Old brass

[Silverback32]

I have 10- 15,000 rounds of once fired brass which was donated to me.I suspect it is at least 3 years old and has never been deprimed or cleaned. Will the brass stay useable in this condition or do I need to do any special prep to preserve for the future. I realize that I am probably opening myself up for some interesting comments, but I am serious....and a newbie. Thanks

 

[Navy joe]

It is useless and dangerous, the lead residue slowly melts the brass into toxic sludge.
Mail it to me postage paid and I will not tell the EPA on you, I have special disposal training.

Seriously it is probably fine, if it was wet or had other corrosion producing agents on it when it was stored or since some of the brass may be corroded. If there is no green, skanky looking brass everything is good. If it is green tumble it and see, it may just be minor surface corrosion. Most likely it is good, tumble it and load it.

 

[Roccobro]

If it is shiny still after 3 years, and is dry, you have no problems for a few more years.

Or you could sell it and buy loaded ammo, or donate it to make friends.

Justin

 

[Silverback32]

Thanks Joe.

 

[rcmodel]

I'm still loading brass I brought home from the Army in 1970.

That includes .38 Special, .45 ACP, 30-06, 7.62, & 5.56. It has been kept in sealed GI ammo cans, as well as plastic buckets with snap-on lids.

It looks & works as good today as it did when I picked it up off those Army AMTU ranges almost 40 years ago.


rcmodel

 

[Walkalong]

rcmodel has me beat, but I have some pretty old brass as well. It stores indefinitely. As long as there is no corrosion, you are good to go.

at least 3 years old - Spring chicken it is.

 

[Steve Koski]

Hmm, there's a thread similar to this on GT. I suggest you read the proper brass storage guidelines there:

http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=776731

 

[The Bushmaster]

You know...I have some (100 count) Remington nickel brass that I bought in 1966 that I still load...Used to over 400 count of this brass, but over the years I have split, lost or discarded for whatever reason most of it...Clean'em. If they are really dirty use One quart water, one cup white vinegar, one tablespoon dish washing liquid and one tablespoon salt. Put in a large bowel (Tupperware is best) and shake or stir ocassionaly for 15 to 20 minutes and rinse well, dry in an oven at 150 degrees and tumble with corn cob and Wa-laa clean shinny brass. Load'em shoot'em...

 

[strat81]

If you want to store them for the long term, I'd keep them in an airtight container (ammo cans are great) along with some desiccant.

 

[rcmodel]

If you are gonna tumble them, I'd think you can skip the vinager water bath & oven dry!

I haven't done that since I built my first tumbler in the early 60's & my tumble cleaned brass looks better then factory new.


rcmodel

 

[ArchAngelCD]

strat81 beat me to it... In a resent issue of "Reloader Magazine" they suggested you keep all your brass in a air tight container, even for short term storage. A heavy plastic bag like a Zip Lock freezer bag is a good choice or even a coffee can with a plastic seal top will do the job.

 

[brasskeeper]

Clean them and put them in something with a lid. I started using gallon size zip lock bags for bulk brass that I store.

 

[Silverback32]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the advice. Koski- do you really put your brass in oil? How do you clean them?

 

[dcloco]

I actually PURCHASED some 1961, 62, 63, & 65 Lake City 7.62 Match brass this past weekend.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Yes, but rcmodel. If it is really dirty it wouldn't hurt to get it real clean so it can be inspected for pits...And it takes such a long time to accomplish...

 

[iiranger]

Historically,

Way back when, circa WW II and before, there was a time they used mercury based primers and the mercury would attack the brass and form an alloy that ruined the brass for reloading. That has not been the case for 50 years or more. Before that there were corrosive primers and the salts might corrode the cases acting with water from where ever.

If you are sure of the "only 3 years old" date... I think the NRA said that brass hardens, loses its anneal over a LONG time. Like 100 years. You have a way to go. There were some rounds loaded for WW I with a plated bullet. The plating reacted with the brass and made for much increased bullet pull... and cracked case necks. And sometimes crud in the fired powder/ primer might react with humidity. (Had some PMC that got green stored in a humid atmosphere. Nothing that a light tumble would not take care of.) Yes, ammo cans are great, except for the prices. I used to pay $0.50 for 50 cals... So get to it when you can and it should be "good to go" with normal attention.

 

[Silverback32]

Thanks everyone. I guess I'll do my best to clean it and then store properly.