Reloading brass?

C9H13NO3 · February 19th, 2008, 11:31 PM

I'm stocking up on used brass that I pick up at the range. I'm going to buy a reloading press and supplies with the $600 tax return we all get. Anyway, is there any difference in the manufacturer of the brass? I've been picking up winchester only so far. Do most of you reloaders just use whatever brass you can find, or are you brand specific?

P95Carry · February 19th, 2008, 11:41 PM

Most brands seen to do Ok but - if you can manage the effort - set aside cases by headstamp and load in matching batches .. it helps with regard to case capacity and case length ... albeit by small factors.

Wall thicknesses could vary by small amounts and also even hardness aspects - which could affect crimp function slightly.

For .38 spl I confess I load any old cases but where headspacing is important re rimless stuff - seems worth sorting before reloading (IMO).

C9H13NO3 · February 19th, 2008, 11:56 PM

I haven't been able to find .40 S&W bullets anywhere either for some reason.

I'll probably stick to just winchester brass. I can find it everywhere since everyone shoots it.

friesepferd · February 20th, 2008, 01:40 AM

i use whatever.
and remember folks, this money we are getting, it is a tax return advance.
its not like ur just getting free $600, b/c you are getting that much less next year
having said that, spend the money of gun stuff!

C9H13NO3 · February 20th, 2008, 01:54 AM

Aww crap. I thought it was an EXTRA $600. My average return is around $600, so I guess I can expect to either owe, or not get anything next year.

coffeecup · February 20th, 2008, 07:57 AM

For plinking and such most any brass is OK. Pistol brass will last a very long time if you take care of it. More is lost at the range than is worn out. I am still reloading some I got back in the early 60s'.

Tubby45 · February 20th, 2008, 11:42 AM

Don't bother with Amerc brass. It sucks.

The big names are good, Starline is excellent.

Federal is soft brass and wears quicker. I'll take if the price is right (cheap or free) but I usually pick it up to trade or sell.

FloridaShooter · February 28th, 2008, 01:56 AM

I've had a weird problem with S&B brass...wherein the overall length of the bullet and cartridge varies more than with other brass...

Doesn't stop me from using it...but I keep a close check on ammo reloaded in those cases to make sure it doesn't end up exceeding the max OAL.

Other than that...I reload whatever...but I REALLY like loading nickel cases... ;)

cvhoss · February 28th, 2008, 12:11 PM

The only caution I would throw out about mixing brass would be when you are working up a load that approaches a maximum charge. Any difference in wall thickness changes overall case volume. This reduction could cause dangerous pressures if the load was worked up in brass with a thinner wall / larger case volume. Most of us never experience this problem when loading for the range as there is not much advantage to loading max charges for target shooting. The most obvious and warned about comes with reloading for the 223 rifle. Virtually every reloading manual will have a warning about reducing powder charges if loading military cases as they can have as much as 10% less volume than commercial 223 cases. Again, for standard target pistol loads, you will have more concern over different case lengths than different manufacturers and this only because it may affect the degree of crimp you get.

Hoss

rocky · February 28th, 2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tubby45

Don't bother with Amerc brass. It sucks.

The big names are good, Starline is excellent.

Federal is soft brass and wears quicker. I'll take if the price is right (cheap or free) but I usually pick it up to trade or sell.

Yup, Amerc sucks big time.

February 19th, 2008, 11:31 PM	#1
C9H13NO3 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Iraq Posts: 410	Reloading brass? I'm stocking up on used brass that I pick up at the range. I'm going to buy a reloading press and supplies with the $600 tax return we all get. Anyway, is there any difference in the manufacturer of the brass? I've been picking up winchester only so far. Do most of you reloaders just use whatever brass you can find, or are you brand specific? __________________ - Semper Fi "You killed him?" "No, I shot him. The bullets and the fall killed him." - Collateral

February 19th, 2008, 11:41 PM	#2
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,366	Most brands seen to do Ok but - if you can manage the effort - set aside cases by headstamp and load in matching batches .. it helps with regard to case capacity and case length ... albeit by small factors. Wall thicknesses could vary by small amounts and also even hardness aspects - which could affect crimp function slightly. For .38 spl I confess I load any old cases but where headspacing is important re rimless stuff - seems worth sorting before reloading (IMO). __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

February 19th, 2008, 11:56 PM	#3
C9H13NO3 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Iraq Posts: 410	I haven't been able to find .40 S&W bullets anywhere either for some reason. I'll probably stick to just winchester brass. I can find it everywhere since everyone shoots it. __________________ - Semper Fi "You killed him?" "No, I shot him. The bullets and the fall killed him." - Collateral

February 20th, 2008, 01:40 AM	#4
friesepferd Distinguished Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: what used to be the state of Franklin (look it up) Posts: 1,719	i use whatever. and remember folks, this money we are getting, it is a tax return advance. its not like ur just getting free $600, b/c you are getting that much less next year having said that, spend the money of gun stuff! __________________ Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency.

February 20th, 2008, 01:54 AM	#5
C9H13NO3 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Iraq Posts: 410	Aww crap. I thought it was an EXTRA $600. My average return is around $600, so I guess I can expect to either owe, or not get anything next year. __________________ - Semper Fi "You killed him?" "No, I shot him. The bullets and the fall killed him." - Collateral

February 20th, 2008, 07:57 AM	#6
coffeecup Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cadiz,Ky Posts: 587	For plinking and such most any brass is OK. Pistol brass will last a very long time if you take care of it. More is lost at the range than is worn out. I am still reloading some I got back in the early 60s'.

February 20th, 2008, 11:42 AM	#7
Tubby45 Distinguished Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: In the reloading room Posts: 1,988	Don't bother with Amerc brass. It sucks. The big names are good, Starline is excellent. Federal is soft brass and wears quicker. I'll take if the price is right (cheap or free) but I usually pick it up to trade or sell. __________________ Freakshow Manufacturing LLC "You can kill it. We can help." 07 FFL/ 02 SOT

February 28th, 2008, 01:56 AM	#8
FloridaShooter Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Altoona, Florida Posts: 30	I've had a weird problem with S&B brass...wherein the overall length of the bullet and cartridge varies more than with other brass... Doesn't stop me from using it...but I keep a close check on ammo reloaded in those cases to make sure it doesn't end up exceeding the max OAL. Other than that...I reload whatever...but I REALLY like loading nickel cases... ;) __________________ NRA Certified Basic Pistol and Basic Rifle Instructor Coming soon- Range Safety Officer and Metallic Cartridge Instructor Certification US Concealed Carry Magazine

February 28th, 2008, 12:11 PM	#9
cvhoss Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 802	The only caution I would throw out about mixing brass would be when you are working up a load that approaches a maximum charge. Any difference in wall thickness changes overall case volume. This reduction could cause dangerous pressures if the load was worked up in brass with a thinner wall / larger case volume. Most of us never experience this problem when loading for the range as there is not much advantage to loading max charges for target shooting. The most obvious and warned about comes with reloading for the 223 rifle. Virtually every reloading manual will have a warning about reducing powder charges if loading military cases as they can have as much as 10% less volume than commercial 223 cases. Again, for standard target pistol loads, you will have more concern over different case lengths than different manufacturers and this only because it may affect the degree of crimp you get. Hoss __________________ I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I always was Kahr PM-9 / Sig P-245 / Para NiteHawg / Walther PPK / Beretta Tomcat / Ruger LCP BDA 380 / Taurus 85 / Kel-Tec PF-9 / Am. Derringer 357 / Sig Sauer 239 SAS / Walther PPS .40 NRA Life Member My Web Site

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