[ColGlocker]

I have been saving my used 10mm casings the last couple of visits at the range. Upon close inspection I noticed a nick/scratch in most if not all of them. The nick is about 1/8" long about maybe 1/4" below the open end of the case.

I remember reading about it in previous threads, might have been referred to as the "Glock smile". What I can't remember if it is something I need to be concerned about. I have unsuccessfully been trying to find the thread. Kind of remember reading it might be an indication of overloaded ammo? Also, something normal to the function of the weapon. So which one is it? :headscratch:

 

[OregonG20]

I have been saving my used 10mm casings the last couple of visits at the range. Upon close inspection I noticed a nick/scratch in most if not all of them. The nick is about 1/8" long about maybe 1/4" below the open end of the case.

I remember reading about it in previous threads, might have been referred to as the "Glock smile". What I can't remember if it is something I need to be concerned about. I have unsuccessfully been trying to find the thread. Kind of remember reading it might be an indication of overloaded ammo? Also, something normal to the function of the weapon. So which one is it? :headscratch:

I really doubt that is a Glock smile. It is porbably happening when the case is ejected from the weapon. A Glock smile looks like this....

A lot of times, your extractor or ejector or something smacks the case when the brass is being ejected, which would leave a little nick like you described. It isn't anything to worry about.

Happy Shooting.

 

[ColGlocker]

You are correct. What I am seeing is more of a scratch than a bulge. Also, it is taking place at the top of the case, and not by the primer as in your picture. Thanks.

I really doubt that is a Glock smile. It is porbably happening when the case is ejected from the weapon. A Glock smile looks like this....

A lot of times, your extractor or ejector or something smacks the case when the brass is being ejected, which would leave a little nick like you described. It isn't anything to worry about.

Happy Shooting.

 

[21Carrier]

ColGlocker, what you're seeing is totally normal. All of my brass has it. It gets much worse with hot loads. It's from the brass whipping around and hitting the ejection port when it's ejected. It's nothing to worry about, and mostly irons out when you resize the brass. It's no big deal.

 

[robert91922]

I really doubt that is a Glock smile. It is porbably happening when the case is ejected from the weapon. A Glock smile looks like this....

A lot of times, your extractor or ejector or something smacks the case when the brass is being ejected, which would leave a little nick like you described. It isn't anything to worry about.

Happy Shooting.

Why do they call it "smile"? This brass case looks very unhappy
:rofl:

 

[frankt]

Is the brass with the "smile" ruined now?

 

[21Carrier]

Is the brass with the "smile" ruined now?

Oh yeah! That piece is toast. I throw away any piece that has a smile that I can feel with my fingernail. If it's just BARELY visible, but I can't feel it, I'll put it in my "low pressure" bucket. But if I can feel it at all, it goes in the garbage.

 

[ModGlock17]

Why do they call it "smile"? This brass case looks very unhappy
:rofl:

How about beer-bellied case?

Thanks for posting the picture, OregonG20. Nothing better for education than pictures, for me.

 

[frankt]

Thanks 21 Carrier, I always wondered about that.

I see a 10mm in my near future, I will have more questions I am sure.

 

[OregonG20]

How about beer-bellied case?

Thanks for posting the picture, OregonG20. Nothing better for education than pictures, for me.

What is it they say about pictures? That they're worth a 1000 birds, or something? I don't get it, but I know that a good picture can help explain a lot of things, using a lot less words....

 

[mudrush]

A smiled piece of brass is worthlessfor reloading.

 

[_The_Shadow]

That has been my take also, the smile is a sign of shearing or tearing of the metal structure of the casing. If this weakened area was subjected to another firing it could fail catastrophicly! Why push your luck or risk damage to the firearm and/or injury to your hands, face or bystanders!

 

[robert91922]

I have 3 or 4 such brass cases in my range bag just to show them to other reloaders what does this famous "smile" look like. I made them in my early days of 10mm reloading when developing my loads "from scratch" w. Rex Magnum powder and 195gr H&N plated bullets. However, I reached 1300fps mark w.that bullet, but cases were ruined (smiling), primers flattened or fell out :wow:

I stepped back to 1250fps for safety reasons, of course.

Later I bought an aftermarket full supported barrel from IGB Austria. It was damn expensive but still worth it's price.

 

[mudrush]

I really doubt that is a Glock smile. It is porbably happening when the case is ejected from the weapon. A Glock smile looks like this....

A lot of times, your extractor or ejector or something smacks the case when the brass is being ejected, which would leave a little nick like you described. It isn't anything to worry about.

Happy Shooting.

That one was right on the edge of a blowout. The brass looks like it is fractured just above the extractor groove

 

[Wolf Spyder]

ColGlocker,

Is this what you are talking about?

 

[Taterhead]

ColGlocker,

Is this what you are talking about?

If this is the mark inquired about in the OP, I too see that exact mark alot on brass fired from my G20. Totally normal. Nothing to be concerned about.

 

[Wolf Spyder]

These marks are made when the case is ejecting out of the chamber. The side of the case impacts the side or corner of the ejection port causing the mark seen in my photo. The hotter the load the harder it creases the case wall. However, most of the time, these marks come out when the case is sized during the reloading process. It is nothing to worry about.

 

[notjustanothermini]

well according to the AMERICAN GUNCRAFTING INSTITUTE GLOCK armorers video, these "nicks" are happening when the cartridge feeds into the chamber. there is a very steep hard line circle (the actual opening of the chamber right after the feed ramp stops and turns into the chamber)

it is a very very sharp and definate ledge, that sometimes will cut into the case like that.

also that seems to be right in the area were the cartridges in the mag are pushed up againts the ramp on the slide that picks up the next cartridge in line to be fired

heavy recoil and strong mag springs push the cartridge against the bottom of the slide, and you have a dent.

it is one or the other, i just cant see the bullet ejecting every single time like this. different loads, will make different slide velocity and different spins on the spent cases.

to support this, .40 in my glock .29 also have this mark, just closer up to the case mouth than the 10's, (i shoot .40 out of stock g29 barrel)

also on the .357 sigs, it is non exsistant in my gun. so it makes sense it is not an ejection issure but a feeding issue one way or the other, either my the slides ramp hitting them under recoil or the sharp edge that starts the chamber.

when a gun recoils the rounds push down (nose dive) during the impulse and slam back up real hard in the mag. it happens real fast and we dont know it is happening. and we couldnt see it anyway. good mags over come this quickly before the slide opens all the way.

my witness on the other hand the mags suck and never let the round back up quick enough to not nose dive jam

 

[Wolf Spyder]

Well, that is something that can easily be tested...

 

[21Carrier]

well according to the AMERICAN GUNCRAFTING INSTITUTE GLOCK armorers video, these "nicks" are happening when the cartridge feeds into the chamber. there is a very steep hard line circle (the actual opening of the chamber right after the feed ramp stops and turns into the chamber)

it is a very very sharp and definate ledge, that sometimes will cut into the case like that.

also that seems to be right in the area were the cartridges in the mag are pushed up againts the ramp on the slide that picks up the next cartridge in line to be fired

heavy recoil and strong mag springs push the cartridge against the bottom of the slide, and you have a dent.

it is one or the other, i just cant see the bullet ejecting every single time like this. different loads, will make different slide velocity and different spins on the spent cases.

to support this, .40 in my glock .29 also have this mark, just closer up to the case mouth than the 10's, (i shoot .40 out of stock g29 barrel)

also on the .357 sigs, it is non exsistant in my gun. so it makes sense it is not an ejection issure but a feeding issue one way or the other, either my the slides ramp hitting them under recoil or the sharp edge that starts the chamber.

when a gun recoils the rounds push down (nose dive) during the impulse and slam back up real hard in the mag. it happens real fast and we dont know it is happening. and we couldnt see it anyway. good mags over come this quickly before the slide opens all the way.

my witness on the other hand the mags suck and never let the round back up quick enough to not nose dive jam

What you're talking about looks different. I have both marks on some of my brass. I'll post pictures of both in a minute. The picture that Wolfy posted is from ejection, not chambering.