I've seen a lot of references to "smiles" on brass, as a warning about over-pressure, but I haven't been able to find a description (or, better, a pic) of exactly what it looks like.  Is it different from a "bulge"?  I always examine my fired brass, looking for any signs of over-pressure or other possible problems, but I never know exactly what I should be looking for.

Try this thread:


http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1332131

I think think the "smiley" is just a lesser form of the bulge.

Read thru this section of the forum...http://10mm-firearms.com/reloading-10mm-ammo/cross-section-of-a-smiley/

Look at the feed ramp on the Glock barrel.  When pressures get high, there is brass expansion at that area, and it makes a sharp line at that edge shaped like a smile.  If I can catch a finger nail on that transition, the brass goes in the trash.  Its a permanent weak spot in the brass.

Greg

Quote from: Geeman on December 01 2013 08:29:42 PM MST
Look at the feed ramp on the Glock barrel.  When pressures get high, there is brass expansion at that area, and it makes a sharp line at that edge shaped like a smile.

Thanks for your response.  So, do smiles only occur in Glocks, or do they also occur in other 10mm auto-loaders?  Are smiles rarer in some 10mm auto-loaders than in others?  Is there a difference in frame-mounted vs chamber-mounted feed-ramps, as far as susceptibility to smiles?  And, in contrast, what causes "bulges"?

They will occur in any chamber that lacks proper support.  The worse the support, the worse the smile.

My Para will smile a bit on over-max loads, and occasionally on a max load.

Yes there have been many companies that down loaded the 10mm ammo for the Colt Delta Elite due to the tremendous lack of case support allowing brass to flow ballooning outward...

Here are some people asked me to host the pictures of...
Ctious from GT


Armscor Brass


It happens in other cartridges as well like 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP...I think this is 45ACP

The-Shadow,

Were those Armscor loads factory loads or reloaded brass & in what gun were they fired? I've been using their 10mm loads in my Glock with no issues & seems to be a very good load with no signs of weak brass or excessive pressure.

That looks way more like a frownie than a smilie.