Burned Brass

fshfindr · April 20, 2013, 10:11 AM

My 380 was getting a little restless so I took it to the range yesterday to give it some exercise. All was fine until I started policing my brass. I saw burn marks on one side of the brass. It went halfway around and about halfway down. I'm thinking it might not have been well crimped. Anybody have ideas, I'm listening, I examined the gun and found no marks on it. Any ideas will be appreciated.

Richard L.

ScottRiqui · April 20, 2013, 10:18 AM

I've seen similar marks on my .380 brass, as well as a few other calibers. Here's a typical shot of what the .380 brass looked like:

I'm pretty sure it's just a result of shooting relatively low-pressure loads. The case doesn't expand enough to seal completely against the chamber walls, so a little bit of the combustion gases work backward between the chamber wall and the case. Like you, I didn't see any damage to the chamber itself. Subsequently, I bumped up the powder charge a little bit, and the "burn" marks went away.

fshfindr · April 20, 2013, 11:01 AM

That is exactly what mine look like, Thanks.

Dave T · April 20, 2013, 01:23 PM

I don't think it's burned. Generally what causes that is a low pressure round or an over generous chamber. If the case doesn't expand to completely seal against the chamber walls you will get that kind of soot deposit from the burning powder. It usually cleans off if you tumble the brass with a good medium.

Dave

fshfindr · April 20, 2013, 02:10 PM

So I'll stop being concerned, thanks.

buck460XVR · April 20, 2013, 02:42 PM

So Fshfindr, who is the maker of your .380 revolver?

gwpercle · April 20, 2013, 08:18 PM

fshfindr,
Do as Scott suggest and bump up your powder charge a bit, you are not getting enough pressure. When you get a bit higher pressure the sooty case will stop and you might notice a cleaner burn ( less crud left in barrel and action. Too little pressure causes problems just like too much pressure causes problems.
Keep an eye out for jacketed bullets and low pressure loads...sometimes the bullet will stick in the barrel ...and if you shoot again..Trouble.

Gary

Hammerhead · April 21, 2013, 05:22 PM

Yup, blow by caused by low pressure and/or a chamber on the large side.

Cheapshooter · April 21, 2013, 11:57 PM

Quote:

So Fshfindr, who is the maker of your .380 revolver?

Where did he say it was a revolver? "Policing my brass" would certainly indicate a semi-auto.

Hammerhead · April 22, 2013, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Where did he say it was a revolver? "Policing my brass" would certainly indicate a semi-auto.

I think it was a rhetorical jab because the OP posted this in the revolver forum.

BigTex308 · April 22, 2013, 01:20 AM

I believe there are several revolvers chambered in .380acp...

Ike

fshfindr · June 7, 2013, 06:55 PM

Not a revolver, a 9mm Russian Makarov converted to .380.

Venom1956 · June 7, 2013, 07:53 PM

Lol wrong forum guy.

April 20, 2013, 10:11 AM	#1
fshfindr Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 188	Burned Brass My 380 was getting a little restless so I took it to the range yesterday to give it some exercise. All was fine until I started policing my brass. I saw burn marks on one side of the brass. It went halfway around and about halfway down. I'm thinking it might not have been well crimped. Anybody have ideas, I'm listening, I examined the gun and found no marks on it. Any ideas will be appreciated. Richard L.

April 20, 2013, 01:23 PM	#4
Dave T Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2000 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 1,456	I don't think it's burned. Generally what causes that is a low pressure round or an over generous chamber. If the case doesn't expand to completely seal against the chamber walls you will get that kind of soot deposit from the burning powder. It usually cleans off if you tumble the brass with a good medium. Dave __________________ RSVN '69-'71 PCSD Ret

April 22, 2013, 01:20 AM	#11
BigTex308 Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 259	Re: Burned Brass I believe there are several revolvers chambered in .380acp... Ike

June 7, 2013, 06:55 PM	#12
fshfindr Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 188	Not a revolver, a 9mm Russian Makarov converted to .380. __________________ Richard L.

June 7, 2013, 07:53 PM	#13
Venom1956 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2008 Location: WI Posts: 3,656	Lol wrong forum guy. __________________ E-Shock rounds are engineered to expend maximum energy into soft targets, turning the density mass into an expanding rotational cone of NyTrilium matrix particles, causing neurological collapse to the central nervous system.- Yeah I can do that. I guarantee you will know it if a bicyclist hits your house going 1000 mph. -Smaug

April 20, 2013, 10:18 AM	#2
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	I've seen similar marks on my .380 brass, as well as a few other calibers. Here's a typical shot of what the .380 brass looked like: I'm pretty sure it's just a result of shooting relatively low-pressure loads. The case doesn't expand enough to seal completely against the chamber walls, so a little bit of the combustion gases work backward between the chamber wall and the case. Like you, I didn't see any damage to the chamber itself. Subsequently, I bumped up the powder charge a little bit, and the "burn" marks went away.

April 20, 2013, 11:01 AM	#3
fshfindr Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 188	That is exactly what mine look like, Thanks.

April 20, 2013, 02:10 PM	#5
fshfindr Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 188	So I'll stop being concerned, thanks.

April 20, 2013, 02:42 PM	#6
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	So Fshfindr, who is the maker of your .380 revolver?

April 20, 2013, 08:18 PM	#7
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,752	fshfindr, Do as Scott suggest and bump up your powder charge a bit, you are not getting enough pressure. When you get a bit higher pressure the sooty case will stop and you might notice a cleaner burn ( less crud left in barrel and action. Too little pressure causes problems just like too much pressure causes problems. Keep an eye out for jacketed bullets and low pressure loads...sometimes the bullet will stick in the barrel ...and if you shoot again..Trouble. Gary

April 21, 2013, 05:22 PM	#8
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Yup, blow by caused by low pressure and/or a chamber on the large side.