Blue brass?

[gibson_es]

I have a box of WWB thats only maybe 3 years old. 100 round bulk pack. Well, the box fell apart of me today while making some changes in my storage system. While picking it all up, i noticed the brass is blue in some places. Most often. In the recest "rim" area. But some are blue in other areas as well. Not green, but blue. Never seen that before, and i have ammo much older. Any concern? Or good to shoot? It was near impossible to get it in a photo. This one photo is the only one that even shows it at all. And the color in the photo isnt quite the same as it is in person.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Any chance this brass has been exposed to ammonia or urine vapors?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season_cracking

Mike

 

[Arizona_Mike]

I had some 1960s 12ga shells show cracks very similar to season cracking when fired about 4-5 years ago. I have stopped using them.

Mike

 

[Tirod]

I don't see where the OP mentioned cracking. I have seen ammo with discoloration like that, brand new out of the box. Most makers don't tumble the cases after forming. It's partly brought on by heat from the process of stretching it out on the mandrels to finished shape. It's surface discoloration and in my experience shooting it usually results in smelling like gun residue when I get back from the range.

 

[PapaG]

Heat during forming.

 

[GBExpat]

Any concern? Or good to shoot?

Good to shoot. No worries. Enjoy!

 

[Archie]

Such blue color is also seen on some rifle cartridges where the neck annealing ends. Usually cases used by the military; on commercial cases it is polished off - which shows how deep and serious it really isn't.

Check brass after firing and determine no cracks are visible. (I highly doubt any cracks.) This will make you feel better and assured it isn't serious.

 

[Tommygunn]

Heat during forming.

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This.