Extraction problems only with certain brands of brass

[Ironworker]

Shooting heavy loads out of my Colt Anaconda 44 magnum. If I use Star line or Federal brass. They seem to be able to handle a heavy load with zero extraction problems. But using W-W brass those same loads  extract poorly. Whats up with that ? Recently shooting 12 grs of unique behind 240gr cast in W-W cases they extracted with resistance

[irold]

In general I relate sticky extraction of a pressure indicator.  I don't know the brands of brass well enough to say if one brand is a little thinner than the other.....it may be possable the Winchester brass is thinner than the Starline and Fed.  I'm also am not looking at a manual.......I know my 240gr SWC load is 7 1/2 grains of Unique.....maybe your a little hot ?

regards , irold

[Ironworker]

The problem is old brass. The Star line brass is sticking and its been loaded and fired many many times.

[Mikey]

Ironworker:  I believe that 12 gns of Unique under a 240-245 gn slug is about max for the 44 mag.  In some of my older manuals I see charges of 13 gns under a 232 gn cast slug with a max to 11 gns for the 250 gn cast. 

I think Irold has it right, sticky brass is seen as a pressure indicator and with older or oft reloaded brass, the charge may be a bit too hot and you would get sitcky extraction.   I have never reloaded Starline brass but I know that Federal brass used to be known for being good for many reloads without stretching, at least my Federal brass was and I can tellya from personal experience with nickle plated 45 acp brass that oafter a couple of reloads I have to put a significant crimp on the case just to hold the bullet. 

Considering that you are using olde brass in some of your reloads could be seen as the problem.  Also, the chambers on that Anaconda may be tight, thus favoring new brass for ease of extraction.  You may want take a peekinto the chambers to see if they appear smooth or a bit rough - if rough, they can be smoothed for easier extraction.  HTH.

[Larry Gibson]

The problem is old brass. The Star line brass is sticking and its many been loaded and fired many times.

That load is a little on the max side (I use 10 gr Unique under 240 commercial cast and 9 gr under my own 250 gr SWCs) but nothing the Anaconda won't handle.  Also having "been loaded and fired many times" the cases have lost their resiliency to "spring back" after firing which can cause extraction difficulties in revolvers.  My Anaconda has tight chambers but they are smooth.  Sounds like it's time for some new cases.

Larry Gibson

[Mohawk]

If the primers are flattening that is also a good sign of too much pressure. I had some .357 SWC loads clocking at about 1,550-1,600 fps that had the occasional sticky extraction and flat primers. This was the old TX Highway Patrol load from the early '70's. Made for an N frame. Very very stout in a K frame. Saves cleaning time on small game as it tends to disembowel them regardless of where you hit. Deforms in deer pretty well too. Bullets were Rem factory SWC's.