Resized brass raised ring

I am not sure if the ring shows in this picture. This piece is typical of all the brass I have been working with. I have FL resized this brass three times. Although, I have adjusted the resizing die to account for my chamber size in a method described on the GS Custom website. The brass now has a raised ring around its entire circumference. The diameter of the brass in the area between the ring and the case head is .4635. After the ring (towards the shoulder side) the diameter is .466. When I run a paperclip up the inside of the case I do not feel any definite ridge. My other once fired brass has a visible ring at the same point as this raised ridge but it does not exhibit the deformity I am now seeing. Does anyone have an idea what this is? Is this brass safe?

I don't full size
but a lot of my brass has a similar ring , after resizing .
if it chambers it get used .
I havnt had a problem ..........
ive often wondered why this has happened.......
when everything is set up the same .....

Ok thanks. All this info about incipient case head separation had me concerned.

Pheroze said:

View attachment 44476I am not sure if the ring shows in this picture. This piece is typical of all the brass I have been working with. I have FL resized this brass three times. Although, I have adjusted the resizing die to account for my chamber size in a method described on the GS Custom website. The brass now has a raised ring around its entire circumference. The diameter of the brass in the area between the ring and the case head is .4635. After the ring (towards the shoulder side) the diameter is .466. When I run a paperclip up the inside of the case I do not feel any definite ridge. My other once fired brass has a visible ring at the same point as this raised ridge but it does not exhibit the deformity I am now seeing. Does anyone have an idea what this is? Is this brass safe?

Click to expand...

Not 100% sure what causes it but all my FL brass has it. You did what I did and used the paperclip thinking it was head separation starting, it isn't as the ring would be bright. I neck size where possible and check each round for chambering before hunting.

Does not appear to be case head seperation. You will actually be able to see and feel a distinct line on the outside of the brass before it is ready to let go. It will be very apparent. In fact I had to pull one from my batch just the other day as it was getting the "ring of doom". I will check to see if I have it when I get home and post a pic of it.

That just appears to be a shiny spot caused by the brass rubbing when you resize. Happens in that area of the brass on every cartridge I have ever full length sized. The brass in that area is much thicker than the rest of the case and does not expand/contract the same.

I would not be concerned in the slightest at this stage but do check them regularly as full length sizing works the brass alot more than just neck so eventually you will likely start to see seperation occur. How long it takes depends on how tight your chamber is compared to your die and how hot you are loading your cartridges.

I was also concerned because the ring is actually raised. It feels like a transition point but not necessarily a weak point.

Looks like the ring is aligned with the part that the die will not size.

I see that as well on my 338 Win Mag that I reload. I don't full length resize per say, but partial FL resize to just bump the shoulder back approximately 0.003 inches. I to thought I was getting a case head separation but never could feel the ridge inside the case with a paper clip. I don't really know what causes it, but theorized the die might be "pushing" brass down into the head from the FL resize, or possibly the swell one gets from belted magnums, and the inability to FL resize past the belt. Of course yours has no belt so I don't know.

I agree with bluey, as long as it chambers, I use it....but you have to make the call. It's hard not to have that little thought in the back of your mind however, wondering if you're about to get a face full of hot gas from a head separation........

sandman0921 said:

I see that as well on my 338 Win Mag that I reload. I don't full length resize per say, but partial FL resize to just bump the shoulder back approximately 0.003 inches. I to thought I was getting a case head separation but never could feel the ridge inside the case with a paper clip. I don't really know what causes it, but theorized the die might be "pushing" brass down into the head from the FL resize, or possibly the swell one gets from belted magnums, and the inability to FL resize past the belt. Of course yours has no belt so I don't know.

I agree with bluey, as long as it chambers, I use it....but you have to make the call. It's hard not to have that little thought in the back of your mind however, wondering if you're about to get a face full of hot gas from a head separation........

Click to expand...

Hence the bent paperclip test. If you feel a dip pitch the brass

All that is is expansion bulge where the case forms to the chamber dimensions and your die does not completely size back to original specs. It doesn't need to. If you were having incipient separation you would see a ring ahead of that bulge (up the case) that is usually seen when you hold the case at a certain angle. If you see that, then you do the paper clip thing inside and feel for the notch in the case. When I see this in more than a few cases in the lot, I toss the whole thing. If its just one round, I monitor the rest.

Sestoppelman,

I didn't know that non-belted magnums get an expansion bulge as well........I learn something new everyday! That's why I love reloading....always something else to learn or try.

I do know it's a big problem with belted magnums as the FL sizing die can't size past the belt, so you get the little bulge right above the belt. In fact, there's a tool out there that I purchased that has a die with a collet that "squeezes" the bulge down for most of the belted magnums. The die has a gauge in the top, so you can also drop the case down into the top to check the bulge and see if the bulge needs resizing, after you FL resize your case with your regular dies. It's called the Belted Magnum Collet Sizing Die by Innovative Technologies (Larry Willis). I've used it a few years now, and it really does extend the life of the case. Before I purchased this die, the bulge would get so bad after a handful of reloads (3-4), the case wouldn't chamber, and you were condemned to throwing the brass out. Now I get several more reloads out of my 257 Weatherby Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, 338 Winchester Magnum, and 375 H&H Magnum brass before tossing it. Some say it's a "solution in need of a problem" type of thing, but I don't think so. It does seem to work.

The only reason the belt is there is for ease of headspacing. It has no other purpose. One can also buy small base sizing dies for some rounds. I use them in my .308 Super Match M1A. Its not always necessary but does ensure you get the base of the case as near to spec as possible for easy chambering.

I was sizing some 44Mag rifle Brass today and noticed the same

I have the same issues also, some more pronounced than others. I was also concerned that it was case head separation time. Upon reading several articles about said issue it is basically the same as stated above that it is no "biggie" as long as you watch your brass for signs of trouble, cracks, splits, etc. I think it's because even though your full length sizing your not full length sizing, your more 7/8 length sizing if that makes sense. The sizing die does not make contact with the case until part way into the die.

I once had a custom barrel job to .280 Rem, and the smith, now out of business, cut the chamber huge. After firing, new brass grew about 11 thousands around this area. So big in fact that full length resizing was not enough to size brass enough to use again. I took it back and after much back and forth they agreed to do it again, which meant a new barrel and new reamer. They did it perfectly and I still have the rifle and it has always been a great shooter and has a wonderful tight chamber. The bulge is usually not a problem as long as the brass is only being used in one rifle.

I thought I would post some more info I got from Lee Precision about this:

'That bulge is at the webbing of the case and is not sized by the die. This normally happens when the chamber is over sized in that area."

I have the same on my 9.3x62mm with Hornady brass. The chamber is cut for a case head of .476" and the brass head only measured .468". I've noticed that a lot of cases now days are made to minimum spec and do this. I wouldn't try to size it out if this is the case, because the dies are designed for spec head size as well and you'll only end up pushing the shoulder back and causing increased head space, with shorter brass life.

Just look at it as fire formed brass and don't worry.