Cases splitting....ideas

[scooterf79]

So..since hunting season is over I'm trying to get re-started on some of my projects. First and foremost is my Remage 6x55.
Ive fireformed some brass and did some velocity checks on formed cases. I still have some speed checks to do with another bullet.
When I was checking things out today I noticed my cases mouths were a little angled. No big, trim them. These were on the cases I still needed to do speed checks on specifically. (Fireformed ones too but these arent the problem).
So I pulled the bullets, trimmed them, chamfered them lube inside neck and case. When I went to resize them they split. I did 3, and they all split.
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a631/scooterf79/Mobile%20Uploads/20160104_142113_zpsw98ynavz.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/scooterf79/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160104_142113_zpsw98ynavz.jpg.html)
I got a little frustrated and popped one that had only been fireformed. Same routine, trim, chamfer, lube. Resized just fine, no cracks splits or anything.

So....I had some empties I had done speed workups on. Deprime, trim, chamfer, lube, size.....no problems.
I'm just curious as to why these are splitting. Im thinking I may just go ahead and shoot them for as speed workups and no pull them apart since Ive already ruined 3 cases.
Any input or ideas, appreciated!
Thanks!
Scooter

[stomp442]

Might try some dry neck lube on your cases before you re-size and see if that helps anything. That's kind of a weird split I have never encountered that before. Might try disassembling the dies and giving them a good cleaning too.

[Hotolds442]

I have yet to lose a case in the 6x55. I have had similar failures in the 6.5 WSM, always on brass that hasn't been annealed after case forming.

Take some measurements:

1. Case neck OD loaded round.
2. Case neck OD after firing.
3. Case neck OD after sizing with the expander plug removed.
4. Case neck OD after sizing with the expander plug installed.
5. OD of a can of Coors light. You will need to empty this can during 1-4, it must be empty to ensure there's no stretch due to contents.

Lets see how much you're overworking your brass.

[darkker]

My guess is because it has gotten brittle, try annealing.

[Hotolds442]

My guess is because it has gotten brittle, try annealing.
Exactly. If it hasn't been annealed since it came out of the shiny blue Lapua box, chances are good it's been worked enough to become brittle. It's possible it's being overworked during the resizing process, if so, we can eliminate some of it, but the brass will still need to be annealed.

[LongRange]

im with HO442...over worked and under annealed...also take a fired case and try sliding a bullet into the neck and let us know if the bullet slides easily into the fired neck.

[Robinhood]

X 4

[scooterf79]

So.....is anyone here thinking my brass needs annealed? Lol.
Ill anneal them tomorrow or Wednesday, and get those measurements and post them.
Should I have annealed them after I sized them down from 6.5 prior to fireforming?
Thanks for the input guys.
Scooter

[Hotolds442]

So.....is anyone here thinking my brass needs annealed? Lol.
Ill anneal them tomorrow or Wednesday, and get those measurements and post them.
Should I have annealed them after I sized them down from 6.5 prior to fireforming?
Thanks for the input guys.
Scooter
Short answer to the last question is yes, but only because I think your resizing gear might be slightly off, hence the measurement request. I didn't need to anneal mine because everything was dialed in due to my need to turn the necks. I knew what my diameters needed to be before I even started. I annealed after fireforming and then after every 3 firings.

[eddiesindian]

yep...too much movement on the brass that's no longer maluable. I think you may have insufficient lube issues as well. Maybe take the die apart and have a close look at the expander ball. Make sure die is adjusted correctly.
Ive been using Hornady One Shot case lube and Im glad I did. Excellent dry case lube.

[scooterf79]

Ok....heres what I came up with today
1: OD case neck loaded round. .275
2: OD case neck fired round .278
3: OD case neck sized case with expander removed .262
4: OD case neck sized case with expander installed .273
5: OD of Coors empty Coors can... I dont drink so I used a water bottle instead....2.035 😉.
LR I took a fired case and a bullet went in and out of the case easily.
As far as lube, Im using Imperial sizing wax, seems to be really good stuff, so I dont think thats an issue.
Dan, I had Jim to do this in a no-turn neck chamber....just an FYI.
Scooter

[Hotolds442]

Im not sure what you're using for a sizing die, but I'd look at getting a bushing die with a .272 bushing and using your .273 expander. You'd be working that brass a lot less.
All of your other numbers look good.

[scooterf79]

Thanks Dan,
Im using a standard redding 6br die.
Ill check into the bushing die.
Scooter

[LongRange]

.275 down to .262 then back to .273 is a lot of working...id anneal every second firing.

also if you can have the neck of the die honed to about .271 or so that would save a lot of over working of the necks..or if its a bushing die get the appropriate size bushings.

HO442 types WAY faster than i do LOL.

[scooterf79]

Just wanna make sure my brain is processing this right. I know Im going down to .262. With a .272 bushing, my cases would only be going down from .275 to .272, and then back to .273?
If thats it then Im good on the info.
Another question....should I just go ahead and get the FL die as opposed to the neck die?
Thanks guys
Scooter

[Hotolds442]

That's what I did, not saying it's right or wrong.

[LongRange]

i personally prefer to FL size every time but i set my die to just set the shoulder back enough so i have a sung fit...also just a tip...liquid lanolin and 99% isopropyl alcohol is the best case lube ive ever used and very easy to clean off you cases(12 to 1 mix is perfect)and dry graphite for the necks.

[scooterf79]

Thanks for the tip LR, Ill look into that and mix some up.

I ordered a bushing die today and ordered the .272 bushing....Ill update this post when it comes in.
Thanks for the help guys!
Scooter

[Hotolds442]

Hopefully it all works out for you. I know I'm extremely happy with mine!

[scooterf79]

Thanks Dan.
This project has been quite a more involved than I figured it would be, but Ive learned alot.
Im excited about the cartridge, I think its really promising.
Scooter