WestKentucky
Member
Pick it all up...use, scrap, or sell...it has value in any category.
Using Range Brass
- Thread starter Zombie_Flesh
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Vodoun da Vinci
Member
Me too...I recover my own brass religiously and where permitted pick up any brass in the caliber I am shooting. Most of the 9mm I reload is mixed head stamp range brass that is once fired as is the .380.
Most of the .32, .38, and .357 is mine accumulated over the years or scavnged from my own once fired. Range brass is fine as long as you inspect it and cull the stuff that might cause issue.
VooDoo
Most of the .32, .38, and .357 is mine accumulated over the years or scavnged from my own once fired. Range brass is fine as long as you inspect it and cull the stuff that might cause issue.
VooDoo
Shoot until it stops working, pretty much. If it's worn out, there's no danger in leaving it in the scrap bin at the range. If someone scavenges it, they will load it at most once (or try, at least), before they find out that it's worn out. If they can't tell when their ammo has no neck tension or the primers fall out, that's not your fault. I've found a few free gifts (revolver brass! woot!) only to find out the brass was done.
There are some exceptions, I guess, like pistol ammo loaded to the brink and shot in a poorly supported chamber a number of times. I guess someone could go out of their way to push-thru size the bulges out and then load them with a plinking load for one last trip to the range. That would be plain mean.
There are some exceptions, I guess, like pistol ammo loaded to the brink and shot in a poorly supported chamber a number of times. I guess someone could go out of their way to push-thru size the bulges out and then load them with a plinking load for one last trip to the range. That would be plain mean.
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Kevin Rohrer
Member
I'll take any brass I can find. I clean, sort, bag, and use or sell.
Mer2112
Member
Yes, I pick up everything I can. De-prime, wet tumble and inspect as I load, tossing the bad ones as I come across them.
jell-dog
Member.
.380 range brass
Picked up a lot of .380 brass at outdoor range b4 the snow hit.
Just getting started cleaning/sizing/depriming and measured a few.
Well, I now know why it was left on ground!
All the pieces I have measured so far are .005" to .015" UNDER sammi minimum length
So, what are your opinions, use or scrap?
jell-dog
Picked up a lot of .380 brass at outdoor range b4 the snow hit.
Just getting started cleaning/sizing/depriming and measured a few.
Well, I now know why it was left on ground!
All the pieces I have measured so far are .005" to .015" UNDER sammi minimum length
So, what are your opinions, use or scrap?
jell-dog
jcwit
member
I'd use it, but not with full loads.
Course I do load to the max anyway.
Course I do load to the max anyway.
345 DeSoto
Member
JELL-DOG - What head stamp?...
jell-dog
Member.
mixed headstamps
Pistol brass, I scavenge and use regardless whether it is one time fired factory brass. This did get me into trouble using once fired AMERC 45 ACP. The primer pockets in that stuff opened up so quickly that primers fell out around the second reload. I would shoot from the magazine, pistol would cycle and then click, nothing. Amerc brass had fed into the chamber but the primer fell out on the way. The pistol cartridges I shoot are low pressure and the brass lasts forever. I have 38 Special nickel brass, but the cases have been reloaded so many times that the nickel is almost gone.
Rifle brass, I will only use once fired factory. Rifles are much higher pressure and things will really come unglued with bad rifle brass. You can look at the primers and the case mouth and figure whether the brass is factory or reloads. Considering how much junk rifle brass I have left on the ground, I recommend caution in using rifle brass that has obviously been reloaded. I tell guys that in rifle matches, “you don’t want my brass, you don’t know how many times I reload the stuff”. I took one set of LC 66 twenty two reloads in a M1a.
Rifle brass, I will only use once fired factory. Rifles are much higher pressure and things will really come unglued with bad rifle brass. You can look at the primers and the case mouth and figure whether the brass is factory or reloads. Considering how much junk rifle brass I have left on the ground, I recommend caution in using rifle brass that has obviously been reloaded. I tell guys that in rifle matches, “you don’t want my brass, you don’t know how many times I reload the stuff”. I took one set of LC 66 twenty two reloads in a M1a.
Blue Thunder
Member
I got most of my range brass at a pistol range I worked at part time in the 1990's. Most of it was already reloaded once but was still in good shape. I still have around 25,000 rounds of 45, 40, 9MM. I also bought several batches (bags of 1000) of 45, 40, and 9MM new brass in the early 2000's when it was cheap. I use reloads for USPSA matches and new for Area Matches, but it has been a few years since I shot a state or area match. All range brass gets checked then tumbled, then checked again and then bagged in zip lock bags with 500 to a bag. My range permits picking up any brass in my lane. I have never sold any used brass as I figure I will eventually go through mine.
Duly noted. I only use new, once fired from a reputable source that is inspected carefully and scrapped if it doesn't pass the internal rut & sizing tests, or my fired brass for anything serious.
That said, I use .223 brass from the range all the time for plinking ammo. I look for a couple of things. Does it look like a reload? If it does, does it look well worn. Not always easy to tell. Does it have an internal rut? If it does, it is scrap. Does it size to fit my Wilson gauge without having to adjust my sizer. If it doesn't, it is likely work hardened and fired multiple times. I use the rut test and sizing test on all range pick ups, even ones that are obviously once fired. (Crimped primers and the headstamp matches the boxes in the trash can.) I load them so the powder charge is safe in the heaviest brass it will be used in.
I never leave known bad brass at the range. It goes in my scrap bin at home.
Candyman87
Member
I'll pick up everything. I sort by calibers and sell/trade what I can't use for stuff that I can.
Stuff that I can use (straight-walled pistol brass) gets cleaned, inspected, and sorted by headstamp. There are headstamps that I will use, and some that I won't. (Not to mention if you have only one or two of each headstamp it's either been sitting a while or came from a box of reloads)
I've never had issues with my range pickup brass with this method and I tend to lose it before it wears out. I also don't load to max pressures or anything of that sort.
As far as range pickups, the RSO's at my range know I'll take everything and will sweep everyone's brass to me to pick through. I'll take it all and sort as mentioned above. Their reasoning? Less they have to pick up after shift.
Stuff that I can use (straight-walled pistol brass) gets cleaned, inspected, and sorted by headstamp. There are headstamps that I will use, and some that I won't. (Not to mention if you have only one or two of each headstamp it's either been sitting a while or came from a box of reloads)
I've never had issues with my range pickup brass with this method and I tend to lose it before it wears out. I also don't load to max pressures or anything of that sort.
As far as range pickups, the RSO's at my range know I'll take everything and will sweep everyone's brass to me to pick through. I'll take it all and sort as mentioned above. Their reasoning? Less they have to pick up after shift.
Reefinmike
Member
I have ~10k pieces of pistol brass that I use, only 200 of those pieces were from new purchased ammo. the rest I managed to pick up at the range after it was heartlessly abandoned by its original owner.
No negatives to report yet.
No negatives to report yet.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
I use range brass in 9mm and 45 all the time. I will use the 223 if the primer is still crimped in and it passes inspection.
No longer have to buy brass for these 3.
Now if someone would just leave me some good .357 cases.....
No longer have to buy brass for these 3.
Now if someone would just leave me some good .357 cases.....
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jell-dog
Member.
Dudedog,
You are DREAMING if you think shooters will leave 38/357 brass!
Wheel gun brass can be 100% picked up (dropped into container).
HOWEVER!! This summer I had a lane by a shooter that was just emptying his 38/357brass on the ground, when he was done I asked if he was going to pick it up for reloading, said "nope, you want it?" I said"sure, and I'll clean up your area to!"
150 38spl brass + factory boxes, 200 357mag brass + factory boxes, best range day EVER!!
jell-dog
Well, that's funny. I have had case head separations, and I couldn't even tell anything happened, other than the next round didn't chamber, normally. It almost seems like rifle brass is less of a safety issue. For most rifles, anyway. If you only use once-fired factory, does that mean you reload them only once?
Yup. The only time I found more than 6 pieces of revolver brass at the range, it was about 30-40 pieces left in a 32 oz drinking cup. Score, right? Nope. The brass was so worn out, the only way to hold a bullet in was to roll crimp over the nose of a wadcutter. I could seat the bullets with my fingers.
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I must be lucky, as I have several hundred of each from picking it up at the range over the years. With the light loads I am firing in most of it, it will last a long time. Even my 2400 load I use the nickle brass for (For easy identification only) is not max.
Scooter22
Member
I love Free Range brass. Not only is it free but it's healthy.
I've got an AR that's never fired anything but range scrounged brass. I've had a couple cracked cases and a few neck splits. I don't recall it ever having any problems with jams of any kind after around 1000 rounds.
I consider being a brass rat one of the key cost-saving measures.
I'm very selective with larger rifle calibers because those might end up as a hunting load.
With .45 and 9mm plinking ammo I'll try to salvage just about any case so long as it's brass and not cracked or split.
I wish people were sloppier with their 38/357 brass. Someone needs to invent a revolver that flings the brass all over the place when the shooter opens the cylinder. I'd be a much happier brass rat
I consider being a brass rat one of the key cost-saving measures.
I'm very selective with larger rifle calibers because those might end up as a hunting load.
With .45 and 9mm plinking ammo I'll try to salvage just about any case so long as it's brass and not cracked or split.
I wish people were sloppier with their 38/357 brass. Someone needs to invent a revolver that flings the brass all over the place when the shooter opens the cylinder. I'd be a much happier brass rat
Comrade Mike
Member
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
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- 997
My most accurate .223 loads are out of scavenged range brass
jell-dog
Member.
I've got an AR that's never fired anything but range scrounged brass. I've had a couple cracked cases and a few neck splits. I don't recall it ever having any problems with jams of any kind after around 1000 rounds.
I consider being a brass rat one of the key cost-saving measures.
I'm very selective with larger rifle calibers because those might end up as a hunting load.
With .45 and 9mm plinking ammo I'll try to salvage just about any case so long as it's brass and not cracked or split.
I wish people were sloppier with their 38/357 brass. Someone needs to invent a revolver that flings the brass all over the place when the shooter opens the cylinder. I'd be a much happier brass rat
Tony K,
Actually, there is one, the Schofield Top Break Patent Revolver
jell-dog
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