Just how dented is too much for brass not to be safely shot?

[sturmgrenadiere]

My rule is even the slightest ding was justification for the garbage pile. Granted, in the Marines if we were running belts of ammo that had been mistreated through the goverment's weapons, sure, if we break it, oops. But in my own bought and paid for rifles, I steer away from running any even slightly dented brass. Just a habit I have always had. Well... I bust open a battle pack of Hertenberger I fot from AIM surplus a few weeks ago, and of the 200 rounds (packaged in ten 20 round boxes in a green sealed sleeve), only 120 are undinged. The remaining 80 rounds have some degree of dent in the brass, from very slight to rather severe. It is from storage, as if the battle pack was on the bottom of the pile of elephants placed on top of it, since all the dents are from the adjacent ammo in the box. I am going to call AIM and see if they can get me some better stuff, but just the same, what is the rule as far as tolerance of brass dings? Minor dings to where the round still freely chambers and can slip out of the chamber without being pried out seems reasonable. But, I don't like adding any variables to the chamber pressures...

Thanks

Ben

[Kilowatter]

Hell, as long as it chambers, shoot it. I never worried about dents myself as long as the brass wasn't deformed to the point that it wouldn't chamber. Wildcatters have been fire forming cases for years w/ no ill effects that I know of.

P.S. If you're gonna throw the dented cartridges away, then throw 'em my way...I'll shoot 'em! http://www.fnfal.com/forums/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by Kilowatter (edited November 02, 2000).]

[sturmgrenadiere]

Well, the predominant number of the bad rounds won't chamber, which lead me to my question.... But I see your point.

[Kilowatter]

Originally posted by sturmgrenadiere:
Well, the predominant number of the bad rounds won't chamber, which lead me to my question.... But I see your point.
I assume you're loading them in a FAL? Have you tried them in a bolt action? You also might be able to run them through a sizing die w/ the decapping pin assembly removed. I'd ask the boys over on the Bowers boards' reloading section. Someone over there may have a fix for it.
http://subguns.biggerhammer.net/reloading.cgi



[This message has been edited by Kilowatter (edited November 02, 2000).]