Ever had brass that looked like this?

[Vindicated]

Once fired brass. Came from a box of 45 ACP 230gr. FMJ-RN Remington UMC 250 rounds Mega Pack. I've been comparing other people's reloads here on Castboolits, but none ever look scratched like mine. I'm referring to the even scratches that goes all around the case of the brass. The single hairline scratch was caused by the magazine lips. I'm confident I can fix that with an sharp stone.



Photo was taken with my Samsung SIII and a 10x BelOMO jewlery's loupe pressed against the lens. I then used Google Plus's editing tools to crop and sharpen the photo.

[btroj]

I don't see any problems.

[swheeler]

Cleamn the chamber really good, looks like someone fired ammo that had been drop in the dirt.

[Vindicated]

Thank you for your feedback. I've been reading and studying like crazy, but obviously I'm still very new to all this.

[WILCO]

The single hairline scratch was caused by the magazine lips. I'm confident I can fix that with an sharp stone.

Looks like a cracked case.

[Ben]

Maybe a case that has been resized in a steel die that has bad scratches in it ?

[Vindicated]

Might be the extra image sharpening that made it look that way. Its a really fine scratch and this round hasn't been reloaded. Literally just fired once, cleaned with Dawn and hot water, then rolled lubed on a pad, and de-primed on my press. Although when I first seen it I thought that too. I had to run a few dummy rounds through my magazine to see where it was scratching.

[Vindicated]

I'm using Lee Deluxe Carbide Dies (45 ACP) on a Lee Classic Turret Press.

[Bwana]

Just because your size die is carbide doesn't mean it doesn't have stuff (nickel plating?) imbeded in the sizer ring.

[Vindicated]

Do you think it could come with nickel plating debris from the factory? I'm a new shooter and have only bought the UMC Mega Packs (250 rounds) of 45 ACP. To my knowledge they are Remington brass cases.

[runfiverun]

do they all look like this after sizing?
how do they look before sizing?

you got some grit somewhere sizer, chamber, somewhere.
at least I hope they ain't selling brass that looks like that from the factory.

[Bwana]

I'm done.

[fredj338]

Couple of things:
ALWAYS clean your brass, it prevents getting dirt into the die.
ALWAYS clean new dies BEFORE reloading. Clean them periodically as well, about every 9-10K rds.
A carbide dies should not scratch your cases but it is possible, just not likely. Lee QC can be really poor sometimes. It is possible the die has a defect, but clean the die well, patch & solvent works fine, then size a clean case & see what it looks like. It may have to go back to Lee.

[Vindicated]

Thank you for the advice. I'll give them a good cleaning. I don't recall ever cleaning them when I got them.

[Rick Hodges]

My last pistol seater die from Lee was full of metal shavings and manufacturing gunk when I got it. It cleaned up fine but would have made a mess if I hadn't.

[dilly]

Was this scratched before or after sizing? This brass is once fired, but you didn't reload new brass, correct?

Sounds like if you had the scratches before you resized the first time, look especially hard in your chamber. If you only have them after resizing, look in your die.

[Vindicated]

Correct, I didn't reload. These are factory. I cleaned and polished them by hand, then went about de-priming the whole lot. It was when I was about to begin the next step of flaring the mouth that I noticed it. I'm going to clean the dies really good. If that doesn't fix it I guess I'll contact Lee.

I assume this is just cosmetic and is perfectly fine to continue reloading? Maybe just keep an extra close eye for fractures and further damage.

[338RemUltraMag]

I would shoot them w/o problems, I cant say anything here that hasnt been said 15 times already.

[Vindicated]

Thank you.

[303Guy]

Nice photo!

It's always scary to take close-ups and zoom them in.