Coloring brass

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LibertySympathizer

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This is probably going to sound silly, but is there a method to color stain brass to make them more easily identifiable?

I realize that because of resizing it might have to be reapplied.
Something like blueing.

I'd like to be able to quickly identify which is my brass, and also tell between loads.

Also, at my range, when I'm developing loads, I have to bug someone to spot where my brass goes so I can check it for pressure signs since often people don't sweep their lanes as often as they should.
 
You could pickle the brass, by soaking it in vinegar. This draws the copper out of the brass and leaves a permanent pink mark. lay the case down in enough vinegar to wet one side of the case overnight this will leave a stripe where the vinegar was, The drawback is that by lowering the copper content the brass becomes more brittle. Exposing brass to hydrogen sulfide [next to a car battery on a charger] will turn it black. Electro-plating varying the componds would give different colors, expensive, time consuming. My question is why? Are you trying to keep track of how many reloads, or what you have reloaded them with?
 
Thanks, I'll experiment with the suggestions.

To answer the above, mostly what I'm trying to accomplish is to very quickly identify my brass when it gets mixed up with the lanes next to me, especially when I'm developing new loads and want to check pressure signs.

I want to maximize my lane time, and also not have to bug someone else to spot where my brass ends up.

On a very very lesser extent be able to identify between differing loads.

Not so much a problem on slow days, but sometimes the range rents to LEO's or security guys re-qualifying or something, and they got tons of brass all over, and since I drive an hour to get there, I'm not going to just leave when they are there.

Thanks, appreciate the ideas.
 
It's a perennial question. Handloader magazine has done articles and search will find older discussions. Model railroad shops have lots of information on coloring brass for car builders. Various shades of red are easiest.
 
Magic Markers are faster then Sharpies.

One swipe will color most of the head and you can spot them at a distance on the range floor.

rc
 
I did mention that pickling would weaken the brass, and I agree sharpees would be the way to go.
 
All joking aside, this is why I am 100% revolvers. Auto's are fun but I hate the brass shuffle dance every clip. Shoot 50 find 31, shoot 50 more and find 29.

When I did shoot in a range with auto's I always had cheapo fish seine taped the range box and funnel the seine into a small bucket. Sounds goofy but I had near 100% return and all I had to do was pick up a bucket and stuff the netting in it when I was done. Also the bucket carried most of my range stuff too. When I got home I would peel off the 3 pieces of duct tape before it made a mess. One local range master did not mind if I used bungee S hooks on the framing to hold the net. As a matter of fact, he had is own seine set up too. That made it much better.
 
Just mark your primers

Oh, been there - for example, I have .357 loads that use fast burning powder that I shoot in 4" barrels... and some with really slow powders that I load just for carbine.

Same, of course, for .44 Magnum

Then, on the other hand, I load 'range only' plinkers sometimes.

I just buy primers that sit in their packing box shiny side up. I take a Sharpie and swipe 'em with

Blue for 'low power' loads - blue's often used for training ammo
Red for 'carbine' ammo
and so on.

Sometimes I'll use other colored sharpies for other reasons - but doing just the primer means I don't have to polish 'em until the color comes off so I can reload 'em again. I have noticed that if I mark brass (headstamp end), it doesn't take a lot of tumbling before the Sharpie stuff comes off.

It doesn't take the place of good lot control (properly marked containers) but who hasn't found a couple rounds in a pocket or range bag and wondered just which batch it came from?
 
Just mark your primers
Click to expand...
That's what I do usually.

attachment.php


I take a Sharpie and swipe 'em with

Blue for 'low power' loads - blue's often used for training ammo
Red for 'carbine' ammo
and so on.
Click to expand...

I like that idea. I have been using Red ammo boxes for "hot" ammo.



.
 

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This is probably going to sound silly, but is there a method to color stain brass to make them more easily identifiable?

I realize that because of resizing it might have to be reapplied.
Something like blueing.

I'd like to be able to quickly identify which is my brass, and also tell between loads.

Also, at my range, when I'm developing loads, I have to bug someone to spot where my brass goes so I can check it for pressure signs since often people don't sweep their lanes as often as they should.
Click to expand...

Anodizing or electroplating , you can have lots of colors to choose from..:D
 
Even lightly applied aerosol Spray Paint on the Heads would probably be fine...
 
Ditto for sharpie marking the primers, it's the best way to quickly ID brass from one load to another. X's, O' and dots are quick to spot.

On a tight chamber ANY applied paint or ink can make for a stiff action. Remember you are often dealing with tolerances measured in thousandths of inches, not hundredths. The heat of a cartidge going off could melt whatever paint you apply, and over time gum up your action.

The base of the shell has a place for ink/paint to go (into the lettering) and case the least interference.

Sharpies seem to have the best mix of visible ink vs. being very thin.
 
Appreciate the idea. Been Sharpey marking my primers to mark different loads. Guess I could mark the cases since I usually tumble before reloading.

Different box colors is very clever.

Thanks,

Tom
 
Sorry...'thin spray paint on heads' is probably not a good idea.

Could gum up in rubbing off...


Oye...


Thin spray 'Dye'...might be alright...


Sharpies...probably best of all.
 
Sharpies still the best idea

I'm sticking with Sharpies as the "best fit" solution for my own use.

Birchwood Casey sells "brass black" if you have to do that.

You can get Dye-Kem in blue or red (machinist's marking dye).

Walkalong's pic shows just how easy the Sharpie method is.

If you're working with military type FMJ on, say, .30 caliber and the 147, 150, and 165/168s all look alike, you could color the bullets with a dab from Sharpie.
I doubt that would do well on cast lead, though. God knows the military loves to color code their bullets - and it works just fine.
 
Just to clarify an inaccurate statement above:

Cartridge brass is 70% copper and 30% zinc. Soaking it in vinegar leaches the zink out , leaving a higher percent of copper, which is red. Not a good idea.

I have tried using food coloring with a dose of vinegar in a warm/hot solution. By dipping the case in the solution for 5-10 seconds, the vinegar makes the color adhear much better. this color will last 2-3 loadings if you dont tumble the color off.

It's a hassel and the sharpie is a better metnod.
 
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