Uzi brass causing reloading issues

[UziSMG]

View attachment 40042

Photo of what I’m talking about. The raised point on the “RP” is from the ejector slot, and the raised point on the “LU” is from the extractor. If both the raised points don’t contact the shell holder, the case tilts slightly.

RP (Remington) brass (in all calibers) is some of the softest brass I've ever encountered in all of my 32 years of reloading. If you are reloading it in 9mm and it is a somewhat "hot" load, there is no surprise that it is "stamping" when fired from an open bolt firing Uzi subgun.

I agree, that most 9mm brass fired from an open bolt Uzi can be reloaded many times. I've never had the issue you address with the brass "tilting" in the shell plate and not aligning with the sizing die. Perhaps that is a die issue and the mouth of the die is too square with no slight bevel to allow the brass to enter freely even if it is very slightly misaligned.

 

[Slowmo]

RP (Remington) brass (in all calibers) is some of the softest brass I've ever encountered in all of my 32 years of reloading. If you are reloading it in 9mm and it is a somewhat "hot" load, there is no surprise that it is "stamping" when fired from an open bolt firing Uzi subgun.

I agree, that most 9mm brass fired from an open bolt Uzi can be reloaded many times. I've never had the issue you address with the brass "tilting" in the shell plate and not aligning with the sizing die. Perhaps that is a die issue and the mouth of the die is too square with no slight bevel to allow the brass to enter freely even if it is very slightly misaligned.

That is what all of my brass looks like, regardless of who made it. Nowadays, I shoot 4.0gr of WSF under various cast or plated 147gr RN bullets. X-Treme plated is my usual. It’s meant to be a poor-man’s version of Special K (i.e. Winchester instead of VV powder) and does pretty well at that. It’s not a hot load, but my cases still get stamped.

Dies are Dillon, which typically have a pretty good bevel to them.

 

[UziSMG]

That is what all of my brass looks like, regardless of who made it. Nowadays, I shoot 4.0gr of WSF under various cast or plated 147gr RN bullets. X-Treme plated is my usual. It’s meant to be a poor-man’s version of Special K (i.e. Winchester instead of VV powder) and does pretty well at that. It’s not a hot load, but my cases still get stamped.

Dies are Dillon, which typically have a pretty good bevel to them.

Try a powder with a different initial pressure spike.

 

[Slowmo]

Try a powder with a different initial pressure spike.

I don’t think the pressure (initial spike or max) is the issue. I was using a relatively fast powder (Titegroup) and getting stamped cases. Now I’m using a mild load of relatively slow powder (WSF) and getting stamped cases. It does it with factory ammo too.

I haven’t tried it yet, but I suspect it would do it to a dummy round with no powder or primer at all, which is why I keep describing it as “stamped.” I think it is all from the heavy bolt slamming the case home, like a die in a metal stamping machine. From some of the other comments in this thread, I tend to believe this is just what Uzis do. Are you shooting an Uzi and not getting stamped caseheads?

 

[UziSMG]

I don’t think the pressure (initial spike or max) is the issue. I was using a relatively fast powder (Titegroup) and getting stamped cases. Now I’m using a mild load of relatively slow powder (WSF) and getting stamped cases. It does it with factory ammo too.

I haven’t tried it yet, but I suspect it would do it to a dummy round with no powder or primer at all, which is why I keep describing it as “stamped.” I think it is all from the heavy bolt slamming the case home, like a die in a metal stamping machine. From some of the other comments in this thread, I tend to believe this is just what Uzis do. Are you shooting an Uzi and not getting stamped caseheads?

Yes, I shoot a couple of Uzis and I have run into the stamping problem but only noticed it with softer brass (like RP and some CBC) and hotter loads.

Funny thing is, shooting L7A1 ammo, I do not get any stamping on that brass and it's very hot ammo.

Maybe my recoil springs have less tension? I also run a cut down semi buffer to shorten bolt travel and boost the rate of fire so it's smooth and not chugging......less momentum with shorter travel.
Have you tried changing your recoil spring out to see if it helps?

 

[Slowmo]

Yes, I shoot a couple of Uzis and I have run into the stamping problem but only noticed it with softer brass (like RP and some CBC) and hotter loads.

Funny thing is, shooting L7A1 ammo, I do not get any stamping on that brass and it's very hot ammo.

Maybe my recoil springs have less tension? I also run a cut down semi buffer to shorten bolt travel and boost the rate of fire so it's smooth and not chugging......less momentum with shorter travel.
Have you tried changing your recoil spring out to see if it helps?

That’s interesting. Between the L7A1 ammo and semi buffer, I think that tends to support the idea it is the bolt stamping the brass, not anything to do with pressure. If it was pressure, you’d expect the L7A1 to extrude into the bolt face, but you’re not seeing that. The semi-auto buffer also means the bolt isn’t hitting the case as hard as with the normal full-length cycle.

The original problem with the cases tipping was resolved when I got an Apex 10 for high-volume loading, so it really doesn’t cause me any hassle anymore.