Quote:
Originally Posted by andyo5
I need to learn about case head separation. Has it happened to you?
If so, I'd like to know...
1. What caliber?
2. What do you think caused it?
3. Are there pre-separation signs to look for?
4. What was the result? Was the gun damaged? Were you hurt?
I've never had it happen to me, but I have been noticing marks on my 357 magnum cases for awhile that I had assumed were scratches caused by the extractor. But I am starting to wonder. Look at the photo (please) and let me know if you have seen this before. It looks like a surface crack to me.
Thanks!
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That is a sizing mark from running your cases all the way into a carbide sizing die. That is why the case is bright right up to the line.
Look at your own picture. About 1/16" ahead of the line you will see where the case is expanded slightly larger than the bottom osf the case. This is where the "web" of the case is. the transition from the solid head to the sidewall of the case. The line appears approximately half way down on the solid head, cases DO NOT separate at this point!
When you size your brass you feel a hard "bump" at the end of the downward stroke of the press handle, don't you? This is where the solid head is being forced into the sizing ring. Not only does this size a portion of the case that should not be sized, but if you keep it up you will break the carbide sizing ring in the sizing die.
I might be stepping on some toes, but I can tell you that anyone who saw a problem with this probably has never loaded a cartridge in their life, and their only "experience" is reading magazines and forums like this one.