What's your plan to organize your brass?

[RidgwayCO]

Yep, I confess, I'm hooked Ben. It just meters and performs so well, and burns so clean, that the extra money spent on it seems worthwhile. And if I buy it in bulk from Powder Valley, then it doesn't even seem so expensive...

(What was that line from the movie The Big Chill? "Rationalizations: they're more important than sex. Don't believe me? When was the last time you went a week without a rationalization?")

 

[ranger335v]

Zip-Lock bags. I put a note card in the bag where it's easy to read and squeeze the air out. Compact storage and it's easy to find what I'm looking for.

I don't like ANY type of rigid container for brass. They each take as much space when empty as full, that's just too inflexable for my taste...

 

[33rowdy]

I do it like Ranger myself. Zip-Lock bags and some in plastic coffee cans with masking tape as lables.

 

[SciFiJim]

Plastic shoe boxes from a yard sale formerly used for a lady's crafts (hey, we all have our hobbies ). One for each caliber (so far) and then zip lock bags of 100 each inside the box. A shoebox will hold 1K .45acp brass if you wiggle it a little. At the range I use a 3 liter soda bottle with the top cut off for a brass bucket. I like the idea of using a milk jug with a handle, I will need to switch.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Another Zip Lock bag user. Also shoe box size plastic boxes with hinged lids.

These are then put on shelves for easy identification.

 

[1SOW]

So Far, the large plastic coffee 'cans' (RED=Range Brass, GREEN=Ready to load & BLUE=Deprimed-Needs Cleaning), but it's already getting out of hand.

Thanks for some good ideas.

 

[Floppy_D]

Lord, I wish I had the organization skills you fellers have. I sort it into various coffee cans, bags and boxes, and label it all. I do have a big rubbermaid plastic drawer set that has 9 or so drawers; the top 3 are brass, ready to load, the next 3 are bullets, and the bottom 3 (which are bigger) are dies, primers, and tools (odds n' ends).

I'm at a range that lets me pick up a lot of range brass, so it sits in 5 gal buckets in my toolshed, next to the 5 gal buckets full of wheel weights I use to cast bullets. I have a Test Rite rolling lockaway that has primers, powder and loaded rounds. I bet most of my reloading paraphernalia wouldn't fit in a generous refrigerator box. I need a plan to organize my brass.

 

[WNTFW]

I have used what was on hand or in other words are ready paid for.

Outside is all the newly aquired range pickup. (dirty) Stored in big steel bins, 5 gal buckets & a wooden crate or 2. This is out of the weather.

Once it is sorted & cleaned I move it inside. Then as I inspect & process it goes into what I had on hand or get for free. Coffee cans, Zip locks & what ever container my wife handed down to me. I use ziplocks for brass that give away, trade or sell and to segregate any specific group.

When I have bought new containers I went to a dollar store. I prefer square or rectangular and something that will stack when full with lid & nest when empty. Sterlite make some shoe boxes that are a good size for me.

I have made up some cards that have the stages of prep with a check box next to them. Rifle card is different from pistol card. Then they get the RTL when they are Ready To Load. RTL means all they need is primer, powder bullet. My case prep is pretty linear so it is pretty easy to keep track of, but the cards make it idiot resistant . . . .

I also put a green label on all powders & primers with the date/source & price. Mainly it started to keep primers closed after I checked the contents. Now I just like having the info on the products. FIFO is also idiot resistant . . . .

 

[ar10]

I use the "shoe box" style plastic containers for both storage and sorting brass. I use the Rubber Maid shoe boxes and stack them about 8 high, which is pretty good IMO.

 

[evan price]

WNTFW: I thought I was the only one who dated all my supplies and rotated to use the oldest first. I just use a silver sharpie right on the jug.

I buy my powders in 8# jugs, but I always buy at least one 1# bottle, then I pour from the 8# to fill the 1#, that way the label and everything actually matches the powder, and I don't have to worry about contaminating 8# of powder if I dump the powder measure into the wrong jug.

Another fortunate thing for me is repair parts for machines at work come in ziplock bags that are half a sandwich bag in size, or the gallon size. I peel off our sticker and use them for sale/trade brass, and really small lots. Free is good.

 

[eng23ine]

I prefer the plastic 2.5 lb coffee cans. they have a huge mouth, stack well and they are FREE.

 

[moooose102]

i like to recycle stuff. i use a bunch of empty (and washed out) beef jerky containers. i seperate and label them accrding to caliber / headstamp, etc. works for me, and i dont have to throw plastic into the trash.

 

[ar10]

If you want to get real anal sort by head stamp within head stamp. Then you can sort by head stamp date on most milspec cases.

 

[rondog]

I also use a lot of these, they come in many different sizes and shapes from WalMart or Dollar stores. Great for brass and tumbling media, and lots of other things. Stackable too. I prefer the square 3 quart size.

 

[RustyFN]

These containers with the lid work well also. I get them at Sam's Club in a three pack fairly cheap. They are around 1.5 gallons.


Rusty

 

[lawboy]

I order free shipping boxes from the postal service website.
I tape them up with good packing tape and label them as to what brass is inside. I then fill them with brass and stack them in my brass cabinet in the garage. I have a seven-foot cabinet just for brass. I has three shelves. That is the deep storage brass.

Primers are stored in a cabinet inside the house in my hobby room where it is climate controlled. Powder is stored in a cabinet in the garage that is unlocked and is in no way airtight.

cast bullets get stored in various containers in a cabinet in the garage at floor level or waste level so there is above-waist lifting.