I posted about getting a squib and got great comments. There are around 500 loaded. All worth being pulled. You were right about the case weight between head stamps being more than the amount of Bulls Eye in the load. So I thought why not separated the head stamps and weight the same ones? Here's the question. I got 29 different head stamps within the first 150 checked. I never would have guessed it would be that high. I've shot mixed head stamps for years but I've never checked. You go to a sporting goods shop for ammo and there are no where near this many choices. These were 9mm. So I guess also for grins, how many have you found? What was the strangest. This of course only included brass.
Never would have guessed
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tightgroup tiger
Member
The strangest ones I have found are the two piece stainless steel rounds. At least they are easy to spot.
FROGO207
Member
I have found about fifteen different head stamps in my 9MM brass but have not bothered to pick any up for about ten years as I have multiple buckets of it already.
I would have to say these were the strangest also.
The strangest headstamp I've seen has to be the Browning ones...until turn it sideways and figure out what you're actually looking at
Wow, that would mean that every 5th case would be a different head stamp
Hooda Thunkit
Member
I have so much 9mm brass. I started sorting by headstamp, and I get more consistent loads.
It's no big deal to sort, only need to do it once. After sorting, I just load one headstamp, stashing the others in plastic jars. I have hundreds of each brand. When I run short, I merely swap to another brand.
The range brass I pick up gets tossed in a bucket. When I get the urge, I deprime the batch, then sort.
It's no big deal to sort, only need to do it once. After sorting, I just load one headstamp, stashing the others in plastic jars. I have hundreds of each brand. When I run short, I merely swap to another brand.
The range brass I pick up gets tossed in a bucket. When I get the urge, I deprime the batch, then sort.
Yeah, the Brownings threw me for a loop. I first thought it was Arabic or closely related.
Now Browning has that tarnished look coating. I have only found a couple handfuls of them. Not sure I will get enough of them to reload with.
Any of you keep picking up brass because of ???? but you have so much of it you know there's really no reason to keep picking it up? I guess I got about 10 or 12 gallons of 9mm. twice that in .223. but I still keep picking it up. It just seems a waist not to.
I keep picking up what I find. I agree, it seems a shame to just leave it lay. I also keep telling myself to pick it up while I still have the ability to bend over to pick it up. And it's good exercise.
tightgroup tiger
Member
Yep, I keep thinking about the next great ammo shortage that will be coming along, but I know it won't be cases that we are short on. It will be everything else.
We are so saturated with common caliber brass that it will be around for a long time before it get rare. Primers, bullets and powder (non-reusable consumables) will be the Hen's tooth. As it usually is.
I have no doubt the medical professionals will be able to attach this to some kind of Phobia that I need to be treated for, just so they can try to part me with my money. My money is going for consumables (primers, powder, and bullets), that is the only thing that will cure my phobia of not being able to shoot during the next great ammo shortage. I have enough brass, (but I'm still picking it up, just can't help it.)
Mowgli Terry
Member
Back when I was learning about reloading as in getting started some of the lessons stuck. One lesson was not to mix head stamps on the brass. I continue to separate brass by brand. The easy way to deal with collection brass is not to bring the outlaw stuff back home. There is some legit research that mixing handgun head stamps does not make that much difference down range. I still prefer to keep head stamps the same. I got thirty five pound cat litter tubs full of handgun brass separated by brand. One day those hoards of brass may be a very valuable resource.
Addendum: The glory days of picking up brass is over. Since that last famine brass has all but disappeared from our range.
Addendum: The glory days of picking up brass is over. Since that last famine brass has all but disappeared from our range.
tightgroup tiger
Member
Especially since all these companies now are advertising to buy it from you. That's something that just happened in the last 10 years from what I've seen.
The funny part is they are still advertising. I don't know if the price they offer keeps coming down or it they are just stock piling.
Or just preying on the young reloaders that don't know it's free at the range. But as long as they offer to buy at low prices and people are selling it to them, that isn't going to stop. Has to be the price of brass at the scrap yards.
Most people don't have scrap yards around them, or if they do don't know why they should use them.
MeanBean
Member
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I'm a new reloader and have almost pulled the trigger (pun intended) on a lot of "once fired" range brass from an online retailer. But I just figured out today that the trick is to go shooting with your non reloader buddies. I picked up most of his brass after he went on an ammo unloading spree today. (300+ 9mm all real once fired brass!)
That being said, I typically do not sort head stamps. I truly don't have the inventory at the moment. And I have noticed the COL differences with different head stamps, but it has been pretty negligible. The terribly short ones get the bullets pulled.
That being said, I typically do not sort head stamps. I truly don't have the inventory at the moment. And I have noticed the COL differences with different head stamps, but it has been pretty negligible. The terribly short ones get the bullets pulled.
If you shoot in Action Pistol competitions, there's plenty of brass left laying on the ground.
I'm either shooting a .38Spl revolver or a moon clip fed .45ACP. Yet I always seem to come home with a bunch of 9mm, which I'm not going out of my way to collect...it is just part of picking up each bay after the squad has shot.
I have so much 9mm, I usually clean it, sort it, and save it to get new reloaders started...I usually start them out with a thousand cases
denton
Member
Locally, access to the range after the LEOs have been shooting routinely yields bucket loads of 9mm and LC 5.56.
jeeptim
Member
The range I go to $23.00 that's a lot yes it's a fantastic range with good people.
I pick up all the brass I can.
1) to reload
2) to trade with others for brass to load
3) add to my scrap brass bucket take to the recycler and use the money I get for powder primers and bullets.
I pick up all the brass I can.
1) to reload
2) to trade with others for brass to load
3) add to my scrap brass bucket take to the recycler and use the money I get for powder primers and bullets.
Mowgli Terry
Member
Buy a brass catcher. Saves a ton of time.
Some was wondering about how many head stamps I cam across in only about 150. That was part of the rationale for the thread. I belong to ORSA here in TN. That's just outside of Oakridge TN. Huge range. Serves LOTS of people. I think that's got to be the reason for so many. If this were back in NM, a town of some 35K and where you could shoot just about anywhere, anytime with miles and miles of space, I doubt I would have come across anything like this. I to give away stuff to new guys. Stuff that I have so much of I'll never go through it or I have no need for. SO. I Really like our dear moderator that he gives, er starts with, 1K. That is totally awesome! I can only imagine the smiles of the guys who get a gift like this. I remember paying 3 or 5 cents to gun stores for the once fired stuff. Less if it was military and you had to de-bur the pockets. Proud of you! I'll spend a day setting up all the lead and molds for people who want to give it a go. Then set up a lube-r-sizer [Lee]. Then my old green single stage stuff and get um going. Something about doing that just makes you feel good.
cheygriz
member
The strangest ones I've found were brass case 9MM and .45 with absolutely no markings or headstamp whatsoever.
I E-mailed a large ammo manufacturer that supplies the military, and they told me that these "might be" special runs made for " certain government agencies." (CIA???)
I E-mailed a large ammo manufacturer that supplies the military, and they told me that these "might be" special runs made for " certain government agencies." (CIA???)
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I got a few .38 Special cases marked TW years ago and has to look them up. It turned out there weren't from some obscure country but from right here in the USA. They were from the Twin Cities Ordnance Plant, Minneapolis, MN.
I also got some 9mm cases marked TZ and TZZ, both are from IMI in Israel. It seems the Israel Military Industries in Tel Aviv nothing uses IMI and the 2 I mentioned here but about 6 more headstamps.
I also got some 9mm cases marked TZ and TZZ, both are from IMI in Israel. It seems the Israel Military Industries in Tel Aviv nothing uses IMI and the 2 I mentioned here but about 6 more headstamps.
Interesting, I didn't know that. I have some 9mm cases head stamped "IMI" which i recognized, but never connected TZZ to them
Dudedog
Contributing Member
Never bothered to count them all in 9mm, I think I quit after I found at least 15....
Ok one, two, three, four.....forget it lets just load them up and shoot them
If I am loading MAX loads I separate them other wise it's just load, shoot repeat.
Amerc and any of the ones with the stupid ledge go in the recycle can, steel, brass coated steel (sneaky rats), and the Al ones go in the trash.
Ok one, two, three, four.....forget it lets just load them up and shoot them
If I am loading MAX loads I separate them other wise it's just load, shoot repeat.
Amerc and any of the ones with the stupid ledge go in the recycle can, steel, brass coated steel (sneaky rats), and the Al ones go in the trash.
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