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Posted: 12/2/2013 8:32:04 PM EDT
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I never picked up my brass before but since I am going to get into reloading, I did last week. I was going to sort thought it to separate the crimped stuff from the non crimped and noticed this on a lot of cases.  Some are gouged enough to have burs. Ayy idea whats going on? I dont like the idea of reloading any brass like that. FWIW rifle is an older 2004 ish Bushmaster XM15 14.5" Was jamming a lot so I put a 9mm buffer in and it now shoots like a champ but still kicks like a piglet (never checked brass prior) Ammo used was AE 62grn green tip LC stamped + crimped Winchester white box stuff WWC stamped + crrmped Rem UMC And Tula My eyes suck so I cant read the case stamps after they are fired. I wonder if its brand specific? Will get some Wallyworld reading glasses and take a better look tomorrow. |
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What's the bolt face look like on the Bushmaster? How many rounds through it?
You say it was jamming, was it stovepiping? Double feeding? Is the brass that shows those marks possibly from the rounds that had been jammed? The fact that it's only the Win brass could be due to small differences in the case lip geometry, mostly the base chamfer, but it shouldn't be binding up like that either way. |
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Quoted: What's the bolt face look like on the Bushmaster? How many rounds through it? You say it was jamming, was it stovepiping? Double feeding? Is the brass that shows those marks possibly from the rounds that had been jammed? The fact that it's only the Win brass could be due to small differences in the case lip geometry, mostly the base chamfer, but it shouldn't be binding up like that either way. The bolt face looks fine and only have about 500 -700 rnds through it When it was jamming, it was about 2-3 per mag and would double feed and or not feed at all (would send bolt home without picking up a round) Did it with any mag. Since putting in the heavier buffer it feeds everything from Wolf and Tula to LC. The brass with those marks fired and ejected no problems. I hear Win is good brass so I was surprised it got chewed like that. While the rifle runs flawless now and I don't have much Win ammo left I can leave it on the range but I am still concerned as to whats doing it. |
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Quoted:
I never picked up my brass before but since I am going to get into reloading, I did last week. I was going to sort thought it to separate the crimped stuff from the non crimped and noticed this on a lot of cases. http://i40.tinypic.com/zjufkg.jpg Some are gouged enough to have burs. Ayy idea whats going on? I dont like the idea of reloading any brass like that. FWIW rifle is an older 2004 ish Bushmaster XM15 14.5" Was jamming a lot so I put a 9mm buffer in and it now shoots like a champ but still kicks like a piglet (never checked brass prior) Ammo used was AE 62grn green tip LC stamped + crimped Winchester white box stuff WWC stamped + crrmped Rem UMC And Tula My eyes suck so I cant read the case stamps after they are fired. I wonder if its brand specific? Will get some Wallyworld reading glasses and take a better look tomorrow. Early bolt unlock. Gas system pressure starts unlocking the bolt before the cartridge case has contracted enough to turn in the chamber; bolt is turning around the case, and the ejector and extractor make those "smears". I see it with 5.56 factory loads in carbine-length gas systems, and with hand loads of a propellant too slow for the gun's timing. Dirty chamber aggravates it, heavier buffers mitigate it (somewhat). Your call, but I reload cases like that after careful inspection and tumbling. HTH 
GSM |
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Quoted: My question was because I'm betting that the rounds with those gouges were the rounds that double-fed, which were then reloaded in the mags and fired. |
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Quoted:
Early bolt unlock. I had the same thought, but the gouge in the case on the right looks exactly like a round that was hung up on feeding, like a double-feed, where it didn't make it up in line with the chamber and the bolt stopped on the head at an angle. |
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Quoted:
Thanks for the info. These all fired fine from the mags. I didn't save any brass from before when it was jamming last month. Quoted:
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My question was because I'm betting that the rounds with those gouges were the rounds that double-fed, which were then reloaded in the mags and fired. Oh ok, so the jammed rounds from last month are long gone? And the brass you have shown was for sure from rounds that handn't been jammed at some point? Just clarifying. |
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Quoted: Early bolt unlock. Gas system pressure starts unlocking the bolt before the cartridge case has contracted enough to turn in the chamber; bolt is turning around the case, and the ejector and extractor make those "smears". I see it with 5.56 factory loads in carbine-length gas systems, and with hand loads of a propellant too slow for the gun's timing. Dirty chamber aggravates it, heavier buffers mitigate it (somewhat). Your call, but I reload cases like that after careful inspection and tumbling. HTH GSM So is my rifle seriously overgassed then?
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Quoted:
Correct. Quoted:
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Oh ok, so the jammed rounds from last month are long gone? And the brass you have shown was for sure from rounds that handn't been jammed at some point? Just clarifying. Ok, then I'm going to go with Mullins and say possible early unlock or slow powder. |
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Since you have had the rifle since 2004, I would opt for changing out the action spring (buffer spring), as a weak spring may also be an issue of it unlocking too early. Any idea of round count? If it has had a lot of rounds, or lots of rapid firing where it got heated, then you may have erosion at the gas port, throat, etc, which can also contribute to over gassing issues. Give the chamber a thorough cleaning as well so you know there is nothing in the chamber that may hinder casings bring being removed, use a good solvent along with a chamber brush (my preference is something like Slip2000 Carbon Killer/Cutter or #725 Cleaner/Degreaser), then once it is swabbed out try a few patches of denatured alcohol to make sure any solvent or oil are removed (as leftover solvent/oil can also cause casing to stick slightly). You mention other ammo, is it happening on any of the other brands or just the Winchester?
CY6 Greg Sullivan "Sully" SLR15 Rifles TheDefensiveEdge.com (763) 712-0123 |
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Quoted:
Interesting and thanks. Some weren't too bad but some were bad enough they had burs on them. I am just going to toss them in the scrap bucket to sell as scrap later. So is my rifle seriously overgassed then? Quoted:
Quoted:
Early bolt unlock. Gas system pressure starts unlocking the bolt before the cartridge case has contracted enough to turn in the chamber; bolt is turning around the case, and the ejector and extractor make those "smears". I see it with 5.56 factory loads in carbine-length gas systems, and with hand loads of a propellant too slow for the gun's timing. Dirty chamber aggravates it, heavier buffers mitigate it (somewhat). Your call, but I reload cases like that after careful inspection and tumbling. HTH
GSM So is my rifle seriously overgassed then? Extractor claw burr, common on the corners. Dress it smooth with a diemaker's file and rock on. And if you have an o-ring under the extractor, remove it. Could be. Why did you put a 9mm buffer in it? Stovepipes? GSM |
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Added the 9mm buffer mainly because my GF didnt like the way it "kicked". Also because reading some old threads here lots of folks recommended it for reliability. Either way it feeds everything now. Not sure I want to grind away at anything, is it critical or leaving as is will be ok?. Should be safe to shoot right? I wil just not reload any WCC brass coming from this rifle.
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Quoted:
Added the 9mm buffer mainly because my GF didnt like the way it "kicked". Also because reading some old threads here lots of folks recommended it for reliability. Either way it feeds everything now. Not sure I want to grind away at anything, is it critical or leaving as is will be ok?. Should be safe to shoot right? I wil just not reload any WCC brass coming from this rifle. If it's running smoothly, no need to change it. You can send all that WCC brass to me; I'll see that it's properly-disposed. 
GSM |
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