qajaq59
Member
Sounds like everyone should do what they think is right. That way we're all happy.
Would you use range brass?
- Thread starter scythefwd
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swiftak
Member
Pick it up, clean it up, reload it, shoot it.
Well, the quote in the OP was rather judgmental too, and definitely snobbish. I'll use any brass I find that I have a gun to fit, and it's my right to do so. The calibers I don't reload for, I'll give or trade those to someone else that does. If somebody else doesn't want to do that, fine, but they should **** about it and not criticize those who do.
LiveLife
Member
I do pick up "Straight walled PISTOL" range brass - have been doing it for quite a few years.
After each range session, when I sort my spent cases (and range brass pick up) by calibers, I do the following. I sort cases into different bins marked:
Once Fired - Verified once fired cases
Good - Clean cases with no damage
OK - Dirty/older looking cases with light/usable scratches
Scrap - Damaged/questionable cases
I use OK cases for plinking/range loads (starting - mid charge) that I do not mind losing.
I use Good cases for match and match practice loads (mid charge) that I plan to pick up.
I reserve the Once Fired cases for near max to full pressure loads.
It is not a 100% process, but it's what I have used the past 15+ years. I have some test cases that have over 50-100 reloads (mid charge) on them. I also scrap any case that I have questions/concerns with along with cases that have loose primer pockets (they get marked with "X" on the base to be sorted out after shooting).
After each range session, when I sort my spent cases (and range brass pick up) by calibers, I do the following. I sort cases into different bins marked:
Once Fired - Verified once fired cases
Good - Clean cases with no damage
OK - Dirty/older looking cases with light/usable scratches
Scrap - Damaged/questionable cases
I use OK cases for plinking/range loads (starting - mid charge) that I do not mind losing.
I use Good cases for match and match practice loads (mid charge) that I plan to pick up.
I reserve the Once Fired cases for near max to full pressure loads.
It is not a 100% process, but it's what I have used the past 15+ years. I have some test cases that have over 50-100 reloads (mid charge) on them. I also scrap any case that I have questions/concerns with along with cases that have loose primer pockets (they get marked with "X" on the base to be sorted out after shooting).
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I have a case head separation sharpened wire probe that checks for incipient case head separation. I also have a fired cartridge headspace gauge for each caliber I load for. If I find a case that is over SAAMI specs I cull it. With that and a neck sizer or full length die set to the peculiar dimensions of the headspace the rifle stretching of the case is therefore minimized. The rifle range I shoot at freaks if they see a person picking up range brass so I haven't picked up brass in awhile.
There has been also a noticeable increase in accuracy since some of the chamber case wobble in the bolt action has been reduced.
I can only assume that once fired range brass or even suspect cases if checked properly and primer seating resistance are noted you should be OK. That said, for the cost of a new 100 round bag of unfired, known history, brass it's worth the "insurance expense" to me.
Bexar
There has been also a noticeable increase in accuracy since some of the chamber case wobble in the bolt action has been reduced.
I can only assume that once fired range brass or even suspect cases if checked properly and primer seating resistance are noted you should be OK. That said, for the cost of a new 100 round bag of unfired, known history, brass it's worth the "insurance expense" to me.
Bexar
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Smokey Joe
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Eek! don't waste it!!
Kk0g--You said
Save the dead automobile batteries, and don't pay the auto store the "recycling fee"--The auto store just turns all those batteries over to a scrap company and makes money on both ends! You can do the same thing yourself.
The most obvious recycling candidate is aluminum cans--there again, just save 'em up until you get enough to take to the scrap people.
None of this is going to make you rich, of course, but aside from being The Right Thing To Do, it does put a couple of extra bucks in your pocket. Use that $ to buy an extra pound of powder or such.
Kk0g--You said
Gee Whiz! Save up those bad cases in a separate bucket--Recycling companies will pay good money for scrap brass. Sure it might take you a couple of years to accumulate enough to be worth it, but so what? Don't lets waste valuable resources.
Save the dead automobile batteries, and don't pay the auto store the "recycling fee"--The auto store just turns all those batteries over to a scrap company and makes money on both ends! You can do the same thing yourself.
The most obvious recycling candidate is aluminum cans--there again, just save 'em up until you get enough to take to the scrap people.
None of this is going to make you rich, of course, but aside from being The Right Thing To Do, it does put a couple of extra bucks in your pocket. Use that $ to buy an extra pound of powder or such.
LiveLife
Member
I think reloading and shooting is quite "GREEN" as most components are fully recyclable.
Case/primer - Reloadable and recyclable as brass, aluminum, steel
Bullets - Recyclable when melted down as lead alloy, copper, etc. (even frangible clay and metallic bullets)
Powder - Naturally occurring chemical compounds (Clay, sulfur, charcoal, etc.)
Maybe the "GREEN" aspect of the shooting sport will catch on?
Aint no shame in my game. I pick up everything I find on the ground if I reload for it. I don't reload 9mm or .40 S&W so I leave it for the person who does. I have buckets of .223, .30-06, .38spl, .357mag, and .45ACP. I love finding AMERC brass. I take pliers and close the case mouth and scrap it. I have W.C.C. 45 ACP brass that has 1942 stamped on it. Now that's what I call recycling.
evan price
Member
Absolutely, don't waste your time messing with range brass with an unknown history. It's just not worth your time to pick it up. Leave it lay! Someone will be along to shovel it up for safe disposal pretty soon.
Instead, you should buy some of the brass I sell- which is most definitely not range brass I collected, tumbled, sorted and boxed for resale. All of my 1X fired brass was created by immaculate deflagration.
KY: I have RA 34 brass, and a couple pieces, can't remember which it is, RA, FC, some government ammo- dated "18"...with the funky old 19th century font, dome-type corrosive primers and all. 1918 is OLD!
Instead, you should buy some of the brass I sell- which is most definitely not range brass I collected, tumbled, sorted and boxed for resale. All of my 1X fired brass was created by immaculate deflagration.
KY: I have RA 34 brass, and a couple pieces, can't remember which it is, RA, FC, some government ammo- dated "18"...with the funky old 19th century font, dome-type corrosive primers and all. 1918 is OLD!
1SOW
Member
I use 100% range brass for pistols.
Walkalong & jcwit + 2 for their procedures.
Because I shoot 9mm, I never pick up 'color-marked' brass. I know several guys shooting 9mm "major" and they mark their brass so 'they' won't reuse them. Most of the primer holes are bad anyway.
Everything else of the headstamps I prefer puts a big smile on my face.
Walkalong, I'm glad you leave those empty WWB boxes in the trash. I reuse them at least 8-10 times to carry my reloads in my bag.
I keep at least 10 ready-to-go.
Walkalong & jcwit + 2 for their procedures.
Because I shoot 9mm, I never pick up 'color-marked' brass. I know several guys shooting 9mm "major" and they mark their brass so 'they' won't reuse them. Most of the primer holes are bad anyway.
Everything else of the headstamps I prefer puts a big smile on my face.
Walkalong, I'm glad you leave those empty WWB boxes in the trash. I reuse them at least 8-10 times to carry my reloads in my bag.
I keep at least 10 ready-to-go.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Only if I knew it was coming from new factory ammo with a known headstamp. Wouldn't touch a bunch of mixed headstamp brass of unknown origin or any of that funky foreign stuff that was just swept up off the floor. Just can't do it.
jhansman
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I only buy new or once-fired rifle brass, but pick up all the .45ACP I can find at my range, and then sort through it when I resize & decap. Whatever is not in good to excellent condition never gets to the shell holder. My stash of Winchester, R & P, and Federal pistol brass all came from the range.
jleyring
Member
I love once fired brass. It is cheaper and as long as I inspect it I feel comfortable with it. I usually load middle grade. I dont push the limit with my loads. Ive gotten brass from recycle centers and some you through out and some are great. Great place to get 40 S&W is from the range that the police train at. Maybe im just cheap but no sense to pay for brand new ammo if I have the equipment to load them up myself. I will buy a bag of new brass when i get a new gun but for the most part just collect brass from where ever i can get it. Of course never take the casing that have been in the dirt for months. It comes down to common sense most of the time.
jcwit
member
Explain please, where's the common sense to that statement?
Whats the reasoning, why can't you do it?
But then again, keep doing it, as it leaves more brass for those of us who know what we're doing.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Fear of the unknown. No idea if they've been reloaded several times by Joe-Bob up the street that may or may not know what he's doing. Hell, sometimes you see cases that were obviously fired in the wrong gun. I trust my handloads, in my guns, with my brass, my bullets, my primers and my powder. Sorry but I've been to the public range way too many times, seen way too many people that didn't know what they were doing to trust the brass flying out of their guns. Call me anal retentive but I also like to keep my headstamps the same.
No, that wasn't condescending at all. As was stated above, how about you do what you want and I'll do the same. I made absolutely no judgement against those who do use range pickup brass, yet somehow you obviously took offense to it. I would appreciate the same consideration.
jcwit
member
No offence taken at all. Just seems a little ridiculous to me. I inspect all range pick-ups. This society seems to have made folks fearful of most everything. One only has to look at all the fear over lead, a natural element, but it being outlawed even as a wheel weight.
Like you say,
My opinion and I'm sticking to it. Reloading experience--50 years.
Like you say,
Works for me, and leaves more for others to use.
My opinion and I'm sticking to it. Reloading experience--50 years.
jamesicus
Member
I subscribe to that rationale. Hand loading experience: sixty years.
JP
wow6599
Member
All the time. Hell, I even save .40 brass even though I don't currently own a .40. If/when I get back in to a 40 I will probably have 10,000 pieces of brass to load.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
So because I don't trust someone else's brass I'm Chicken Little??? Please. Let us try not to make this personal. We're talking about discarded brass cartridge cases, not character flaws, real or perceived.
I handload for zero autoloaders so we are in no danger of stepping on each other's toes at the range.
jcwit
member
I wasn't making this personal. I used the words, soceity, meaning as a whole, and folks, which is plural. If you take this personal, I'm sorry.
What could multiple reloadings have to do with wheather the brass is safe or not? I stated I inspect brass 3 times before reloading. As long as the brass has correct primer pockets and meets all other specs, whats the problem. I've got rifle brass thats been reloaded 60 plus times and are dedicated to a single rifle. Pistol brass that has been reloaded Lord knows how many times, but I dare say its in the triple digits.
Those, of course, would never pass the first inspection, unless I was drunk, but then I don't drink.
I also do this.
jcwit
member
Otto, explain please. I see it was fired in a Glock, other that that?????????????????????
Smokey Joe
Member
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Guys....
I think we've covered the OP's question,
I think we've covered the OP's question,
from all possible angles. Let's try to keep it High Road.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
That's one good example. Another would be cases that have been used for heavy loads in magnum pistol chamberings. All it takes is one more to separate the case head. Or maybe they're trimmed to an oddball length, shorter than those I developed a specific load for. Or could be that they were used with blackpowder and allowed to set without cleaning, leading to some corrosion. Or myriad other reasons.
I already admitted to being anal retentive. My question is, why do you care to the point of making condescending comments over it??? Maybe you have some issues of your own? Are you that offended that you use the brass I step over?
I pick up all of the straight wall pistol brass; 9mm, .40sw, .45acp, .44spl/mag. I only reload the .45 and .44 though since that is what my guns are chambered in. I will also pick up .223/5.56, .308/7.62x51, and any other shinny brass I might see. I don't reload those but someone may need some brass eventually.
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