Red Army Brass - Safe to Reload?

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Saluki91

Saluki91

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Somebody came to my club's pistol range, stood approx. 6 feet in front of a target stand, and emptied a box of 50 rounds into the plywood.

Classy...

I know this because they didn't police their brass, which I found while hanging my targets.

The brass in question is marked "Red Army", which I understand is a Czech import.

Anyone have success loading this brass?

Thanks!
 
Off topic, but I'll bite...

1 - There is a gravel strip on the pistol range that acts as the closest "firing line" to the target stands. For most of the stands, this is 5 yards. We are not supposed to shoot any closer to the target stands than the gravel strip. The club rules are quite clear on this.
2 - Club rules require you to police your brass.

The member in question ignored both of these rules. If you join a club (and our "club" is essentially one man's private playground that he allows others to enjoy), then you agree to follow the rules. Much like being a guest in someone's home - keep it classy! If a person desires to play outside of the owner's rules, they should play those games elsewhere.

Do you have any experience with the brass in question? I've never heard of it, but the name "Red Army Elite" makes me wonder...

Thanks!
 
I went yesterday and a father and son were shooting. They policed there brass nicely. I dumped it with mine when I left. I would reload the brass unless there is something bad about it? I reloaded Indian 308 brass. It was dirty. Didn’t trust the original load so I swapped out their powder with my own. Very variable on the powder charges. Same for bullet weights. Brass seems to work ok.
 
Saluki91 said:
Off topic, but I'll bite...

1 - There is a gravel strip on the pistol range that acts as the closest "firing line" to the target stands. For most of the stands, this is 5 yards. We are not supposed to shoot any closer to the target stands than the gravel strip. The club rules are quite clear on this.
2 - Club rules require you to police your brass.

The member in question ignored both of these rules. If you join a club (and our "club" is essentially one man's private playground that he allows others to enjoy), then you agree to follow the rules. Much like being a guest in someone's home - keep it classy! If a person desires to play outside of the owner's rules, they should play those games elsewhere.

Do you have any experience with the brass in question? I've never heard of it, but the name "Red Army Elite" makes me wonder...

Thanks!
Click to expand...

That explains the "classy" quote you made - we, as a forum, did not have that context based on your OP.

No direct experience with that brass - however, if it is boxer primed it is likely worthwhile to reload (IMOP). Normal procedures - check the brass after every firing.
 
The brass cased Red Army "Elite" was probably made by Igman in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Their brass is good to go.

As an aside, just because you found the brass six feet from the target frame, that doesn't mean it was fired there.

AK's will throw brass quite a ways right and forward, VZ58's can be even worse.
 
I have exactly one Red Army case which I cannot locate at this moment—I must’ve loaded it already.

Since I only shoot range pickup brass or buy once fired stuff, that’s where I got it. Its either 9mm or 45ACP, I don’t recall.

AFTE identifies Red Army as from Century International Arms of Delray Beach which is made in Eastern Europe (as stated earlier).
 
I have reloaded Red Army in both 9mm and 7.62x39. No problems with it. This is brass I picked up at my club's range. Best wishes
 
I purchase a couple thousand rounds of Red Army 7.62x39 as "JIC" ammo. They are steel cases and while reloadable, waaaay too much trouble (difficulty reloading steel cases and Berdan primed)...
 
Our sheriffs office personnel has the gratis use of our pistol range when they have their qualifications. Most shooting is from 7 yards. Part of their quals is firing from 5 or 6 feet in front of the target stand. I believe they are doing a timed draw and shooting from the hip. LEO's may have to do deadly combat at that short range, but us run of the mill "home boys" would probably be putting ourselves in danger by doing that.
Hmmmm? maybe I'd hit the target more often at that range! :)
 
H&R Glock said:
Our sheriffs office personnel has the gratis use of our pistol range when they have their qualifications. Most shooting is from 7 yards. Part of their quals is firing from 5 or 6 feet in front of the target stand. I believe they are doing a timed draw and shooting from the hip. LEO's may have to do deadly combat at that short range, but us run of the mill "home boys" would probably be putting ourselves in danger by doing that.
Hmmmm? maybe I'd hit the target more often at that range! :)
Click to expand...
If you get surprised at close range it comes in handy to have had practiced a bit of that type of shooting (if your range allows it). Seeing as almost every knife attack is within arms length (unless the knife is thrown), you never know when it’ll require a close quarters response.

I have only seen the steel cases, not any brass ones with the Red Army tag. The others say it’s good to go, so give it a whirl and see how it shoots for you.

Stay safe.
 
Saluki91 said:
Somebody came to my club's pistol range, stood approx. 6 feet in front of a target stand, and emptied a box of 50 rounds into the plywood.

Classy...

I know this because they didn't police their brass, which I found while hanging my targets.

The brass in question is marked "Red Army", which I understand is a Czech import.

Anyone have success loading this brass?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Pass a magnet over it. It might be brass washed/plated steel.
 
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