What's the most crazy thing you've ever done with spent brass?

[deker]

So, I was away from the house for a few days and when I came back it appeared that the lawn guy had accidentally cut a loose cable from the satellite dish (Well, he at least twisted then ends back together ).

So, I went into my office checking for spare connectors and realized I was one short. Then I saw a spare piece of spent .357mag brass and thought "That looks like a cable connector...". Long story short, a .40S&W cartridge is just big enough to fit around everything and get crimped on. A little work with a jeweler's saw to cut off the primer end and a little work in the dark with a flashlight in the back yard and VIOLA! Satellite works again. Sure, it's likely the most hideous abomination of cabling ever, but late on a Sunday night, it's the best I could do. (and no, I won't be posting pics...I'd lose my little remaining "geek cred" ).

All of this got me to thinking (whilst I was hacking up cable in the yard) what are some of the other things folks have used "gun stuff" for that it wasn't designed to do?

C'mon folks, own up to those terrible things you've done in a pinch!!

-d

 

[iiibdsiil]

You have gotta post pictures.

 

[JohnKSa]

Made a clip for a lapel mike out of a small section of a nickel plated .357 case.

 

[GunGoBoom]

Hmm, I'm imagining a 10 ga shell shot glass...

 

[HRT]

Replaced the lost nylon bushing in a rolling pin with a piece of 30-06 brass. That was 20 + years ago and the rolling pin still is in service

 

[KriegHund]

Made a tiki torh out of various shell sizes, .357, 30-06 and .44 mag i think.

Other than that, i toyed with the idea of using a 9mm shell over a 30-06 for holding gun oil, but i decided not to.

Er, i think it was 9mm. Mightve been 40 or something. *edit* twas a .45 case

Youde be surprised to find the various combinations of shells one can use. Try using some spent pistol cartridges and putting them over some spent rifle cartridges.

 

[GregGry]

I have made a brass man out of numerous .45 and .44m empties, they were held together with pipe cleaners

 

[waterhouse]

Back in the day around Christmas time my dad would go find a branch and strip all of the leaves off of it. Then he would put the branch in a pot of dirt so that it looked like a miniature tree without any leaves.

He would hang a spent piece of brass (30-06) on one of the "limbs" and proudly displayed his creation near the door.

When people asked about it he said "It's a cartridge in a bare tree."

He thought the whole gig was hilarious.

 

[Warren]

GatGoBang

Hmm, I'm imagining a 10 ga shell shot glass...

I have got to get my eyes checked, my first read on that, when I was skimming the thread was it said 10mm. I was going to counsel you about over doing things.

BattlePooch

Made a tiki torh out of various shell sizes, .357, 30-06 and .44 mag i think.

Do you mean torah or torch? Though either way it is impressive.

 

[KriegHund]

Oops, meant a tiki torch.
I have some pictures but they arent hosted at the moment.

All one needs to do is find some pure cotten thread and some tiki torch oil, and some way to seel the top. I just punched out a lead disk (hammer the open end of the cartridge into the lead) and then put a hole in it for the wick (cotton thread).

Lasts all of 30 seconds but it is fun.

 

[Cesiumsponge]

I kept the brass tailsection on a 12ga shell and turned it into a snapcap. No torch, but its better than paying $8 for one!

 

[Nio]

A friend of mine makes Santa Claus Christmas ornaments out of 12 ga shot shells.

Nio

 

[Warren]

This would make a great book.

I'm serious.

A ncie picture book with with the arts and crafts of the spent cartridge.

 

[thebigc]

i filled an empty guiness bottle with .22lr brass .45acp brass and some 30-06 and then gorilla glued the cap on i plan on makeing a colection with a bunch of diffrent brands it looks really cool if you put it up to a light.

 

[Hhrshooter]

Well, I once made a pen and pencil holder out've .50 cal brass and a 20mm case. I have to say though polishing it was the hard part... The navy taught me well...lol

 

[Hardtarget]

I cut small disks of rubber from a car tire and glued them in place of primers to make snap caps for 12 ga.
I made buttons for button fiy Levi's out of 20 ga. brass.
I use a .38 spec. case to measure black powder for my cannon.
I used .38 spec. case to make "blunts" for my archery hunting for rabbits.
I think thats it.
Mark.

 

[sdchuck1]

This is someone elses idea

I tool a slice of a 45 casing and make a gasket for the leaking gas block on my yugo sks. Worked like a charm and I have been able to shoot semi auto for about 4 months straight now.

 

[Akusp]

30.06 brass made fine tailpiece for a mountain banjo.

Randy

 

[Mauserguy]

I drilled out the primers on some 7.65x54r brass, strung them on some 20lb fishing line and made a necklace for my old girlfreind. I used an 8MM as a pendant on the end. I never did figure out why she dumped me...
Mauserguy

 

[RoyG]

I have got to get my eyes checked, my first read on that, when I was skimming the thread was it said 10mm. I was going to counsel you about over doing things.

Ask a Apache Armanment Dawg how much it takes to fill a 30 mm case. And then ask him what he drank, and did he get it all down in one drink.

Not that I've ever done anything like that or seen it done...

 

[Chrontius]

20mm Mk.2 brass is about the right size for a shot glass, if not for the flash-hole and the Bernden primer it wants. (I guess I could just epoxy over the hole, but I'm not sure how food-safe that is)

 

[DeputyVaughn]

Brass Lamp????????????

My wife bought a lamp at K-mart. One of those your suppose to fill with sand or rocks, etc. She filled it with freshly tumbled brass. I thought about making several of these to sell at the next gun show.

Scott

pic was taken with the shade off to see better.

 

[moredes]

Best use I've ever seen out of an empty case--- crown for a tooth.

 

[kngflp]

Earrings...my ears were streatched to about 1/2". So I trimmed down and flaired out some .45 casings. My friend made some out of 12 gauge shells.

 

[Flyboy]

.45 ACP rims make a fine screwdriver for aircraft access panels when you don't have a quarter.

I know what you're thinking; I took it from my spare mag, thank you, and my student also carries.