Opinions wanted on case lines

[125JHP]

While sorting the batch of 38 Spl cases cleaned from the last range outing, I noticed a couple of cases that have lines on them I would like a second set of eyes on. I will toss at least one of them but thought they might lead to interesting discussion.

First is a W-W case with a line ringing the case under the canneluer. As you can see it does not meet cleanly but is at a slight angle so the ends do not meet perfectly. This is the only case out of 150 that has this ring so although it appears intentional or maybe made by some tool, it is not something in my chain or else there would be more of them. It doesn't look to be a problem unless the brass can be weakened by a continuous line around the case (in contrast with how the canneluer is made).

Any ideas what it is or how it may have gotten there? Would you continue firing this case (target load of course)?

The Second photo is A S&B case with what looks like a pending case separation line just above the head. It's not shiny though and I almost missed it. It does go all the way around. I felt inside the case with a wire probe but don't feel any thinness or line. The only other other thing I can think of (and its really a SWAG) is a remnant of a sizing line, smooshed back into the brass from firing.

What is your opinion? Would you keep firing this case to see if more of a crack starts to show?

 

[Maximumbob54]

My only guess as to the first one is some manufacuters add a second crimp of sorts to help prevent bullet set back. That way the bullet can't sink deeper into the case.

I'm not sure on the second but I've never heard of straight wall pistol cases stretching from sizing. This brings back up the issue of I've never felt the need to trim pistol cases and I've never had issue with crimp. I'm not even sure you can load a safe cartridge that won't blow up a gun that might cause case length growth. If I had to hazard a guess I would say it was shot in a dirty chamber or it happened from rolling around in the dirt.

 

[OKFC05]

what looks like a pending case separation line just above the head.

It's not. .38 Spl cases don't stretch like bottleneck rifle cases; they get slightly shorter with use.

1. I shoot my range reload revolver brass until it splits. It has never damaged my revolvers yet for one to split.

2. Life is too short to minutely inspect pistol brass. If it looks good ( no splits, dished heads, illegible headstamps, etc) I load it. If it looks odd, I trash it. I shoot tens of thousands of pistol reloads each year.

 

[Rule3]

For two pieces of brass, like looking in the fridge, when in doubt throw it out.

 

[125JHP]

Like I said, I was just sorting brass/nickle & 38/357 and doing a quick-over looking for splits or mouth cracks when these two caught my eye.

At first I was going to toss them out but decided to take a closer look since I hadn't come across anything quite like this before and to also look at the other cases of the same brand to see if it was common among them. I thought they were odd in they both go completely around the case.

I didn't mean the 2nd photo's line was from stretching, I was trying to say that during sizing the die sometimes leaves a scuff mark around the case (close to where this is) where the case stops going up into the die body. If the case is slightly off-center in the shell holder the die can shave the brass slightly and leave a tiny ridge/lip (those I do throw out).

If you guys haven't a definite answer then I can always use another piece of unsplit brass. I'll just paint the head to ID it for watching. (in my spare time

 

[TAROMAN]

Those very faint cannelures would not stop bullet setback (as if setback was ever an issue in revolvers!).
Most likely the manufacturers use them to allow visual identification of different loadings.
As stated above, head separation is not an issue in straight-walled revolver cases.
Any S&B brass that happens to find its way into my supply is immediately consigned to the scrap bag.

 

[SMSgt]

The first case is caused by the machining to put the channelure in it. Shouldn'tbe a problem.
The second one looks like ****.

Brass is cheap; if in doubt, throw it out.

 

[dickttx]

My guess on the first one, as SMSgt said, is that it is from someone running the case through a cannula devise--not a factory cannula.

 

[Infidel_319]

I used to shoot PPC, a LOT of my older brass has that same line, sometimes it is more like a dashed or dotted type line, sometimes a solid one like yours. Not sure about new brass, but 15 years ago a LOT of it was like that brand new. Looks fine to me, and I do not know why it's there if you look/feel inside the case there is no indentation which would stop a bullet from seating deeper.