Shoulder deformation

ammo.crafter · January 24, 2018, 11:12 PM

I noticed that several of the shells have small indents on the shoulders of newly resized
30-30 Winch to 7x30 Waters.
Brass was trimmed prior to sizing and the finished cartridge fits perfectly in the chamber.

Rifle is Thompson Center Contender.

Any ideas?

Dufus · January 24, 2018, 11:45 PM

The only time I have had those "indents" was when too much case lube was placed on the neck/shoulder areas.

YOu can't compress a liquid very easily, so the softer brass just gets deformed by the excess lube since it has no where to go.

Try regulating the amount of case lube that gets applied to the neck/shoulder areas.

You can fire the deformed cases and the firing will iron out the dents.

F. Guffey · January 24, 2018, 11:59 PM

Quote:

I noticed that several of the shells have small indents on the shoulders

Even when sizing cases it is recommended the reloader avoid lubing the neck and shoulder.

F. Guffey

Tsquared · January 25, 2018, 12:01 AM

+1 on Dufus reply

The dimple will disappear when you shoot it - most of the time or it will crease (throw it away).

Yosemite Steve · January 25, 2018, 12:43 AM

I have done that. Fresh lubed pad and got it on the shoulder. A trace of lube is enough. I use a pad and scrape off the excess with a knife after relubing the pad. Don't press on the cases when you roll them.

ammo.crafter · January 25, 2018, 01:22 AM

Thanks all. I'm certain that is the issue as I use a spray case lube and must have gotten some on a few shoulders.

After 50 years of reloading it's always good to take a refresher course.

ed308 · January 25, 2018, 11:03 AM

Thanks all. I'm certain that is the issue as I use a spray case lube and must have gotten some on a few shoulders.

When loading .223/5.56, 6.8 or .308 on my Dillon 650, I lightly spray the cases with Dillon's lube and gets all over the shoulders of the cases. With that lube, I let it sit for 15 mins then mix the cases before dumping in the case feeder. You can't help but get lube on the shoulders. No other way to do it with a spray bottle. I've also lightly coated the necks an shoulders on cases I reload on my single stage press as well with several different rub on lubes and never had a problem. A light coating of lube may be the key.

I have wrinkled the shoulders of brass when reforming Starline's 6.5 CM brass to 270AR. That's a multi step operations. Annealing the brass to soften it really reduces the potential for wrinkles. 270AR brass is easier to form with Lapua 6.5x47 brass since it's already annealed.

January 24, 2018, 11:12 PM	#1
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 2,032	Shoulder deformation I noticed that several of the shells have small indents on the shoulders of newly resized 30-30 Winch to 7x30 Waters. Brass was trimmed prior to sizing and the finished cartridge fits perfectly in the chamber. Rifle is Thompson Center Contender. Any ideas? __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

January 25, 2018, 01:22 AM	#6
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 2,032	dimples Thanks all. I'm certain that is the issue as I use a spray case lube and must have gotten some on a few shoulders. After 50 years of reloading it's always good to take a refresher course. __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

January 25, 2018, 11:03 AM	#7
ed308 Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2016 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 1,147	Thanks all. I'm certain that is the issue as I use a spray case lube and must have gotten some on a few shoulders. When loading .223/5.56, 6.8 or .308 on my Dillon 650, I lightly spray the cases with Dillon's lube and gets all over the shoulders of the cases. With that lube, I let it sit for 15 mins then mix the cases before dumping in the case feeder. You can't help but get lube on the shoulders. No other way to do it with a spray bottle. I've also lightly coated the necks an shoulders on cases I reload on my single stage press as well with several different rub on lubes and never had a problem. A light coating of lube may be the key. I have wrinkled the shoulders of brass when reforming Starline's 6.5 CM brass to 270AR. That's a multi step operations. Annealing the brass to soften it really reduces the potential for wrinkles. 270AR brass is easier to form with Lapua 6.5x47 brass since it's already annealed. Last edited by ed308; January 25, 2018 at 11:10 AM.

January 24, 2018, 11:45 PM	#2
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,967	The only time I have had those "indents" was when too much case lube was placed on the neck/shoulder areas. YOu can't compress a liquid very easily, so the softer brass just gets deformed by the excess lube since it has no where to go. Try regulating the amount of case lube that gets applied to the neck/shoulder areas. You can fire the deformed cases and the firing will iron out the dents.

January 25, 2018, 12:01 AM	#4
Tsquared Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2016 Location: NE Atlanta Posts: 337	+1 on Dufus reply The dimple will disappear when you shoot it - most of the time or it will crease (throw it away).

January 25, 2018, 12:43 AM	#5
Yosemite Steve Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2017 Posts: 460	I have done that. Fresh lubed pad and got it on the shoulder. A trace of lube is enough. I use a pad and scrape off the excess with a knife after relubing the pad. Don't press on the cases when you roll them.