sorting brass

[RustyFN]

I have a five gallon bucket full of mixed brass. I sorted for a couple of hours the other day and 2 hours today and have about an hour left. I will never let it get backed up that bad again. Good news is it's about 40% 45 auto brass. Most of it is range pick up and not what I shot.

 

[Blue68f100]

I have the sorting trays (45/40/9mm/380 optional). Sure beats the heck out of doing it by hand.

 

[jmorris]

I'm sure you have seen it before Rusty but this beats the snot out of sorting many gallons with screens by hand.

 

[Metal Tiger]

Yup shell sorter is the way to go. Just a tip. You want to make sure you sort before tumbling or else you get the 9mm in the 40 and both inside the .45 with this:banghead:

 

[ImjinScout]

I try to sort after each trip to the range just to avoid what you are talking about, I sort 9mm, ,40S&W and 45ACP and do it by hand.

 

[RustyFN]

I'm sure you have seen it before Rusty but this beats the snot out of sorting many gallons with screens by hand.

Yes JM and I drool every time I see it, very nice.

I have the sorting trays (45/40/9mm/380 optional). Sure beats the heck out of doing it by hand.

I thought about getting those but the problem is I have to look at every head stamp with 9mm so I can cull out the Amerc, nato, 380, 9 X 18 and 45 auto so I can cull out the nato and small primers. So I still have to look at them anyway.

 

[esheato]

Rusty,

I used to have a 5 gal bucket....it was a bit daunting when full. I've since downgraded to a 2.5 gal bucket. Much more manageable...and it's about all I can take sitting on the floor to do.

jmorris,

Very cool machine. The cases don't nest? And how does it handle rimmed cases? Homemade?

 

[animator]

All my range pickup brass goes in a .50 cal ammo can. When it gets full, or close to full, I'll sort it.

It never fails though, I'll always end up with some .380 cases mixed in with my 9mm... still haven't figured out how to avoid that one with only sorting by hand...

 

[jmorris]

Very cool machine. The cases don't nest? And how does it handle rimmed cases? Homemade?

They can nest but when they do they are easy to spot. If I'm standing there watching it I'll grab them as they come down the rollers. Rimmed cases are the same as the rest, it sorts by the largest OD on any given case. Yep, it's homemade.

 

[esheato]

Interesting. Is the roller width adjustable via the low side for OD adjustments? And I'm assuming you have sliding partitions in the collector tray so that you can push them into the bin you want?

How do you set it up? A bit of trial and error as far as adjustments and bin locations to collect?

 

[oldreloader]

I just hand sort. I use the excuse it gives me another chance to inspect the brass to cover up the fact I'm too cheap to do otherwise.

 

[jmorris]

Interesting. Is the roller width adjustable via the low side for OD adjustments? And I'm assuming you have sliding partitions in the collector tray so that you can push them into the bin you want?

How do you set it up? A bit of trial and error as far as adjustments and bin locations to collect?

The rollers are at a fixed taper as are the dividers. After I finished the basic machine I simply riveted the dividers in place where different cases dropped out. The video above was before I built the part that channels them into the bins below.


The most info I have posted on it is in this thread on page 2&3

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=11364&st=25

 

[Miata Mike]

I have the sorting trays (45/40/9mm/380 optional). Sure beats the heck out of doing it by hand.

+1

I like to have a lot to sort at once so that I am forced to tumble a lot of brass at one time. The brass cleans up so nice with a full tumbler.

 

[AFK]

I try to sort after each trip to the range just to avoid what you are talking about, I sort 9mm, ,40S&W and 45ACP and do it by hand.

I do the same. Sorting a few hundred 380, 9mm, and 45 is not bad at all.

 

[zeke]

Most brass picked up at our range is .40,9mm,45 acp and 380. Try to put in seperate bags when picked up, makes seperating it later much easier. On a very good day may only get 200 cases.

 

[FROGO207]

I don't worry about the 380 as it "feels" different when sizing and I just drop it into a different bucket than the 9mm. I have several youngsters in the family that will help me sort brass as they know that they will be able to help shoot it again when full. Sure beats that manual labor thing. I highly recommend finding some young fast fingers to help.

 

[jmorris]

I highly recommend finding some young fast fingers to help.

That has to be the most expensive and labor intensive way to sort brass I have ever heard of.

Day laborers at least would not only be potty trained but you wouldnt have to send them to college after 18 years of providing, food shelter an clothing.

 

[esheato]

My little monkey (4 yrs) helps me sort brass and I wouldn't trade it for anything...even if I do have to re-sort all his piles. LOL