Which brass to keep?

skosh69 · #1 01-10-2012, 11:35 PM

Ok, sorted through every piece of brass tonight.

All the off brands/onesy, twosy I tossed in a misc. bin.

Oh yeah, they're all large primer.

I have the following Manuf. and amounts (roughly)

WINCHESTER-150 -200 PIECES (I KNOW TO KEEP THIS)

Should I keep or toss the remaining?

REMINGTON-4 DOZ

FEDERAL-3 DOZ

CCI-3 DOZ

SPEER-2 DOZ

STARLINE-1 DOZ

CBC -1 DOZ

PMC- MORE THAN A GALLON ZIPLOC BAGS WORTH!!!

Hoss in IL · #2 01-10-2012, 11:57 PM

ellison, I've reloaded all of those. I haven't had any problems so far. I used to do the same thing you did, separate by head stamp. Not any more, too time consuming and from everything I've read and have been told, it doesn't make much appreciable difference to spend the time doing it. But, if it makes you feel like you'll be producing better reloads, go for it.

You might find that some of the brands have tighter/looser primer pockets. You'll feel the difference when you seat the primers.

You can take your calipers and measure a random mix of different brand case lengths to see if you have a wide variance in case lengths for setting up your dies. That would be the only reason I could see to separate brands.

Take this with a grain of salt, I've only been reloading for a little while.

ETA: I did have some problems with Remington brass. I picked up some cases from BRAND NEW +P hollow points that I had just fired and noticed that the cases were cracked from the case mouth to about halfway down the case. I looked at the rest of the UNFIRED cartridges in the box and out of the 42 rounds left in the box, 18 of them had hairline cracks in them (before even being fired). So, it pays to inspect your ammo, reloads and brand new factory rounds too.

Lane · #3 01-11-2012, 12:34 AM

I keep 'em all. When I get home from the range, I sort the brass (9mm, 40 and .45). I'll toss a bunch of one or the other in the tumbler and let it run for a while. I don't really paying attention until I'm loading, then I'll give it a look over before I put it on the press. I've never worried to much about sorting head stamps.

Lane

skosh69 · #4 01-11-2012, 01:01 AM

Thanks Terry and Lane!

The reason I asked this question, finally, was that I've heard conflicting stories about brass-which is good, which ones are bad, etc...

Oh, I forgot one thing, when I pull a bullet and deprime it, can I reuse the primer if it looks ok?

Thanks again,

Ell

Hoss in IL · #5 01-11-2012, 01:23 AM

You're brave. When I screw up a case, I drop the EMPTY case in a pistol and fire it to set the primer off and just re-size and de-cap the case. I don't want to try to de-cap a live primer on my progressive press, too close to the tube of live primers.

Lane · #6 01-11-2012, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skosh69

Thanks Terry and Lane!

The reason I asked this question, finally, was that I've heard conflicting stories about brass-which is good, which ones are bad, etc...

Oh, I forgot one thing, when I pull a bullet and deprime it, can I reuse the primer if it looks ok?

Thanks again,

Ell

Assuming you're pulling the bullet to correct the load or OAL, there should be no reason to deprime. I just set the primed case back on the press in the next station.

I have deprimed live primers on my press - but like Hoss says it's scary as hell and not something you want to be doing if you can help it. I do not reuse a primer that I've pushed out. They are cheap enough that I don't feel like it's worth it.

Lane

skosh69 · #7 01-11-2012, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoss in IL

You're brave. When I screw up a case, I drop the EMPTY case in a pistol and fire it to set the primer off and just re-size and de-cap the case. I don't want to try to de-cap a live primer on my progressive press, too close to the tube of live primers.

Brave? Nobody's ever called me that, stoopid or dumbazz, is more like it! hahaha

Never thought about that, just "popping it off", might have to try that!

I use a single stage, so no live primers are near, except the ones that I've just punched out that are in the catch.

GoldenVolt · #8 01-14-2012, 08:48 PM

Hay Ell,

Keep all the brass. Who knows, you might end up with more of that odd ball stuff. Then you can have a hole box of bastard bullets.

Since you are using a single stage press, you will learn what feels right. You'll know will when you have a bad case. When you start de-primming / resizing and you come across one that has very little resistance, stop and check the casing, make sure there aren't any cracks. If something doesn't seem right then STOP.

As far as separating by head stamp. I have mixed thoughts, yes it would be great if you separated your stash. But if you don't have the time no biggie.

If you are looking for accuracy then by all means separate you brass.

This is a low pressure round you can reload them many more times compared to 9mm. And yes, you can pop out the primer with the press. DO IT GENTLY.
You can also reuse that primer.

Thedragonslayer · #9 01-14-2012, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NormanXDm

Assuming you're pulling the bullet to correct the load or OAL, there should be no reason to deprime. I just set the primed case back on the press in the next station.

I have deprimed live primers on my press - but like Hoss says it's scary as hell and not something you want to be doing if you can help it. I do not reuse a primer that I've pushed out. They are cheap enough that I don't feel like it's worth it.

Lane

Thats what I have done as well. The only thing progressive about

's reloader... is he supports gay rights!

GoldenVolt · #10 01-14-2012, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoss in IL

You're brave. When I screw up a case, I drop the EMPTY case in a pistol and fire it to set the primer off and just re-size and de-cap the case. I don't want to try to de-cap a live primer on my progressive press, too close to the tube of live primers.

Terry,
Agreed. I wouldn't recommend de-priming a progressive press.

Greg