Brass Problems

Cruz5350 · June 26, 2011, 01:32 PM

Look at the primer it has a rectangle shape to it! I couldn't verify if these came out of my gun or not since I was picking up whatever brass I could find yesterday. I don't believe they were because this was a more mild load than I had last and none of that brass showed signs like this.

Now this is a difficult one to see but if you look at the base of the brass you will see a distinct line where the decap/resize die seems to stop resizing? Possibly leaving a bulge, but I'm not sure. Is this a problem?

Thanks

TXGunNut · June 26, 2011, 01:39 PM

That's the shape of the firing pin recess of a pistol firing a warm .40 load. Most 40's are pretty warm so that's not unusual. What type of pistol were you firing? Load details would be helpful as well.
The line where your sizing die stops is normal, no problem there.

Cruz5350 · June 26, 2011, 01:41 PM

If that was from my gun it was a Sig 229 shooting 180gr XTP's over either 4.4gr or 4.5gr of Titegroup.

Cruz5350 · June 26, 2011, 01:43 PM

I went up to the max of 4.7gr of TG last time I went shooting and had no signs of that at all. That's why I'm thinking it wasn't from my gun.

TXGunNut · June 26, 2011, 01:52 PM

Severe case of CRS today. I've owned a pistol that marked primers like that but I just can't recall what it was. I had a 229 for awhile and I didn't enjoy shooting 180's in it. 155's were much more enjoyable and had more muzzle energy as well, if you're into that. Check the breechface on your 229, does that imprint resemble anything you see there?

GMAN · June 26, 2011, 01:53 PM

That was shot out of a Glock, all of my Glocks leave a rectangular mark like that, no matter what caliber.

Cruz5350 · June 26, 2011, 01:58 PM

Thanks I was so confused because I've never seen that mark come from my gun before. Side note there was lots of Glocks there so I'm sure that's where it came from.

TXGunNut · June 26, 2011, 02:04 PM

Thanks, GMAN. Got away from Glocks and Sigs years ago, kinda thought it was one of them. I've always found the oblong firing pin dimple common to most (if not all) .40 pistols interesting as well. It's an indicator of just how hot the little cartridge is.

lamarw · June 26, 2011, 04:10 PM

I do not own one, but it resembles a Glock strike to me. I see this type strike mark on a lot of 9mm shell casings.

PA-Joe · June 26, 2011, 04:26 PM

Glocks are know to bludge cases making them difficult to size all of the way to the rim. That is why there is the LEE bludge buster die.

tom234 · June 26, 2011, 09:30 PM

Sizing dies don't completely size the case as there is necessarily a chamfer at the mouth of the die. Some dies have more "relief" that others. Dillon dies used in progressive presses have generous relief.
Case bulge only presents a problem if you cannot chamber the reloaded round. That said, a cartridge gage is a good investment to make sure your reloads are within specification.

serf 'rett · June 27, 2011, 11:38 AM

A Glock for sure. When you see that rectangle, you need to make sure you get to bulge out of the case. I haven't had a problem with a RCBS die and single stage, but it's my understanding the bulge removal problems manifests with progressive dies.

lwstarks · June 28, 2011, 07:04 PM

definately a glock, or else one really messed up gun.

theycallmeingot · June 28, 2011, 08:22 PM

i saw the very same thing for the first time at my first USPSA match last weekend. i thought someone was running excessively hot rounds!

azphx55 · June 29, 2011, 01:19 PM

I learned the significance of that sort of primer marking while serving jury duty a few years ago. A firearms expert testified that the casings had been fired from a Glock or possibly one other rarely-seen handgun, and that the lack of rifling marks on the projectiles narrowed it down to the Glock.

paulcissa · June 29, 2011, 02:16 PM

Lack of rifling? Does Glock make a smooth-bore?

m&p45acp10+1 · June 29, 2011, 02:45 PM

I have a G-26, and Kel-Tec P11 that both leave a mark like that on the primers. I have reloaded the brass from both, (and everyone elses that left thier brass when I was there for that matter) with no problems.

FrankenMauser · June 29, 2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Lack of rifling? Does Glock make a smooth-bore?

Nope. They use a hexagonal bore. With some projectiles, it can be difficult to discern the "rifling" marks.

June 26, 2011, 01:32 PM	#1
Cruz5350 Member Join Date: October 28, 2010 Posts: 63	Brass Problems Look at the primer it has a rectangle shape to it! I couldn't verify if these came out of my gun or not since I was picking up whatever brass I could find yesterday. I don't believe they were because this was a more mild load than I had last and none of that brass showed signs like this. Now this is a difficult one to see but if you look at the base of the brass you will see a distinct line where the decap/resize die seems to stop resizing? Possibly leaving a bulge, but I'm not sure. Is this a problem? Thanks

June 26, 2011, 01:39 PM	#2
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	That's the shape of the firing pin recess of a pistol firing a warm .40 load. Most 40's are pretty warm so that's not unusual. What type of pistol were you firing? Load details would be helpful as well. The line where your sizing die stops is normal, no problem there. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

June 26, 2011, 01:52 PM	#5
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Severe case of CRS today. I've owned a pistol that marked primers like that but I just can't recall what it was. I had a 229 for awhile and I didn't enjoy shooting 180's in it. 155's were much more enjoyable and had more muzzle energy as well, if you're into that. Check the breechface on your 229, does that imprint resemble anything you see there? __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

June 26, 2011, 02:04 PM	#8
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Thanks, GMAN. Got away from Glocks and Sigs years ago, kinda thought it was one of them. I've always found the oblong firing pin dimple common to most (if not all) .40 pistols interesting as well. It's an indicator of just how hot the little cartridge is. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

June 27, 2011, 11:38 AM	#12
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	A Glock for sure. When you see that rectangle, you need to make sure you get to bulge out of the case. I haven't had a problem with a RCBS die and single stage, but it's my understanding the bulge removal problems manifests with progressive dies. __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.

June 26, 2011, 01:41 PM	#3
Cruz5350 Member Join Date: October 28, 2010 Posts: 63	If that was from my gun it was a Sig 229 shooting 180gr XTP's over either 4.4gr or 4.5gr of Titegroup.

June 26, 2011, 01:43 PM	#4
Cruz5350 Member Join Date: October 28, 2010 Posts: 63	I went up to the max of 4.7gr of TG last time I went shooting and had no signs of that at all. That's why I'm thinking it wasn't from my gun.

June 26, 2011, 01:53 PM	#6
GMAN Member Join Date: April 14, 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 47	That was shot out of a Glock, all of my Glocks leave a rectangular mark like that, no matter what caliber.

June 26, 2011, 01:58 PM	#7
Cruz5350 Member Join Date: October 28, 2010 Posts: 63	Thanks I was so confused because I've never seen that mark come from my gun before. Side note there was lots of Glocks there so I'm sure that's where it came from.

June 26, 2011, 04:10 PM	#9
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	I do not own one, but it resembles a Glock strike to me. I see this type strike mark on a lot of 9mm shell casings.

June 26, 2011, 04:26 PM	#10
PA-Joe Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: NEPA Posts: 909	Glocks are know to bludge cases making them difficult to size all of the way to the rim. That is why there is the LEE bludge buster die.

June 26, 2011, 09:30 PM	#11
tom234 Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 753	Sizing dies don't completely size the case as there is necessarily a chamfer at the mouth of the die. Some dies have more "relief" that others. Dillon dies used in progressive presses have generous relief. Case bulge only presents a problem if you cannot chamber the reloaded round. That said, a cartridge gage is a good investment to make sure your reloads are within specification.

June 28, 2011, 07:04 PM	#13
lwstarks Junior Member Join Date: June 28, 2011 Location: Berkeley Lake, GA Posts: 4	definately a glock, or else one really messed up gun.

June 28, 2011, 08:22 PM	#14
theycallmeingot Member Join Date: February 3, 2011 Posts: 54	i saw the very same thing for the first time at my first USPSA match last weekend. i thought someone was running excessively hot rounds!

June 29, 2011, 01:19 PM	#15
azphx55 Member Join Date: September 7, 2010 Posts: 85	I learned the significance of that sort of primer marking while serving jury duty a few years ago. A firearms expert testified that the casings had been fired from a Glock or possibly one other rarely-seen handgun, and that the lack of rifling marks on the projectiles narrowed it down to the Glock.

June 29, 2011, 02:16 PM	#16
paulcissa Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Posts: 33	Lack of rifling? Does Glock make a smooth-bore?

June 29, 2011, 02:45 PM	#17
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	I have a G-26, and Kel-Tec P11 that both leave a mark like that on the primers. I have reloaded the brass from both, (and everyone elses that left thier brass when I was there for that matter) with no problems. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.