What would blacken brass on one side?

[wreckhog]

New factory loads. Part of the rim and most of one side look soot covered. Does not appear the affect function. Have not attempted to reload these cases.

These are WWB 38s in a 357 mag.

All I can think is that I really need to clean the chamber before trying any mags.

[Smokin Joe]

Probably just low-pressure blow-by.

[kevinsmith5]

The 38's are shorter than the chamber, could be blow back through the open throat area. My throated BC does that when I shoot 150 gr collarbuttons....

[trotterlg]

Just what happens with short brass in a large chamber.  Larry

[gcrank1]

Yep, the low pressure developed does not expand the brass to 'seal' the chamber. Higher pressure loads, even in 'short' cases will seal it, but it is nice to have some soft loads that work. The old British rook & rabbit rifles used just such. Even our old .38 RF sporting loads were much the same in effect for plinking and hunting.

[petemi]

Most of my pistol caliber Handis soot the cases with light loads.  My question is, why is yours doing it only on one side?  That seems strange.  Is there something wrong with his chamber?

Pete

[dangerranger]

Mine will do that with the lightest of cowboy loads[under 600fps]. if I keep them over 800fps I dont see it anymore. Ive never seen it with factory loads. Id give the chamber a good cleaning and  try it again. if that didnt fix it find a bore scope to see more of the chamber.or it might just be short brass in the long chamber.  DR

[gcrank1]

Or....it might be an oversize chamber, with the case laying on the bottom. Next time check to see if the black is always oriented in the same place as it extracts.