Getting new signs I've not seen before.

[Sourdough]

I'm working up new loads for my Handi 30-06.  I'm using new cases, and reloader 22.  The primers are not flattened more than normal, but at 62 grains (63 are max) I'm getting a ring around the case about 1/16th" up from the bottom.  Any one else ever had that.  Is this a high pressure sign, or a loose chamber.

[Graybeard]

It could be incipient case head separation. Best to first rule that out. Take a paper clip and straighten it out. Now make a little 90* bend on one end. Reach down into the case with it. Get the bend below the mark and bring it back toward case mouth so you run it over the area under that bring ring. Do it in several places around the case. IF you feel it drag or catch you have the beginning of case head separation. Very serious. If not then you likely just have a pressure ring and no big deal.

[Leftoverdj]

Sharpen that paperclip for better feel. If you find thinning, junk the brass and back your sizing die out some. The chamber can be within specs and still ruin cases if you size brass for a minumum chamber.

[allcamo]

I had the same thing happen to me while trying my fist reloads for my new .280 Handi. I was really worried because I'm no where close to max loads, thanks guys, I learn something everytime I get on here! :lol:

[Mac11700]

I'm working up new loads for my Handi 30-06.  I'm using new cases, and reloader 22.  The primers are not flattened more than normal, but at 62 grains (63 are max) I'm getting a ring around the case about 1/16th" up from the bottom.  Any one else ever had that.  Is this a high pressure sign, or a loose chamber.

It could be your at or over the max charge for that load in that lot of brass..back off the charge by a couple of grains and see if you still get the ring...if you don't...then you can assume your max it out...I don't think it's a loose chamber...if anything it might be your sizing die taking that paticular lot of brass down too far...if it were a loose chamber...you would be getting alot of flattened primers...even on mid range loads...if you haven't had this problem before with a different lot of brass or powder...try what Graybeard said to do...and DJ...see if you can actually feel it on the inside of the case...you can also try the same load out of a different lot of brass as well...

Mac

[JPH45]

I had some 30-30 cases show incepient case seperation this year. The crack that was forming showed on the outside of the case, you could feel nothing on the inside of the case. It formed above the usual pressure ring that forms on every case I have ever seen. It was not a straight line like that of the pressure ring line, but crooked or wavy in appearance. On close examination, I could see this beginning to form on the other cases of that group.

[TrapperZach]

i bought some 223 ammo bran new and right at where it bottle necks there is a wavy discolerd line. what is this its fairly old ammois it has never been fired what is this.

[Sourdough]

This is new brass never been sized.  Took it right out of the bag and loaded it.  I was going up in half grain incraments.  Started seeing it at 62 grains had not showen up prior.  No there is no groove on the inside of the case.  This ring is right where the web on the case head ends.  It looks like the case is expanding and the head is not.

[Chainsaw]

Every rifle develops "pressure" signs for different reasons as I believe that every barrel or chamber is different. My two 30-30 Handi's couldn't be more different in velocity or load data to acheive a certain velocity.

What I have done in the past and would still do is to purchase a fairly common loading of factory ammo from Remington or Winchester or both.
After shooting this ammo measure that afore mentioned pressure ring with a micrometer and develop a certain average measurement among the cases. From there I use this measurement (which can be a little different for each rifle)
as the basis or "top" measurement that I would allow my handloads to go to. This may not be true 100% of the time but I think it is the best way to go with what  I've found with my handloads.

Your handloads may just be over the top even though the load books say you can go higher.  Just think of all the varibles that could affect the pressure. Your particular lot # of powder could be hotter than the average, your primers maybe on the hot side of the equation. Your scale reads 62 grains, another may read 63.5. It is doubtful but possible. Your lot # of brass maybe a little on the tight side. Different lots of the same bullet could have a different hardness or slightly different diameter that could raise pressure as well. Weigh the empty cases and compare, you might be surprised. The outside measurement of a sized case for all practical purposes is the same so if they weigh significantly more or less, then that could be a problem and a heavier weight case could come to pressure sooner. All these things come into play when you approach the top. Your particular rifle may have a tighter than normal chamber. These afore mentioned things are highly doubtful but still possible. Hope this helps...........Chainsaw

[savageT]

i bought some 223 ammo bran new and right at where it bottle necks there is a wavy discolerd line. what is this its fairly old ammois it has never been fired what is this.

TrapperZach,
I believe if you're talking about discolorization at the bottleneck squeeze down, that's most likely where they annealed the brass to soften the metal to get a good bottleneck. (It looks kind of like it had been heated up..right?)
Oh, by the way I think what you meant to say was it was "BRAND NEW", not bran new, correct?


Jim

[savageT]

Sourdough,
As everyone pointed out, there's a good chance that the bright ring above the base is a result of the case stretching from a long chamber.  This is fairly common with milsurp chambers that have intentionally long chambers to allow for battle-field conditions.  My Swedish M38 Mauser does the same thing and I have to use the paperclip check before reloading to check for incipient case separation.  

Jim

[Ditchdigger]

My 445 Starline brass did the same thing,after resizing it had grown .010 to .0200. I trimed to lenght and it has'nt done it again. It had about a .003 bulge at  the end of the web all the way around it.I resized some of the new brass and it grew .oo5,and I'm thinking thats kind of odd for a straight wall case. After the full lenght sizing the bulge went away,and has not returned .  Digger

[JPH45]

This is new brass never been sized.  Took it right out of the bag and loaded it.  I was going up in half grain incraments.  Started seeing it at 62 grains had not showen up prior.  No there is no groove on the inside of the case.  This ring is right where the web on the case head ends.  It looks like the case is expanding and the head is not.

If the line is at the jucture of hte case wall and case head, then the line is normal, it is the pressure line. Just took that many loadings working up like you did to get to where the case actually expanded at that point. No biggie. Look at factory brass, there is normally a line at this juncture on fired brass. it is normally by the number of trimmings that a case has seen which detirmines it's life. it is said that if yo have trimmed .004 four or more times it is time to toss the brass. That's conservative, and might hold for  full house 22-250 loadings, won't hold for a 30-30 case being neck sized and shooting cast at 1200 fps. A 30-06 being fired at similar levels woudl last what would seem forever. RCBS makes dies that control the growth of brass during resizing, and supposedly increases the life of the brass as a result. Otherwise we are stuck with the old rule, trim to length at first sizing, then trim as needed for every .004 growth, toss when trimmed 4 times like this. Be your own judge, and be careful.



If youtook a hacksaw and cut a case off at this point you would have the head in one hand and the case in the other. The head is solid (except the primer pocket and flash hole of course) and it woud taek a tremendous pressue to expand that enough to see it. If you can measure a difference there, you are getting hot for sure. Takes a blade mic to measure it though.

[TrapperZach]

thanks savage and i ment bran new.