Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Deburring flash hole --- Necessary?

Read on another site where a person had finished deburring flash holes on just acquired brass. Got to thinking is deburring flash holes really necessary. I used to do it but the past few years the only thing I do to new brass is chamfer the case neck. I can't tell any difference in accuracy or velocity.

What say you?


Deans

Waste of time and brain cells.

Depends on the brass and your intended purposes

I do it for peace of mind. Do all you can for CONSISTANCY. It does not take long to do, and you can feel some that are really bad. Does it make any difference? I like to think so. Good shooting.

I do it with one cartridge, my 6mm PPC benchrest rifle--but have never actually tested whether it made any difference. After all, a primer's flame is a LOT longer than the flash-hole, even one with a considerable "ridge" around it.

But quit doing it with all other rifle cartridges years ago, due to finding too many grouped extremely well without it, including light big game rifles that would put 5 shots into half an inch or even less at 100 yards, not just 3 shots. Would deburring the flash holes reduce those groups significantly? I doubt it.

Try it with sub par brass and past 500 yards thats the true test, the farther you shoot the more things matter

For my purposes haven't noticed a difference

It probably doesn't help any, but then again, it doesn't hurt anything either.

I use to deburr brass but I found it was an exercise in futility with no appreciable benefit for my hunting ammo.

It all depends on what brass you are talking about and what condition the flash hole is from the factory. If its real rough and not a nice clean flash hole, I'll "debur" it. If it doesn't have burrs, don't waste your time. I've seen some schidt factory flash holes that had to be deburred and also hit from the inside with a tool as well. New Winchester brass comes to mind. One of the reason I don't buy the chidt anymore. Lapua: no you don't have to mess with the flash hole.

You are probably using pretty good brass too, to start with. That makes a huge difference.

BOOM!!^^^

What can it hurt? You only have to do it once.

Necessary no . Does it hurt anything No , will you notice it with most rifles probably not. Very accurate interest type possibly every little bit helps in that game.

The various tools are inexpensive and the small amount of time spent is minimal……it can’t hurt! memtb

I've always thought it was just one of those incremental things that can help with accuracy along with all the other steps we take. I've deburred a lot of flash holes inside and took off quite a bit of brass from the burr. Others there is almost no brass removed. Draw your own conclusions but I've always though anything you can do to create a uniform ignition flash that is unobstructed by debris can't hurt accuracy. Like said above, you only have to do it once.

I suggest that you at least inspect the inside of the cases especially if it is a first use. I have found string burrs (.5 - 1 inch long) in Lapua brass, heavy burrs in Winchester... this is just with my limited experience as a handloader.

I always do the flash holes. I was taught by a benchrest shooter.

I like to do it only because I had a piece of brass once without a flash hole punched in it at all. It was easily noticed while reaming the flash hole.

I just bring em to my armchair and clean em up while watching the TV.

Been reloading for 30 years. Never deburred a flash hole in my life. Never had a problem finding sub MOA loads on every rifle I’ve owned…many of them sub-1/2 MOA.

Just my experience.

Leftybolt