Help me read this brass

[BigJ]

GP11:


The round on the left is unfired. The three on the right are post tumble and pre resize, and all from the same case as the one on the left. All were fired through the same K31 (1940s vintage). All are once fired.

357Mag:


Both are post tumble and pre resize. Both shot from a S&W 327NG that has less than 500 rounds through it. Both are once fired Fiocchi.

223:
(No pic yet but it looks awful similar to the brass above; a bulge/ring right above the head)

All are post tumble and pre resize. All shot from a brand new AR15 with a PSA premium upper & BCG, and a 223 Wylde chamber. All are once fired Wolf Gold 223.

I'm totally new to reloading, and am trying to be extra careful. Does anything seen in those pics give you pause? Am I seeing signs of excessive headspace in all three guns? Or is that just normal and the resize (full length) will take care of it?

Thanks guys.

[Bastard]

resize it and then look at it again.

[knucklehead0202]

those .357 look to be about ready to separate, the others will be fine. most military rifles were designed with generous chambers to allow them to function when dirty. if you plan to reload the gp11 i'll save some when I can and send it to you when I get enough to be worthwhile.

[pdq_wizzard]

http://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/case-head-separation-cause-diagnosis/

[chknlyps2]

GP11:

If you plan to reload the GP11 brass it is Berdan primed and you can not deprime it on your press like you can a Boxer primed piece of brass, and you will need Berdan primers to reprime.

I think you need to send all your Berdan primed brass to me for proper disposal just kidding. GP11 brass is great to reload if you want to take the time to deal with Berdan primers.

The second from the left does look worse, do the others look like that if you roll them over? When I get home I will look at my 7.5x55 brass and see if I have any marks like that.

Your .357 brass looks like mine, I would size and load that without thinking twice.

On either caliber hold a straight edge to the case to see if bulged or just a reflection of the thicker/thinner brass that expands against the chamber.

[BigJ]

those .357 look to be about ready to separate, the others will be fine. most military rifles were designed with generous chambers to allow them to function when dirty. if you plan to reload the gp11 i'll save some when I can and send it to you when I get enough to be worthwhile.

Wow that'd be awesome! Yes please. Please keep my info, and shoot me a PM if/when. I'll gladly cover shipping and some coin for your time. Thank you again!

Ok that paper clip trick is awesome. I just made one and ran it thru each case in the pics and I can feel nothing at all. I think what we're seeing is more a thinning of the brass, than a buldge...

If you plan to reload the GP11 brass it is Berdan primed and you can not deprime it on your press like you can a Boxer primed piece of brass, and you will need Berdan primers to reprime.

I think you need to send all your Berdan primed brass to me for proper disposal just kidding. GP11 brass is great to reload if you want to take the time to deal with Berdan primers.

Hah yeah thanks for the heads up but I'm good to go. I've already grabbed an RCBS berdan decapper and am slowly getting the feel for it.

The second from the left does look worse, do the others look like that if you roll them over? When I get home I will look at my 7.5x55 brass and see if I have any marks like that.

Yeah please do. The cases do indeed look like that uniformly over their circumference.

Your .357 brass looks like mine, I would size and load that without thinking twice.

10-4. I think I'm good to go especially after having done the paperclip test, and...

On either caliber hold a straight edge to the case to see if bulged or just a reflection of the thicker/thinner brass that expands against the chamber.

Good thinking. Nope no buldge. If anything, on the GP11 there might be a tiny taper down to the extractor grove (maaaybe .0001"?), but otherwise the straight edge sits flush the entire length of the case.

Thanks guys. I'll throw up a pick of the 223 when I can, and run the same straight edge and paperclip tests too.