Help with brass

BIKERIDER · May 22nd, 2009, 08:52 PM

I've been reloading for about 4 months. I pick up brass at the range some of it very tarnish. 6-8 hrs. in the tumbler and still tarnish no pits and look good but the color. Is it OK to reload and shoot this brass. I've been pitching it. Thanks for any info.

airslot · May 22nd, 2009, 09:55 PM

Try adding some FLITZ metal polish to your media. My brass is coming out with a high polish appearance. Even the nasty stuff from the range.

mlr1m · May 22nd, 2009, 10:27 PM

The brass doesn't have to look new. It only needs to be clean to protect your dies.

Michael

sgtD · May 24th, 2009, 01:57 AM

I've reloaded and shot some real old brass (30-30, 30-06, 38spl, .308, .357)over the past year that was discolored as you have described. The only ones I throw out are the ones that are corroded and/or visibly pitted. The others I have used and have had no problems at all. Some were very old ones that my dad had for decades (literally decades). I even used some 30-30 brass with a Savage headstamp, so I know it was old.

In fact the only brass that has split on me is some newer 5.56, once fired, L.C. military brass. I have been told that the military brass is annealed differently at the case mouth and tends to do that, but cannot vouch for the veracity of that statement. I can only say that in my limited experience, they are the only cases that have not held up. All of the old commercial stuff and older military .308 and 30-06stuff that I have fired thus far, have been fine, even though it aint shiny.

sui-juris · May 24th, 2009, 09:23 PM

I handwash my brass sometimes when I'm too lazy to mooch a friend's tumbler so it'll be clean but look tarnished. Shiny, polished brass look nice, makes no difference.

torrejon224 · May 24th, 2009, 10:21 PM

I totally agree, my brass spends maybe an hour or an hour and a half in the tumbler with nothing but walnut and it's always been good to go. If I was concerned about accuracy vs function I'd polish it more but for range use there is no need to go crazy.

May 22nd, 2009, 08:52 PM	#1
BIKERIDER Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: TX Posts: 94	Help with brass I've been reloading for about 4 months. I pick up brass at the range some of it very tarnish. 6-8 hrs. in the tumbler and still tarnish no pits and look good but the color. Is it OK to reload and shoot this brass. I've been pitching it. Thanks for any info.

May 22nd, 2009, 09:55 PM	#2
airslot Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: GA Posts: 334	Try adding some FLITZ metal polish to your media. My brass is coming out with a high polish appearance. Even the nasty stuff from the range. __________________ The situation will NEVER BE THE WAY YOU WANT, it WILL BE THE WAY IT IS. You must be FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO ADAPT and just "DEAL WITH IT". M&P 45 S&W 22A

May 24th, 2009, 01:57 AM	#4
sgtD VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,212	I've reloaded and shot some real old brass (30-30, 30-06, 38spl, .308, .357)over the past year that was discolored as you have described. The only ones I throw out are the ones that are corroded and/or visibly pitted. The others I have used and have had no problems at all. Some were very old ones that my dad had for decades (literally decades). I even used some 30-30 brass with a Savage headstamp, so I know it was old. In fact the only brass that has split on me is some newer 5.56, once fired, L.C. military brass. I have been told that the military brass is annealed differently at the case mouth and tends to do that, but cannot vouch for the veracity of that statement. I can only say that in my limited experience, they are the only cases that have not held up. All of the old commercial stuff and older military .308 and 30-06stuff that I have fired thus far, have been fine, even though it aint shiny. __________________ When you've got 'em by the balls, their hearts & minds will follow. Semper Fi.

May 24th, 2009, 09:23 PM	#5
sui-juris Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: MI Posts: 500	I handwash my brass sometimes when I'm too lazy to mooch a friend's tumbler so it'll be clean but look tarnished. Shiny, polished brass look nice, makes no difference. __________________ " Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master." George Washington

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May 22nd, 2009, 10:27 PM	#3
mlr1m Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: okla Posts: 771	The brass doesn't have to look new. It only needs to be clean to protect your dies. Michael

May 24th, 2009, 10:21 PM	#6
torrejon224 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 674	I totally agree, my brass spends maybe an hour or an hour and a half in the tumbler with nothing but walnut and it's always been good to go. If I was concerned about accuracy vs function I'd polish it more but for range use there is no need to go crazy.