Scrape Marks on Brass

Bacchus · October 16, 2002, 12:56 PM

I have some brass with scrape marks on it and want to know if it's probably safe to reload.

The scrape marks are on one side of the brass, probably from being pulled from the magazine and loaded into the chamber from a bolt action. They're not real deep, but should I trash the brass?

kdubya · October 16, 2002, 03:09 PM

"When in doubt - throw it out!"

Poodleshooter · October 16, 2002, 05:20 PM

Clean your gun. Clean your dies too. Toss the brass.

CITADELGRAD87 · October 16, 2002, 06:17 PM

Ahhh, we need to define "scrape" before we toss it.

My HK puts flutes all around each ejected case, but they are really just shallow scratched areas. I reload them with much success.

So are we taling surface scratches or real, measurable gouges?

If it's REALLY from being run through the magazine, you are fine, it would seem ALL autoloader brass should have such marks.

Agree with when in doubt, toss it, let's just kmake sure there's a doubt.
My $.02

Bacchus · October 16, 2002, 07:24 PM

They are just shallow scrape marks. I know that they're from being pulled from the magazine, as I watched them occur as the bolt was trying to place them in the chamber. I pulled them out and noticed the scratches.

It only happened on a few (2 or 3 of 50 loads).

rg1 · October 16, 2002, 08:17 PM

If its a scrape it should be ok but if its a scratch that you can feel with your fingernail, throw it out. When in doubt scrap it! I've seen pics of brass that when fired cracked at the scratch. The scratch is a weak spot that when fired,sized,fired will eventually crack at the scratch mark and its not worth trying to save a 10 cent piece of brass and hurt your gun or worse, yourself.

caz223 · October 17, 2002, 08:06 AM

My remington 700 does that.
Scratches up all my .223
They still reload ok, but I really don't shoot it that much, and the loads aren't max loads by any stretch of the imagination.

Rmouleart · October 17, 2002, 09:58 AM

I notice I get scratches when I'm reloading using max loads. I notice this the most using my 454 Casull or 44 Mag SuperRedHawk. these are just superficial scratches, they are not deep, sometimes you can get a batch of soft brass that also display this dysfunction. Aim small hit small RAMbo.

October 16, 2002, 12:56 PM	#1
Bacchus Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2001 Posts: 259	Scrape Marks on Brass I have some brass with scrape marks on it and want to know if it's probably safe to reload. The scrape marks are on one side of the brass, probably from being pulled from the magazine and loaded into the chamber from a bolt action. They're not real deep, but should I trash the brass?

October 16, 2002, 03:09 PM	#2
kdubya Member Join Date: September 24, 2002 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 62	"When in doubt - throw it out!" __________________ Keep off the Ridgeline

October 17, 2002, 08:06 AM	#7
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	My remington 700 does that. Scratches up all my .223 They still reload ok, but I really don't shoot it that much, and the loads aren't max loads by any stretch of the imagination. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

October 16, 2002, 05:20 PM	#3
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,599	Clean your gun. Clean your dies too. Toss the brass.

October 16, 2002, 06:17 PM	#4
CITADELGRAD87 Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2000 Posts: 432	Ahhh, we need to define "scrape" before we toss it. My HK puts flutes all around each ejected case, but they are really just shallow scratched areas. I reload them with much success. So are we taling surface scratches or real, measurable gouges? If it's REALLY from being run through the magazine, you are fine, it would seem ALL autoloader brass should have such marks. Agree with when in doubt, toss it, let's just kmake sure there's a doubt. My $.02

October 16, 2002, 07:24 PM	#5
Bacchus Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2001 Posts: 259	They are just shallow scrape marks. I know that they're from being pulled from the magazine, as I watched them occur as the bolt was trying to place them in the chamber. I pulled them out and noticed the scratches. It only happened on a few (2 or 3 of 50 loads).

October 16, 2002, 08:17 PM	#6
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	If its a scrape it should be ok but if its a scratch that you can feel with your fingernail, throw it out. When in doubt scrap it! I've seen pics of brass that when fired cracked at the scratch. The scratch is a weak spot that when fired,sized,fired will eventually crack at the scratch mark and its not worth trying to save a 10 cent piece of brass and hurt your gun or worse, yourself.

October 17, 2002, 09:58 AM	#8
Rmouleart Senior Member Join Date: September 24, 2002 Location: NH Posts: 141	I notice I get scratches when I'm reloading using max loads. I notice this the most using my 454 Casull or 44 Mag SuperRedHawk. these are just superficial scratches, they are not deep, sometimes you can get a batch of soft brass that also display this dysfunction. Aim small hit small RAMbo.