Opinion's needed, Offset Flash Hole - .223

[Phred]

This is a once fired case. I have found about ( 4 ) of these in the last 40 rounds of PMC I shot. I'm a retired machinist, and I have no idea why it would take two steps to put in a primer pocket and flash hole. It should be done in one step, and this would eliminate the risk of an offset flash hole.
Have any of you seen offset flash holes, and do you think it would cause a different burn affecting the accuracy? All comments appreciated.
Phred

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[FA9]

Ran into that also but 308. No problems

 

[ageingstudent]

I run into them here and there. I have so much .223 brass I just pitch them so I can't say if it affects anything. It might.

 

[v0lcom13sn0w]

i force my lee deprimer thru it and call'r good.





i toss'm or make dummy rounds out of them for training purposes... malfunction training, snap caps etc....

 

[DizzyJ]

I've also seen them in the PMC "hot shot" ammo.

I used that brass to load for one of my special purpose rifles which is pretty accurate to beyond 400 yds.

Can't say if it affected the accuracy or consistency. I'd like to see a test though using the same load, the only difference being cases with centered vs non centered flash holes.

 

[Mygrainman]

No issues with ignition... In fact I've seen a video of a guy testing reloads where he left a stuck piece of organic tumbler media(walnut/corncob) in the flash hole to see what happened, and he ended up getting (very slightly) better accuracy than his control(clean flash hole) group. I definitely wouldn't recommend that though. It was likely just coincidence.

I picked up a bunch of once fired G.F.L. stamped .223 brass (Fiocchi) a few months ago and a lot of them were as bad, and some worse than yours. They obviously fired once, and from what i've read its pretty common with fiocchi and PMC brass...they usually work just fine. the only problem is bent/broken de-cappers.
This is why I keep a spare slightly bent recap/sizer rod that I put in the die when I process suspect brass. I just spin the brass till it pops through. Nothing worse than getting into a rhythm, only to cut your session short because you bent or broke your rod(giggity) It's happened to me more than once.

 

[USMC-03]

I see this fairly often depending on the brand of the brass. I've never had a problem with ignition but it will affect accuracy; in most cases you'll never notice, just use these for varmint loads instead of for 600 yard matches.

 

[DizzyJ]

No issues with ignition... In fact I've seen a video of a guy testing reloads where he left a stuck piece of organic tumbler media(walnut/corncob) in the flash hole to see what happened, and he ended up getting (very slightly) better accuracy than his control(clean flash hole) group. I definitely wouldn't recommend that though. It was likely just coincidence.

I picked up a bunch of once fired G.F.L. stamped .223 brass (Fiocchi) a few months ago and a lot of them were as bad, and some worse than yours. They obviously fired once, and from what i've read its pretty common with fiocchi and PMC brass...they usually work just fine. the only problem is bent/broken de-cappers.
This is why I keep a spare slightly bent recap/sizer rod that I put in the die when I process suspect brass. I just spin the brass till it pops through. Nothing worse than getting into a rhythm, only to cut your session short because you bent or broke your rod(giggity) It's happened to me more than once.

The Fiocchi thing surprises me. I've always had excellent results accuracy wise from their factory .223 55gr FMJ!

 

[Rick4070]

Ran into offset and double punched flash holes in some Win. .308 brass:
Don't know how it would have affected things, I returned it to the store...

 

[Caveman Jim]

This is a once fired case. I have found about ( 4 ) of these in the last 40 rounds of PMC I shot. I'm a retired machinist, and I have no idea why it would take two steps to put in a primer pocket and flash hole. It should be done in one step, and this would eliminate the risk of an offset flash hole.
Have any of you seen offset flash holes, and do you think it would cause a different burn affecting the accuracy? All comments appreciated.
Phred View attachment 384207

Phred , that case we made on a Monday, Tuesday or a friday... same as cars, never buy a car that was made on a Monday, Tuesday or a Friday...

 

[Silver Hand]

Recently found the same offset flash hole in new .44 mag brass cased ammunition. Quality standards must be falling.

 

[DizzyJ]

Recently found the same offset flash hole in new .44 mag brass cased ammunition. Quality standards must be falling.

What brand?

 

[Silver Hand]

What brand?

I was wrong about the caliber it was .45 Auto 230 grain brass, PerFecta brand.

I was surprised the stuff is accurate and for $13.00 a box of 50, well It was am impulse buy and at my age any impulse is a good thing and that is not often!

 

[Member 5605]

I don't keep brass that isn't perfect.

I don't want to break decapping pins or stress my equipment.

Scrap bin for them without a second look.

 

[Silver Hand]

I don't keep brass that isn't perfect.

I don't want to break decapping pins or stress my equipment.

Scrap bin for them without a second look.

I do the same after inspecting and finding problems. How do you see them before they are decapped?

 

[Member 5605]

I do the same after inspecting and finding problems. How do you see them before they are decapped?

X-ray vision.

It's more inspection after decapping and making sure I don't try to use them again after the first go round.

 

[Mikej]

Maybe the companies are doing this on purpose? If you can't decap, you can't reload?

 

[Mygrainman]

X-ray vision.

It's more inspection after decapping and making sure I don't try to use them again after the first go round.

Ya.. once processed, I figure I'm already past the damaging part, why not just load it? Keep them seperate and shoot them in situations that I may not be able to recover my brass.

 

[elsie]

OK. While poking around for info on primer pockets and flash holes I ran into this Master's thesis (done for Fiocci) back in 2015.

http://scholarsmine.mst.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8415&context=masters_theses


elsie

 

[Phred]

Wow, I really didn't think it was such a complex problem. Evidently the issue is more wide spread in it's science than a few factory screw ups manufacturing ammo. This has been an eye opener for me, and I appreciate all the comments and interest. Thanks everyone.
Phred