colored brass

[mr_dove]

anyone ever seen/done brass coloring? I know that nickel "brass" exists and that might be an options but I was curious if anyone had ever used any other type of process to color brass. Perhaps anodizing or some kind of metal dye. I don't believe that anodizing would increase the size of the brass but I could be wrong.

I ask this out of curiosity because it would make picking up brass at the range MUCH easier, especially when it is mixed with everyone elses brass and brass of different sizes/qualities. It would keep you from having to re-sort after every range session.

 

[SDC]

A lot of IPSC shooters I know end up using permanent markers to mark their brass (usually by swiping the case head a specific colour); you can also get a gizmo like this (http://www.hosercam.com ; see "Shooting products") to put a coloured ring around your brass.

 

[Cortland]

Birchwood Casey makes a product called Brass Black which (you guessed it) blackens brass. You could partially dip your brass in this to mark it.

Nickel cases are pretty but don't last nearly as long as brass. They're really only useful for keeping in leather cartridge belts, as they won't corrode like brass. Other than that though, they're only going to develop splits far quicker than brass.

When I shoot matches, I just make sure I pick up more brass than I eject

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Birchwood Casey makes a product called Brass Black which (you guessed it) blackens brass. You could partially dip your brass in this to mark it.

I wouldn't suggest this. Brass Black (or Aluminum Black or Cold Blue) is highly corrosive. I use it every day to blacken engraving on lacquer coated brass. If you leave a brass case in it for a couple hours, the case will DISAPPEAR.

Also, I've heard the stories about nickle cases not lasting long, splitting, etc., in my experience this hasn't been the case (pun not intended).

Cortland, not picking on you, just had to point out my experiences.

Larry

 

[Cortland]

You're correct in that I have no experience with Brass Black, although I have heard others recommend it. Perhaps a dip just on the case head wouldn't hurt.

However, I will tell you (quite unequivocally) that nickel cases have a shorter life than brass. I have (what remains of it anyway) 1,000 nickel .38 Special cases and probably an equal number of brass cases. They're not segregated, and both get loaded with light target loads of Clays or Titegroup. In an average session reloading 200-300 rounds, I'll probably throw out 5 to 10 nickel cases for split mouths, and then an additional 2 or 3 nickel cartridges at the range. I don't think I've ever encountered a split brass 38 case. Nickel cases are more brittle, that's a fact.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Probably a quick dip wouldn't hurt the brass, just make sure the brass is chemically clean (it won't work if there is any oil or residue on the brass) and wipe and rinse immediately. The black should last for quite a while.

I'll defer to your experience on the nickel, mine has so far been different.