handloading questions

bwa

I just bought some .44 mag. brass on GB and would like comment from experienced loaders on the following issues:1)How do you determine at what point primer pockets need cleaned? Many of these have a small green-colored build-up around the flash hole, but it doesn't constrict the hole at all.2)A number of the cases were deformed at the mouth end(not severely) during the jostling of transit. Will the resizing die and decapping tool straighten them out, or do they need some special treatment?3)Does the powder residue in fired cases which contacts the new bullet cause any variation in velocities, pressures, or bullet snugness which would warrant ever cleaning it out?Thanks for your assistance.

jonk

I clean the primer pockets after every shot with a Lee primer pocket cleaner. It can't hurt to do this, though as long as you get positive ignition and the primer seats easily, I see no reason why you have to clean them every time.If the case necks have been bent in, resizing should fix them. If they have been crushed or twisted, I don't think they are salvageable. Resize them and see; if they look fine, they are fine.I clean my cases after every firing by tumbling or in some cases immersing in liquid cleaner. I do not believe powder residue would affect your criteria, or if it did it would only be by a few feet per second, but cleaning the cases probably prolongs die life and is probably better for the gun chamber. Still if you don't want to clean, I see no reason to except aesthetics. You do have to watch that the brass doesn't stretch though, as over lenth brass, or brass which is becoming brittle through many, many loads, could cause pressure and chambering trouble.

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"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conference in 1899.

Iconoclast

bwa - (1) On handgun cases I've never seen any dif between cleaned & uncleaned pockets (nor on rifle unless unless I'm working for ultimate accuracy). If the primers fit, they're OK. In fact, most of the timr the pockets become loose and start leaking gas before they need to be cleaned (at which time they become scrap metal anyway).(2) Minor mouth deformation is a fact of life; it will clear up when you resize.(3) I usually tumble my brass before loading, but when I haven't, I've seen no impact on performance from the powder residue. It consumes little volume and logically - if not chemically - should have little or no impact on ignition / burning rate, bullet to case mouth fit, etc.

aby80

Don't worry about .44 cases stretching. I have reloaded straight sided pistol cases so many times I quit counting. Just load them until the case mouth or side of the case splits, and then throw them away. When you bell the mouth of the case to accept a new bullet, only bell it enough to start the base for a new bullet. I usually throw my cases in a vibe case cleaner with treated walnut cases after every use (just to make them look nice). I clean out the primer pocket with a Lee pocket tool every 3rd or 4th reloading.

ericthered

I used to clean my pistol brass in an ultrasonic at work. Then I met a guy who is a speed shooter in competition and loads and shoots a whole, whole lot. He told me cleaning pistol brass was a waste of time, and he NEVER does it. So I went that route for about 2 years now, and had no problems.Groups are reliably great. The only pistol problems I ever find, is that sometimes the factory crimp die will help immensely to get good cycling and avoid necks that are just a bit too large. My 40 cal SW loads are the ones that convinced me about that.Toss anything with a split neck, streched or deformed near the base, or primers that are obviously loose. Brass is too cheap to mess around with bad cases.Hope that helpsEric

bwa

Thanks a bunch, guys.