Question

[Dirtlaw]

The base of the case is the reference point for some important measurements. It is stamped but not machined. What issues would arise if you very slightly machined the base so that it was perfectly flat and perpendicular to the walls of the case?

[gunmunkee]

depending on the irregularity a blown case....

[gunmunkee]

lots of time wasted....

[gunmunkee]

small amount of brass shavings, do you save the or just toss it si ce it would take 154 years to accumulate a pound to recycle.

[Dirtlaw]

lots of time wasted....

Likely the best answer but ... doggonit have you ever wished to fire the perfect round, drive the perfect car, or make the perfect investment? In some ways its like climbing Mount Everest. Why do it? Because it's there. Just a feeling; by no means a good answer.

[orangeusa]

It gets formed PERFECTLY to the chamber during firing. Can you beat that ?

[Dirtlaw]

It gets formed PERFECTLY to the chamber during firing. Can you beat that ?

In almost 3/4 of a century I've only found four instances of perfection.

[sofbak]

^^^^After first firing, any significant protrusions from headstamps would be flattened to their reasonable, repeatable level, and thus need no more "doctoring" for perfection.

[JackEllis]

Likely the best answer but ... doggonit have you ever wished to fire the perfect round, drive the perfect car, or make the perfect investment? In some ways its like climbing Mount Everest. Why do it? Because it's there. Just a feeling; by no means a good answer.

Some people claim perfection is the enemy of the good. I'd state it a bit differently as "Perfection can be the enemy of the good."

Perhaps the better way to think about reloading is, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well", which means something a bit less than perfect is still acceptable.

To each his or her own.

[Donny1]

As said, it will form to the chamber no matter what you do to it.

[Featureless]

In almost 3/4 of a century I've only found four instances of perfection.

Have you questioned your perception of perfection?

[ysr_racer]

Have you questioned your perception of perfection?

Mind blown !!

[LynnJr]

Dirtlaw
Back in the old days it was common to true up the casehead in order to keep primer pocket life longer.

Flat caseheads convex caseheads and concaved caseheads last different amount of firings before the primer pockets would loosen up.
Today we use Lapua brass and that problem has gone away.
You can also buy machined brass from RCC that isn't stamped.

[Jeepergeo]

In almost 3/4 of a century I've only found four instances of perfection.

I lucked out big time by those odds. Married the perfect woman, had two perfect kids, and now have three perfect grandkids.

[rsrocket1]

If the brass expands to seal off the gases, it has conformed "perfectly enough". If it didn't, you'd see scorch marks out to the point where it leaked out. If the scorch marks are around the neck and do not extend all the way down the case, it still sealed the gases, just not before the bullet left the case mouth.

Are you seeking to waste time for no good purpose? If so, this is a good endeavor.