remember, you're working with things that generate 50,000 psi a couple of inches from your face. Keep it safe.

[grubbylabs]

If you will notice I said "I would, but" meaning I have not.

[steve4102]

Are you using a FL die or a Neck die?

[grubbylabs]

FL

[steve4102]

Then you need to set up your FL die so it comes in contact with the shoulder. Failure to do so will cause all kinds of feeding issues.

[Gbro]

I have loaded for many years using FL die's and set with a dime between the die and case holder, kind of a poor mans neck sizing setup.They all have that same bulge or more accurately, an area of the neck that is not resized. I do have to be careful when it comes to the grandsons shooting these loads because of the occasional tight one. The boys have a hard time closing the bolt if I don't sort them out before hand.
I do have some neck sizing dies now but not for everything I reload.

[mrawesome22]

Don't put lube on the shoulder or outside of neck

Yep. If you do, you'll have all sorts of funny looking, dimpled ammo. The body is the only part that needs lube. And the insides of the necks.

[Lost Sheep]

Do you have a case gauge? In getting your neck sized over it's full length, you may also be sizing the case body, and if you go too far, you set back the shoulder. this will shorten your case life, but that is the least of your worries. Shoulder setback will cause case stretching due to excessive headspace and eventual case head separation (catastrophic).

Lost Sheep

Caveat:
Remember, only believe half of what you see and one quarter of what you hear. That goes double for what you get from the internet. Even this post.

Do your own independent, confirming research when ANYONE gives you new facts on the web.

Also remember, even the idiotic stuff might have a kernel of truth buried in there somewhere.

disclaimer: If my advice seems over-obvious, remember that other readers of all experience levels are reading. I take great pains to be very specific and to prevent multiple (conflicting) or confusing interpretations. Not always successfully.

[Gbro]

Shoulder setback will cause case stretching due to excessive headspace and eventual case head separation (catastrophic).

Come on LS, you make it sound like the rest of us sheep will not be able to see the signs of imminent web separation and chuck the case.
I have had one case head separation that was not totally due to FL sizing, but because of the RCBS case lube & not removing the lube from inside case neck.
I have posted this before, but these cartridges were a couple years old and that lube turned into cement and the increased pressure separated the case head and blew the primer. The rest of the batch of cartridges had to be cracked loose in the press, as pulling didn't work. i pulled 2 bullet tips off before I cracked them with the seating die.

And like you say, I believe also.

Not always successfully.

[Johnny Guest]

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