HalfaDouble,
You are absolutely correct. I experienced complete head separation with CIL cases of unknown ancestry. At first, I wondered if the cause was mercuric primers but found out they were non-mercuric. Then I read where someone else opined that the "bad cases" were counterfeit cases made by "sand casting". Because of the way the brass looked in the break, I can see how they may have come to that conclusion. I concluded that it would not be possible to economically sand cast them, if it would even be possible at all. I concluded that since the cartridges headspace on the rim and the chambers were over length, if the cases had been sized back to the original dimensions the shoulder would be "set back" significantly. Doing this a couple times could cause separation, even with "solid head cases" and the CIL cases were "ballon head". I decided to sacrifice one of my rare boxes of factory ammo to be sure the cases were "once fired". By setting the sizing die to "kiss" the fired case's shoulder, I then was head spacing on the shoulder (instead. of the rim). I have not lost a case since I started this procedure, but that doesn't mean I won't lose the next one. Now I size all my cases this way whether they are rimmed, rimless, or belted and have had no more problems.
Mike
