[spartan55]

Before I toss it out I thought I'd ask. I have 1000rds of heavily discolored .223 brass. Military ammo with crimp if that matters. It was left outside in a bucket for over a year, soaked in water. I have tumbled it and it is clean and smooth, does not feel like rust exactly.

Soooo, the question Is it safe to reload?

[moooose102]

#1, have you tried the brass soak that has been posted on this board for a long time? it works wonders! #2, can you post a photo?

[SlamFire1]

I shoot at an old military range, and find brown cases buried in the mud. Often they are full of mud.

I clean them out, size them ,prime them, and go out and shoot them.

Unless the cases have been soaking in ammonia, I don't think you are going to have a problem.

[Walkalong]

Agreed. I have done the same thing with .223, 9MM, and .45.

[spartan55]

NO, moooose I have not. sorry to be rude however if I had I would not be asking for help but I do appreciate the advice.

Taking slamfires advice i'll try 50 rds and see, I mainly wanted to be safe as it will be used just for practice and drills.

Unless my WAR stock dries up and it is all I have:neener:

[evan price]

The only thing to worry about with chocolate cases is the leaching effect that removes the zinc from the brass alloy. This is spotted by a pinkish color under the corrosion. Cases with pink areas are unsafe due to the chemical damage to the alloy. Heavily chocolate cases often never come clean but are worth a shot or two as long as there is no pink. They are more brittle and more prone to cracking.

When in doubt, scrap brass is $2 a pound delivered to the metal recyclers- no point in wasting it in the trash, but if any doubt exists- buy some good used brass that is shiny.