9mm brass - x-small flash holes

spacecoast · December 14, 2011, 08:52 PM

Ran into something tonight I haven't seen before in processing 3,300+ rounds of 9mm Luger. Three of the pieces of brass in a batch of about 300 that I was depriming appeared to have extra-small flash holes that the depriming pin would not fit through. I (unknowingly) forced it through the one on the far left, and when I tried to withdraw it, the pin came out of the larger pin that holds it in the Lee die. It was a real pain to get the pin out of the brass (which was necessarily stuck on the shell holder), but the die went back together OK. I was cautious after that and stopped on the other two before I had a problem. The piece of brass on the far right has a normal-sized hole for comparison.

This picture shows the headstamps. The two I didn't force both say "DAG 9mm Luger" and even the strikes on the primer look odd to me, way too high out of the brass. The one that got stuck is marked MAL 5-85 9mm. Has anyone run into brass like this?

Edit - found a thread about DAG... http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=625350

And another for MAL - http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=27676

brokenarrow41 · December 17, 2011, 12:43 PM

The cases marked DAG are from Dynamit Nobel A-G Troisdorf, Germany the others marked Mal are from Syarikat Malaysia Explosives Ltd. Batu-Arang, Malaysia.
The rounds pictured look like they were over pressured and would be safer in the scrap bin. If you find the small flash hole is from a particular manufacturer and you really need the brass punch them by hand and ream the hole to size.

armoredman · December 17, 2011, 12:48 PM

Scrap bin for certain, glad nothing was damaged, and you gave me something to look for when I get used brass.

serf 'rett · December 17, 2011, 02:04 PM

A few week ago I had a half dozen SIG 357 cases, range pickup, with small flash holes.

I'd scrap the cases in your photo - the primers could be showing overpressure signs.

chris in va · December 18, 2011, 12:39 AM

I hate those DAG cases. Every now and then one worms it's way into my pile and I'm having to extract the darn thing from my decapping pin.

FrankenMauser · December 18, 2011, 02:53 PM

As the thread on THR discussed, GECO cases seem to come off the same equipment.

Personally, I keep it (9x19mm). My RCBS dies don't have a problem with enlarging these flash holes. But, I always inspect the cases, before they go into my press, anyway. A quick glance at the tiny flash hole just reminds me to go a little slower on those. If enlarging the flash hole leaves a burr or lip, I use my flash hole uniformer to clean it up .... or I just toss the case in my recycling jug, since 9x19mm is more common than dirt.

I don't think those DAG cases were over-pressured. I think they were fired in a Hi-Point. At the very least, you know they're only once-fired.

December 14, 2011, 08:52 PM	#1
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	9mm brass - x-small flash holes Ran into something tonight I haven't seen before in processing 3,300+ rounds of 9mm Luger. Three of the pieces of brass in a batch of about 300 that I was depriming appeared to have extra-small flash holes that the depriming pin would not fit through. I (unknowingly) forced it through the one on the far left, and when I tried to withdraw it, the pin came out of the larger pin that holds it in the Lee die. It was a real pain to get the pin out of the brass (which was necessarily stuck on the shell holder), but the die went back together OK. I was cautious after that and stopped on the other two before I had a problem. The piece of brass on the far right has a normal-sized hole for comparison. This picture shows the headstamps. The two I didn't force both say "DAG 9mm Luger" and even the strikes on the primer look odd to me, way too high out of the brass. The one that got stuck is marked MAL 5-85 9mm. Has anyone run into brass like this? Edit - found a thread about DAG... http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=625350 And another for MAL - http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=27676 Last edited by spacecoast; December 14, 2011 at 09:00 PM.

December 17, 2011, 12:43 PM	#2
brokenarrow41 Member Join Date: February 28, 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 24	9mm brass - x-small flash holes The cases marked DAG are from Dynamit Nobel A-G Troisdorf, Germany the others marked Mal are from Syarikat Malaysia Explosives Ltd. Batu-Arang, Malaysia. The rounds pictured look like they were over pressured and would be safer in the scrap bin. If you find the small flash hole is from a particular manufacturer and you really need the brass punch them by hand and ream the hole to size.

December 18, 2011, 02:53 PM	#6
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,778	As the thread on THR discussed, GECO cases seem to come off the same equipment. Personally, I keep it (9x19mm). My RCBS dies don't have a problem with enlarging these flash holes. But, I always inspect the cases, before they go into my press, anyway. A quick glance at the tiny flash hole just reminds me to go a little slower on those. If enlarging the flash hole leaves a burr or lip, I use my flash hole uniformer to clean it up .... or I just toss the case in my recycling jug, since 9x19mm is more common than dirt. I don't think those DAG cases were over-pressured. I think they were fired in a Hi-Point. At the very least, you know they're only once-fired. __________________ -Unwilling Range Officer -Unwilling Match Designer -NRL22/PRS22/PRO -Something about broccoli and carrots

December 17, 2011, 12:48 PM	#3
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,483	Scrap bin for certain, glad nothing was damaged, and you gave me something to look for when I get used brass.

December 17, 2011, 02:04 PM	#4
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	A few week ago I had a half dozen SIG 357 cases, range pickup, with small flash holes. I'd scrap the cases in your photo - the primers could be showing overpressure signs.

December 18, 2011, 12:39 AM	#5
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I hate those DAG cases. Every now and then one worms it's way into my pile and I'm having to extract the darn thing from my decapping pin.