range brass

[deviljunkie]

going to work up a load for 243 soon. i have a bunch of range brass i was planning on using. anybody else use range brass and if so how do you sort it? i was planning on doing headstamp and weight. anything else i shopuld look for? if it simply is not safe to do so i could buy some if its available. ideas and opinions please. and thank you in advance

 

[red_zr24x4]

I sort out the damaged beyond reloadable brass and work up a load from there.

 

[Vamptepes]

All I do is sort out the wrong cases and ones that are torn up or crushed bad. I don't sort by head stamp or weight. I see no point with what I'm doing.

 

[red_zr24x4]

^ exactly, if you're shooting matches I might be more anal about it, but I bet 90% of the people who read this forum would not benefit from sorting cases by headstamp or weight

 

[hooky]

Range pick up brass just gets a basic sort. What caliber? Is it in reloadable condition?

 

[deviljunkie]

Range pick up brass just gets a basic sort. What caliber? Is it in reloadable condition?

243.

 

[hooky]

Range pick up brass just gets a basic sort. What caliber? Is it in reloadable condition?

243.

What I meant was those are the two things I ask myself when I'm sorting range brass.

 

[Leadeye]

Been reloading over 40 years, can't imagine life without range brass.

 

[Broom_jm]

Depending on your goals and your pocket book, the range brass will be entirely suitable, even if it does require some sorting. For plinking loads, sorting isn't indicated. If you want 1/3 MOA varmint loads for a prairie dog hunt out west, probably best to start with a single lot of brass.

 

[dooshie]

Been reloading over 40 years, can't imagine life without range brass.

exactly what he said.. lol

 

[Leo]

One more thing to beware of with range pickups. Bottle necked rifle brass that has been full length sized to under spec and shot in a loose chambered rifle is dangerous. A stress ring will start working on the case body about 7/16ths forward of the base. You will see a brighter color ring at least 1/2 way around. Using a good magnifier, the brass on the ring will look "frosty" in contrast to the smooth formed surface of the rest of the case. This is where the case is growing to fill the chamber each shoot. It will break off there, and fill your face full of hot gas and melted bits of brass. In an AR, the ejector will pull out what looks like a .380 case and leave the reast of the body/shoulder/neck area in your rifles chamber. If you are shooting an M1a or a bolt action when a case lets go, you better have on glasses. Not a fun experience.

 

[Iroquois]

As long as it's commercial brand name brass with no gouges or stress marks, I'd use it. Military brass is no fun for a newbie.....

 

[Fullmag]

As far as brass getting used up the neck will get brittle and crack, so inspect them closely, bottle necked cases also need trimmed frequently. So the first thing I'd do after cleaning is size and check OAL of the cases.

 

[xM3RC1L3SS1x]

Just inspect it thoroughly like other brass.