Sorting 380 from 9mm

[stlcards]

Anyone know an easy way to sort the 380 from 9mm? The mechanical sorter dumps them together. I've hand sorted over 30,000 rounds of 9mm over the past week to catch the 380 in there and it's a pain lol. My current method is by using a bullet tray from a factory box of ammo and visually inspecting by height. Any tips from the pros?

 

[ReloaderFred]

Spread a couple handfuls at a time on an old cookie pan and shake the pan. When they stand up it's easier to spot the short ones. If you have any 9x18 Makarov mixed in, that will complicate it even more.

I'm going through 4 five gallon buckets of range brass right now, and getting the .380 brass sorted from the 9x19 can be challenging at times. Sometimes it helps to look away and then back at the brass. The shorter .380 will stand out better that way.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Reefinmike]

Shake em up in a container to orient them mostly case mouth up, grab a good chunk and set them on a flat surface. The 380 should be easy to pick out from there. Thats how i have to sort out my 38spl/357 magnum for years.

What mechanical sorter do you have? The shaker tray system has an optional 380 plate to separate 380/223 from 9mm brass.

 

[stlcards]

Fortunately all the 9x18 I've found has been steel, so it gets pitched into the scrap bucket anyway. I'll try the flat surface and cookie sheet ideas.

The mech sorter belongs to the range, so I'm not sure what kind it is. I buy it by the bucket from them.

 

[Blue68f100]

They make a sorting pan insert to seperate the 380's from the nine's.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/270949/shell-sorter-brass-sorter-380-acp-adapter-plate
for https://www.midwayusa.com/product/8...sorter-9mm-luger-40-s-and-w-45-acp-3-bowl-set

 

[1KPerDay]

I use the shell sorter system with the optional aluminum .380 plate. You sort 9mm and .380 out together, then run about 3 handfuls of those through again with the .380 plate installed. .380s drop through, 9mm are caught.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I have the sorting insert for .380's and it's not worth the money. In fact, I do better hand sorting, or using my Berry's brass sorter, than I do with the bucket sorting trays. There's not enough room between the three inserts to make it usable, and the Berry's is adjustable and faster to use.

Here's the link: https://www.berrysmfg.com/item/rotary-brass-sorter

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Cannibul]

I have the sorting insert for .380's and it's not worth the money. In fact, I do better hand sorting, or using my Berry's brass sorter, than I do with the bucket sorting trays. There's not enough room between the three inserts to make it usable, and the Berry's is adjustable and faster to use.

Here's the link: https://www.berrysmfg.com/item/rotary-brass-sorter

Hope this helps.

Fred

Here's an idea, use the trays one at a time.

 

[jmorris]

This is what I built to do it.



It sorts by diameter.

I also built this device that can sort by height or a diameter at a specific height.

 

[boom boom]

Jmorris, I am amazed at your ingenuity. That is seriously cool.

 

[RealGun]

I have the sorting insert for .380's and it's not worth the money. In fact, I do better hand sorting, or using my Berry's brass sorter, than I do with the bucket sorting trays. There's not enough room between the three inserts to make it usable, and the Berry's is adjustable and faster to use.

Here's the link: https://www.berrysmfg.com/item/rotary-brass-sorter

Hope this helps.

Fred

It helps to put a couple 45 cases between the plates as spacers? How much room is enough? I have the .380 insert
and can understand your point. I actually use it to sift out 32 caliber revolver cases. The insert is actually to catch 9mm with .380 openings and let the .380 cases (.354) and smaller through to the black basket at .355 opening by my measurement.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I don't do high volume sorting, so I sort brass manually. Use the Frankford Arsenal Perfect Fit Reloading Tray #3, which is for 9mm. Set two of the trays side by side. Dump a handful of cases on the tray and use my paws to move the cases around so they drop into the holes. A quick visual and I pull the shorter 380s, then dump the 9mm.

The Frankford Arsenal Perfect Fit Reloading Trays are available at Midway, Amazon and other places. Currently on sale for $5. Recommend at least two of each caliber.

 

[lbs]

I have the sorting insert for .380's and it's not worth the money. In fact, I do better hand sorting, or using my Berry's brass sorter, than I do with the bucket sorting trays. There's not enough room between the three inserts to make it usable, and the Berry's is adjustable and faster to use.

Here's the link: https://www.berrysmfg.com/item/rotary-brass-sorter

Hope this helps.

Fred

how long has that been out? like the idea, recently got the pans but still???

 

[Jesse Heywood]

how long has that been out? like the idea, recently got the pans but still???

It's listed in the new products. Looks similar to the RCBS media separator, which I have. Wonder if they will sell just the basket? I think Fred has been holding out on us!

 

[Enkiduthewildman]

Sympathy from an amateur- it sucks and you have to get it perfect because it's dangerous! I've only done range pickups- can't imagine 5 gallon buckets.

 

[stlcards]

This is what I built to do it.



It sorts by diameter.

I also built this device that can sort by height or a diameter at a specific height.

Want!

 

[SARuger]

They make a sorting pan insert to seperate the 380's from the nine's.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/270949/shell-sorter-brass-sorter-380-acp-adapter-plate
for https://www.midwayusa.com/product/8...sorter-9mm-luger-40-s-and-w-45-acp-3-bowl-set

I have this and it works good! A bit pricey but it saves me a couple of hours a week sorting.

 

[RunninLate]

I just run everything through the 9 mm resizing die and you can tell when you get to the 380 case. Pull it and keep on going. When you get enough, pull out the 380 dies and go to town reloading.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I've never sorted more than a couple hundred at a time, but I just spread them out in small batches and let my eyes pick them out. Not too tough, and your eyes are more precise than you think!

In the future though, 9s and 380s run through the tumbler separately!

 

[goldpelican]

I just run everything through the 9 mm resizing die and you can tell when you get to the 380 case. Pull it and keep on going. When you get enough, pull out the 380 dies and go to town reloading.

This is how I catch them. Eyeball them when they come out of the cleaner, but by resizing in a separate step it's impossible to miss them.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I ordered the Berry's separator a year ago last January, when they first showed it at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas. I like it much better than the sifting trays.

Cannibul,

I've used the trays one at a time, two at a time, and all three at a time. I don't find them convenient when sorting large amounts of brass, and in my set, .380's are caught in the bottom (9mm) tray. I wasted my money on the aluminum .380 tray, since it's not needed, at least in my set.

I find the Berry's rotating separator more convenient and faster. Once you learn how much to adjust the slots for what you want to sort, it works really fast.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[wlkjr]

I do mine one tray at the time with the yellow, blue and black sorter. Then use the aluminum with the .45 tray and the .380 drops into the bucket. Works fine for me and I do a few thousand a month.

 

[stlcards]

I'm going to have to try the Berry's thing, although having kids at the age that they want to help daddy sort is little cheaper...

 

[RandyP]

I used binder posts bolted to the metal sorting plate to increase the spacing. Costs only a few bucks and works GREAT.

 

[RealGun]

I used binder posts bolted to the metal sorting plate to increase the spacing. Costs only a few bucks and works GREAT.

I might try that but would note that the plate is made to fit in the black bowl ID taper.