Post-load inspection

**Galactic** · January 31st, 2015, 07:10 PM

This is key after you load those pretty rounds up to check them as you load and afterwards. Caught this one after and it would have been real bad...

btw this is Winchester brass.

**bamboomaster** · January 31st, 2015, 07:47 PM

Just make sure you inspect your brass before reloading? Depending on the caliber, look for cracked case mouths, bulged bottoms, etc. And always look for Berdan primers (two holes looking through the inside of most cases)

If for some reason you forget about this, your new best friend is going to be your bullet puller!

**Galactic** · January 31st, 2015, 08:48 PM

This one got through my pre-inspections, sometimes it happens luckily not all my inspections. Funny thing was it did crimp onto the bullet when I pulled it, odd it was cracked all the way up too, never expected a good crimp.

**bartomark** · February 1st, 2015, 02:15 AM

A trick I learned is after tumbling, I take a handful of brass and roll it back and forth between my hands. If a case is split it will make a distinct ringing sound that is different from the others. This is not absolute as it is most noticeable if a case is split all the way up. Also I have only seen it in straight wall pistol cases. I have even used this when picking up brass at the range and throwing it in my range bag.

**wanneroo** · February 1st, 2015, 02:52 AM

Every single case I load when finished goes in a case gauge and is visually inspected. Maybe 1 out of 150 fails the gauge or inspection and is put aside for another determination. For me a lot of my ammo would be used in competition or personal defense so I don't take any chances.

**cephas** · February 1st, 2015, 09:29 AM

For higher pressure loads I keep brass segregated in batches. When one looks like that the whole batch becomes suspect and they usually move to very low pressure plinking loads. If any second thoughts they get tossed. This is what makes me wary of gun show brass. With cleaning methods today they could be made to look new.
Learned early to pass on shortcuts and inspect brass prior to loading. Kept a "once fired" case as a reminder.

**SauerGrapes** · February 1st, 2015, 06:56 PM

I put 50 to 100 pieces on my table and look at them. Then I load them. Repeat process. Sometimes I go through brass while watching TV.

**Yoder** · February 1st, 2015, 07:45 PM

I look at every piece as I put it into my press. I check the head stamp to make sure it's not a .380 or military and look to see if they are cracked. I also check every round before I load it into my magazine.