Do any shotshells still have real brass?

[jamesbeat]

A friend recently mentioned that he thought it would be cool to have some shotshell buttons on his blazer.

He did me a really good turn recently, and I like to make things, so I thought I'd solder some button findings to some trimmed down hulls and surprise him with them.

This should be quite a straightforward task, but when I looked into it deeper, I discovered that hulls nowadays tend to have brass-plated steel, not real brass.

This presents a few problems; not only is steel difficult to solder, but the plating would wear off if I attempted to give them a good polish.

Are any hulls still real brass, and how would I be able to tell short of taking a magnet to a gun store?

Incidentally, to compound the problem, I need 20ga and .410 to have the correct sizes for the buttons.

 

[ugaarguy]

Not cheap, but you can get Magtech full brass hulls - http://www.midwayusa.com/find?sortb...&newcategorydimensionid=15153&searchscope=all.

 

[WestKentucky]

All of my OLD shells in my reloading bag are rusty. Guess I will throw those hulls out...no bother since I haven't loaded a shotshell in 5 years or more. On a side note in a recent discussion I was linked to midway who sells brass hulls, as in no plastic at all. That might be a good start...expensive but good.

Same guy, same link^^^. Thanks ugaarguy.

 

[oneounceload]

Current Winchester AA and Remington STS/Nitros have brass heads if all you want are the heads for buttons

 

[jamesbeat]

Glad I was sitting down for that one!
They are really nice, but I wasn't thinking of spending quite that much.
They would be great for cowboy action shooters who wanted authentic looking shells though.

I'm going to seriously bear those in mind, but it's definitely a last resort. I guess I could sell the surplus once I had taken what I needed for the buttons.

Incidentally, I just tried polishing a couple of brass-plated steel hulls to see what would happen. I tried both Remington Slugger and some Estate, and boy is that brass plating thin!
Polished right off even though I only polished by hand using brass polish.
Steel is definitely out of the question.

Don't any commercial shotshells have brass any more?

 

[jamesbeat]

Sorry guys, I was still writing that post when you were replying.
Oneounceload, thanks for that, it's definitely going to give me a head start.
Now I just have to figure out where to get specific brands of empty shells, since I don't own guns in either of those bores.

Keep 'em coming everyone! The more confirmed brass brands, the better my chances of finding some...

 

[DBR]

The Federal LE buckshot shells I have use all brass heads.

 

[eastbank]

pm me your address and i will send you some brass bases from 12ga sts,s or nitro,s. eastbank.

 

[huntsman]

If it were me I'd head down to a local gun show and buy a few loose paper shot shells.

 

[tiamat]

and I wouldn't bother with soldering, just use epoxy.

 

[oneounceload]

Now I just have to figure out where to get specific brands of empty shells, since I don't own guns in either of those bores.

Any trap/skeet/sporting clays club near you should have some folks willing to spare a few

 

[drcook]

also go over to shotgun world or other shotgun only devoted site (as well as here) ask the forum members to go through their stash of old shells and pick out some ones that are not good for reloading and/or collecting, offer to pay the postage and make good on the offer

explain what you are doing. I have located 16ga paper shells for a friend that loads BP in a Damascus barreled hammer gun, gotten some brass shells for myself for a project, etc etc. I always make sure that I send them enough to cover the postage on the package and a little gas or the cost of the envelope, etc.

you would be surprised how well most folks will help you out if you ask nicely.

 

[jamesbeat]

and I wouldn't bother with soldering, just use epoxy.

Why epoxy over solder?
Soldering would be more secure, and it's easy enough to do...

 

[Dr.Rob]

Tandy and other leather sellers sell 12 ga. "Conchos" already mounted with backing screws.. pricier but solid brass.

 

[oneounceload]

These are three bucks each and sized to work as buttons - solid brass:

http://www.csmcspecials.com/Large_Shotshell_Button_p/x0596.htm

 

[tiamat]

Why epoxy over solder?
Soldering would be more secure, and it's easy enough to do...

I guess I was just suspect of a piece of clothing that had actual metal buttons on it already - don't see that too often anymore. But I'd still be worried about possibly overheating them, discoloration, solder drippings. Prep for soldering is more effort/tedious as well. Seems easier to me to just give a quick wipe with something like rubbing alcohol and then a dab of epoxy which will adhere to anything and be just as strong.

But either way, let us know how it works out - would like to see some pics when you're done.

 

[LKLive13]

Just a heads up... All of the modern shells I have cut the heads off to make jewelry have had a plastic filler so you may not know until you cut the heads off... I don't know of a solid brass head other than the mag tech as mentioned in post #2... If you do happen to find something that works, shoot me a pm if you don't mind and let me know the brand you are using... I'm always looking for that kind of stuff to make jewelry out of for the ladies

 

[oneounceload]

^^^See the pic I posted above

That isn't plastic "filler", it is the body of the hull