Aquila Brass

1159 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by AgedWarrior, Jul 30, 2019

AgedWarrior

Discussion Starter · Jul 28, 2019

A few days ago I was able to retrieve a pretty good amount of once fired .40 S&W brass after a couple guys shot and left it at the range (I always appreciate such generosity :thumbsup

. All the brass was shot through two guns, an M&P and a Glock. After cleaning the brass I was sizing it and found a few cases that were really stiff in the sizing die; they were all Aquila brass. Closer examination revealed that my RCBS carbide die had squeezed a ring of brass right down to the case head (see picture). I removed all the Aquila brass (8 pieces) and set them aside as junk. When I put a caliper on the case head area later, they measured from .427 for the best and up to .431 for the worst. SAAMI specs give a max of .424 so they are all obviously junk now. The only reason I mention it is because the other Winchester and Remington brass from these two guns was all fine, and the ammunition was seemingly all factory (factory boxes). This is not a case of Glocked brass necessarily, but it seems the Aquila brass might be a bit soft? Anybody ever reload Aquila brass? This is the first that I have come across any here in NW Iowa, and it does not seem good at the moment.

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Coalcracker

· #2 · Jul 28, 2019 (Edited)

Not sure if i have came across any or not. I had some brass not cooperate though. It goes in the scrap bucket. Crimped 9mm i do not keep. I have so much 9mm not worth the time reaming the crimp out.

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Mesa3gunner

· #3 · Jul 30, 2019

It takes about 65,000 psi to flow brass so I'd say that Q.C. let some hot loaded ammo out of the plant. I load at least 20,000 rounds a year to shoot through my 9, 40 and 45 and have not had any problems with Aquila brass. Some of the 9's that were shot with major loads in Open guns have looked like that though. Scrap bucket for sure. The only other explanation would be that the 40's were shot through a 45 but then the front of the case would be expanded to 45. Shooting 9's in a 40 or 40's in a 45 happens more often than you think.

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Square target

· #4 · Jul 30, 2019

That's the infamous "glock smile". They say you can salvage them by using a lee bulge buster die but i just trash them when i see them. I used to find quite a bit in 9mm and 45acp at my range but either the guy isn't a member anymore or he bought new guns. either way it doesn't hurt my feelings.

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AgedWarrior

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 30, 2019

square target2 said:
That's the infamous "glock smile". They say you can salvage them by using a lee bulge buster die but i just trash them when i see them. I used to find quite a bit in 9mm and 45acp at my range but either the guy isn't a member anymore or he bought new guns. either way it doesn't hurt my feelings.

Normally I would have just assumed the same, but the rest of the brass shot through the same guns was fine...only the Aquila was swelled up like rotten sausage, not simply Glocked which I am quite familiar with. All the rest of that brass sized just fine. I have tossed more than a few pieces of Glocked brass and also ran a few into the sizing die in the past, but never got these results. Anyway, just posted as info to do as you please with.

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AgedWarrior

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 30, 2019 (Edited)

Mesa3gunner said:
It takes about 65,000 psi to flow brass so I'd say that Q.C. let some hot loaded ammo out of the plant. I load at least 20,000 rounds a year to shoot through my 9, 40 and 45 and have not had any problems with Aquila brass. Some of the 9's that were shot with major loads in Open guns have looked like that though. Scrap bucket for sure. The only other explanation would be that the 40's were shot through a 45 but then the front of the case would be expanded to 45. Shooting 9's in a 40 or 40's in a 45 happens more often than you think.

Lots of brass from two guns; two .40 caliber guns. All the other brass with Win and FC headstamps (I think some Remington also) was just fine, only the Aquila looked bloated. I only posted so folks might be aware. I suspect some bad stuff from Aquila, that is all. I have loaded a few rounds myself over the years...seen some things...just sharing.

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