H&K MP5 brass ok to reload?

[buenhec]

I just shot a couple of thousand rounds on a 9mm H&K MP5 full auto over the weekend (fun as hell). Is that once shot brass ok to reload for my handguns? I once heard that full auto tear them up. They look fine to me and I brought them home.

Thanks

 

[Jim Watson]

Yes. I pick up some brass striped by its fluted chamber every once in a while and just throw it in the mixed brass box. Loads no different from any other.

 

[rfwobbly]

Don't ask me

I got MP5 brass from a LEO friend and it reloaded just fine. By the 2nd reload the "tiger stripes" were all gone. However, I would HIGHLY suggest that you slip each finished round into a 9mm cartridge gauge to make sure the base/rim area of the case, which is an area untouched by most sizing dies, has not passed the SAMMI max diameter. (Dillon and Midway sell these full length "cartridge gauges".)

If the brass expands dues to unsupported chamber, and some SMGs have the ultimate "poster child" unsupported chamber, then the brass can expand an insignificant .005 or .008" (undetectable by visual inspection) and jam in the chamber of your auto loading handgun. At that point the gun will neither open, go into full battery, or fire... so you'll be stuck with a loaded handgun which has a live round wedged half-way into the chamber. This can be very disconcerting.

Don't ask me how I know this.