"Prepped Brass" needed more work

[gmerkt]

I finally got around to using some 5.56mm brass that was sold to me several years ago as "prepped" and ready to use. Bag marked 500 count, actually contained 650, so I can't scream too loudly. Very pretty, well-cleaned, maybe with pins. Very consistent trim length, that's nice. Chamfering inside case mouth required. The bad part was, when they resized these, they were using an undersized expander button. I seated one bullet as a trial, it drove in with a lot of resistance, never a good sign. I looked at the seated bullet, you could see it was slightly cock-eyed when seated, would not be aligned with the centerline of the bore. So next I had to run the expander button through the 200 pieces I was working on, a tedious chore. I didn't fully resize the case, I just backed the expander rod kinda far out of the die body so only the case mouth would be sized. I've got neck sizing dies, but those are for squeezing them down, not opening them up!

When you buy new brass "in the bag," sometimes you need to do this due to irregularities in the mouths. Like dings. But I don't think I've ever gotten any brass that was sized too small.

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[Carguy]

People don't think about it, but the expanders do wear out, and become undersized. I've had to replace a couple of them.

 

[dangerranger60]

I resize all brass , new, processed, what ever. no one does it better than I do. or at least my way. I'm always just happier after they run through my dies first. DR

 

[gmerkt]

People don't think about it, but the expanders do wear out, and become undersized. I've had to replace a couple of them.

This was my thinking as well. Whoever sold me the brass obviously was doing it as a business. So it stands to reason that doing thousands and thousands of them will wear out an expander button. Which isn't an excuse for poor quality.

 

[gmerkt]

I resize all brass , new, processed, what ever. no one does it better than I do. or at least my way. I'm always just happier after they run through my dies first. DR

I hear what you're saying but I try to avoid re-doing work that doesn't need it. After all, the idea of "prepped" brass was that I was saving time by not having to do it myself.

 

[thorborg]

Notwithstanding die issues, I've found one mans short comings is another mans good enough.
I've bought some factory (at least sold to me as such) where the shoulder wasn't to my liking, albeit I had no way of knowing if it was actually in spec. or not, it just wasn't what I was use to. I resized with my die and was happy, but then, I'm talking fifty, not the hundreds you need to redo which could be irking.

 

[gmerkt]

I'm talking fifty, not the hundreds you need to redo which could be irking.

Yes, and most people are willing to spend more time on ammo that is going to be fired in a more precision firearm. As bolt actions might be more often than an AR.

Another thing I didn't mention because it didn't cause me any work. Although the brass was very shiny and pretty, the necks showed scratches which is another sign of worn dies.

 

[orygun]

I hear what you're saying but I try to avoid re-doing work that doesn't need it. After all, the idea of "prepped" brass was that I was saving time by not having to do it myself.

I guess that's what the 150 bonus cases were about.

To be completely honest, it's a rare even where I pay someone to do something for me and I don't have to do at least part of it over.

 

[Koda]

So next I had to run the expander button through the 200 pieces I was working on, a tedious chore. I didn't fully resize the case, I just backed the expander rod kinda far out of the die body so only the case mouth would be sized.

I always expect neck tension will be different on new or prepped brass than my dies so I always resize the neck only. I haven't had to extend the expander, I just dont fully lower the ram. I can feel when the expander moves past the neck, then just bring it back up.

 

[gmerkt]

To be completely honest, it's a rare event where I pay someone to do something for me and I don't have to do at least part of it over.

You got that right.

 

[DizzyJ]

At a minimum I run a carbide mandrel down through the necks to round out the mouths and help uniform the neck tension.

 

[oremike]

I re-do all brass I get because that way I know it is to my requirements. My ammo, my way all the time.

 

[ageingstudent]

I re-do all brass I get because that way I know it is to my requirements. My ammo, my way all the time.

Indeed. I know you load commercial SAAMI and I would be picky as well. I load for MY guns specifically, so all the more picky. It's supposed to be standardized right? .

 

[oremike]

Indeed. I know you load commercial SAAMI and I would be picky as well. I load for MY guns specifically, so all the more picky. It's supposed to be standardized right? .

I actually deliberately bought known picky guns to use as test fixtures. SAAMI specs, book specs all are great references but my ammo has to work. Case in point SAMMI bullet dia for a 44-40 is .429 but the original 44-40 and Ruger revolvers require a .426 dia bullet. So I make 44-40 with a soft lead .426 bullet so it fits in my Ruger but is a brindle 12 so it will obliterate into the slightly larger barrel.

 

[gmerkt]

I haven't had to extend the expander, I just dont fully lower the ram.

Yes, you're quite right. The expander button can stay where it is. And, it works easier that way because the throw leverage on the press is better.