slightly dented brass -- .32acp

Thirties · December 24, 2002, 04:13 PM

In the photo below, you can see my slightly dented brass cartridges (.32acp).

Can these small dents get straightened out during the resizing; and will the resized cartridges be strong and good candidates for reloading? Or should such used brass get the heave-ho?

Obviously, I've never reloaded. I'm planning to get into it in the new year (mostly .38 special; .32acp; and 9mm makarov).

Thank you, folks . . . and Merry Christmas to all!

Jim Watson · December 24, 2002, 04:29 PM

A sizing die cannot remove a dent.
The ones in the picture are not severe and will not affect the loading and shooting. Chamber pressure will iron them right out when you fire. The gun will probably make new ones upon ejection.

Thirties · December 24, 2002, 04:33 PM

Thanks, Jim. For sure the gun will make new ones -- it's the gun's "fingerprint" as we hear on tv these days.

My other question was: will the cartridge loose strength due to these dents; or will it be a normal used cartridge?

Should I avoid reloading these too many times, or just keep track and treat them as any other used brass?

Jim Watson · December 24, 2002, 10:43 PM

I would not worry about a smooth dent, so long as it was not a sharp-edged crease, as far as strength goes. I seldom wear out an autoloader case, I lose them first. A split case in a low-pressure caliber is not a catastrophe anyway. I don't notice them in .45 until I go to reload them the next time.

A friend can shake a handful of brass and tell by the jingle that there is a split case included, but I have to look.

bela · December 25, 2002, 04:58 AM

The .32 auto with its low pressure is niot likely to suffer from small dents.
Probably shells will split at the front end past some 20 or 50 times reloaded.
So dont mind about small dents at the side of the shell.

Thirties · December 25, 2002, 02:00 PM

Thanks for your replies . . . I'm really going to miss this place when it shuts down.

Getting ready to put together my reloading kit. I'm excited!

December 24, 2002, 04:13 PM	#1
Thirties Senior Member Join Date: April 29, 2001 Location: Where the Red Sox meet the Black Bears Posts: 561	slightly dented brass -- .32acp In the photo below, you can see my slightly dented brass cartridges (.32acp). Can these small dents get straightened out during the resizing; and will the resized cartridges be strong and good candidates for reloading? Or should such used brass get the heave-ho? Obviously, I've never reloaded. I'm planning to get into it in the new year (mostly .38 special; .32acp; and 9mm makarov). Thank you, folks . . . and Merry Christmas to all!

December 25, 2002, 04:58 AM	#5
bela Member Join Date: May 14, 2002 Location: Austria Posts: 89	.32 The .32 auto with its low pressure is niot likely to suffer from small dents. Probably shells will split at the front end past some 20 or 50 times reloaded. So dont mind about small dents at the side of the shell.

December 24, 2002, 04:29 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	A sizing die cannot remove a dent. The ones in the picture are not severe and will not affect the loading and shooting. Chamber pressure will iron them right out when you fire. The gun will probably make new ones upon ejection.

December 24, 2002, 04:33 PM	#3
Thirties Senior Member Join Date: April 29, 2001 Location: Where the Red Sox meet the Black Bears Posts: 561	Thanks, Jim. For sure the gun will make new ones -- it's the gun's "fingerprint" as we hear on tv these days. My other question was: will the cartridge loose strength due to these dents; or will it be a normal used cartridge? Should I avoid reloading these too many times, or just keep track and treat them as any other used brass?

December 24, 2002, 10:43 PM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	I would not worry about a smooth dent, so long as it was not a sharp-edged crease, as far as strength goes. I seldom wear out an autoloader case, I lose them first. A split case in a low-pressure caliber is not a catastrophe anyway. I don't notice them in .45 until I go to reload them the next time. A friend can shake a handful of brass and tell by the jingle that there is a split case included, but I have to look.

December 25, 2002, 02:00 PM	#6
Thirties Senior Member Join Date: April 29, 2001 Location: Where the Red Sox meet the Black Bears Posts: 561	Thanks for your replies . . . I'm really going to miss this place when it shuts down. Getting ready to put together my reloading kit. I'm excited!