Reloading dented cases

[yellowfin]

I just resized some 7.62x54R brass from my PSL which had a dent in them from the shoulder to the body, about the length of a small staple. Upon sizing the dent actually got a bit worse, and is shaped like a kite. Apparently the majority of the dent's size came after the resizing, like I used too much lube, which those are said to be safe usually to shoot. Is it safe to reload these? Or do I need to get a new bolt or extractor for my gun so it doesn't produce any denting if I want to reload brass from it?

Dunno if you can tell from the pic, but it doesn't appear to be piercing into the brass at all, just a dent into it. I've reloaded .223 with a resizing dent smaller than that.

 

[lx1x]

Main case... I care less.. shoulders.. I toss....

But I don't load to powder max.

 

[byf43]

Case body - if not too bad, I'll reload 'em.


Shoulder - if a lube dent, I'll load it, but won't use it for accuracy or hunting purposes.

 

[John from MD]

I have shot lube dented cases with no catastrophic blow ups for years. The only thing that I have noticed is that, if the dent is in the neck, the case will develop a small crack in the dent after a couple of firings. At that point it goes into the recycling bin.

 

[Pinecone]

Dents are no big deal, IMO.

CREASES are something entirely different. I will not use creased cases.

 

[yellowfin]

So would you call that a dent or a crease?

 

[Pinecone]

Pic is not showing

 

[r3t1awr3yd]

.223 with a dented neck? It goes in the 300 blk pile

 

[Winterborn]

.223 with a dented neck? It goes in the 300 blk pile

This.

Most of the time, if I come across a case with a dent or a crease, I run it through the sizing die. If it smooths out, I use it. Still there? Toss.

Also, make sure the inside of your sizing die is clean. If you have anything in there (tumble clean media, for example) when you size the case it will cause a nice little dent in the brass until you clean the die out. Carbide is HARD compared to brass.

 

[platoonDaddy]

I will not reload the following:

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[Pinecone]

I would probably reload some of those.

But definitely not the top left, bottom right, and the bottom middle and right middle.

 

[hkbob]

.223 with a dented neck? It goes in the 300 blk pile

If that were the case i'd have to throw out all of the rounds that go through the mini-14. It has a nasty habit of bouncing the brass off the scope. Now if they're creased (as someone pointed out) or the neck is REALLY smashed, I'll toss it.

 

[Dukes Defense]

.223 with a dented neck? It goes in the 300 blk pile

+1

 

[GUNSnROTORS]

Case body - if not too bad, I'll reload 'em.


Shoulder - if a lube dent, I'll load it, but won't use it for accuracy or hunting purposes.

^ Same here.

Neck dent ... 300aac.

 

[ride4frnt]

Saw your avatar and said "I never posted such a thread"

 

[Sticky]

^ Same here.

Neck dent ... 300aac.

Ditto.. necks have to be perfect to reload for 223, if not, 300 cutoffs.. shoulders need to be lube or very minor and same with case walls.. if they don't meet that, I toss em.. ain't worth the risk for a 5 cent case. Many cases have minor dings from bouncing off the shell deflector on an AR or other things and most of those are fine... if it's questionable, I don't even think twice.. pitch it

I have trashed very few out of thousands of rounds due to damage and most all of those were from buying once fired brass in the initial prepping stages, not my own new to start with brass. Most of those only have long-term failure issues eventually.

 

[Sticky]

I will not reload the following:

These would concern me as well, as they appear to be pretty sharp creases, not just 'dents'. I'd have to see them more closely to be sure, but I'd also figure out what the hell that came from before I shot any more outta that gun... LOL

 

[Bolts Rock]

Use PAM, no lube dents.

 

[Sticky]

Lube dents = too much lube! Run a couple unlubed cases through the die to get the excess lube out and be more careful of how you are lubing your cases!
Shoulders should not get lubed, so with today's sprays you have to be careful to follow the directions carefully, especially the drying part..

Back in the ol days we used lube pads and RCBS sticky lube.. it was nasty, but.. you didn't lube the shoulder or neck outside that way and they worked great.. if you overlubed the pad, dents in the shoulder.. back off on the lube and viola.. no dent.. a little mica in the necks works wonders too.

 

[John from MD]

Good dies today have vent holes that help keep dents to a minimum but alcohol based lubes, properly applied, leave a thin dry film and won't cause dents.

To keep from getting dents from the brass deflector on an AR, put a piece of the stick on velcro on the defector and the dents will go away.