damaged brass

bamaranger · January 6, 2011, 02:27 AM

I'm loading 7.62x54R for a PSL rifle with good results and having a blast (pun intended) in the process. But the PSL is beating my limited supply of brass to pieces. The classic mashing is an angular dent about at the shoulder, which can run back onto the case body.

These cases can be run back into a sizing die: But are they safe and what effect could/will it have on my accuracy?

Rifleman1776 · January 6, 2011, 10:12 AM

A picture would help.
However, dents usually do not mean the end of usefulness for cases. They will expand out with next shot. But your rifle, if I understand right, puts this dent every time a round is chambered.
Your cases, in that case, will have a greatly shortened life.
Do inspect at every stage of reloading for cracks. Use a bright light and check after tumbling.

bamaranger · January 8, 2011, 12:53 AM

The dent is occurring upon ejection (semi rifle). I have loaded and refired some, the bulk of the dent will blow out, but often a dimple remains, and of course, it gets a new dent courtesy of the ejection cycle, again.

January 6, 2011, 02:27 AM	#1
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,800	damaged brass I'm loading 7.62x54R for a PSL rifle with good results and having a blast (pun intended) in the process. But the PSL is beating my limited supply of brass to pieces. The classic mashing is an angular dent about at the shoulder, which can run back onto the case body. These cases can be run back into a sizing die: But are they safe and what effect could/will it have on my accuracy?

January 8, 2011, 12:53 AM	#3
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,800	sorry no pics The dent is occurring upon ejection (semi rifle). I have loaded and refired some, the bulk of the dent will blow out, but often a dimple remains, and of course, it gets a new dent courtesy of the ejection cycle, again.

January 6, 2011, 10:12 AM	#2
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	A picture would help. However, dents usually do not mean the end of usefulness for cases. They will expand out with next shot. But your rifle, if I understand right, puts this dent every time a round is chambered. Your cases, in that case, will have a greatly shortened life. Do inspect at every stage of reloading for cracks. Use a bright light and check after tumbling.