Anybody Else Use The Tinkle Test To Find Split Brass

[max]

I loaded some 45 this am and when I set the bag of brass down I heard that familiar tinkle that told me at least one of the pieces was split. I took a handful out, dropped it again and reloaded it. At the third handful, I heard the sound and picked up individual pieces until I found the one with the tiny split all the way down the side.

 

[Rule3]

I have on suspect brass, but if I did a whole batch I would have to con my wife to pick it all up which would never happen. My back is bad enough.

Can we name it something else??

 

[OFT II]

"Tinkle Test". What you described was not what I was thinking.

 

[125JHP]

eh?
with my hearing I'd probably miss the bag being dropped.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Yep. Very easy to find splits that way.

 

[aphelion]

I doubt you'd find them all that way. I just look at them.

 

[358156hp]

I visually inspect each case too. I thought everybody did.

 

[TSQUARED]

Split cases do indeed have a distinct tinkle. If I place a bunch of cases on the bench one can both hear and then see the offending case. I visually inspoect each case before sizing in my Dillon 550.

 

[Nick B]

What about when a case splits in the side but not at the neck ?

 

[andyo5]

My employer made me take the tinkle test before I could report for work.
Never used on brass, though.

 

[aphelion]

Split cases do indeed have a distinct tinkle.

No doubt they do, for the same reason a loose spoke sounds different. But brass suffers cracked mouths more often than splits in the body. Also, body splits usually start as small burn-throughs. I'd rather catch those before they are loaded and fired. I see nothing wrong with bouncing them around if somebody wants to, but it shouldn't take the place of a good visual inspection.

 

[chief38]

I just inspect them as I load then into the Dillon press. I'll usually catch 99% of any cracked ones, and the 1% that I miss will usually be caught when putting the ammo into the plastic boxes. If there is only a small slight crack I will mark it with a Sharpie and fire it - toss it out after it's spent. If it's a bad crack it will get pulled and head re-used.


Chief38

 

[blujax01]

What about when a case splits in the side but not at the neck ?

That calls for the "Piddle" test.

The split ones leak.

 

[Fishslayer]

I load on a Turret so I usually catch the split brass at the sizing/decapping station. Zero resistance.

If it doesn't get caught there it should get caught at either the charging or seating station.

If it doesn't get caught there or at visual when removing the loaded round (the split is visually obvious when the case is stretched by the bullet) then my mind isn't really in the game and I really should be doing something other than reloading ammo...

 

[686 shooter]

I have been doing that for several years now, as the sound is very distinct. Works great. But I have to admit when I first saw the thread I thought "he did what to his brass?"

 

[michael thornton]

i thought everyone did, i still miss one once in a while

 

[Dale53]

I have been doing the "test" (I call it the shake test) for many, many years. I was shown the method by a high volume commercial loader.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[ChuckS1]

Didn't think about this until today on the range. Had a case split in my M1911A1 and a split case does sound different when it hits concrete.

 

[David LaPell]

I guess you could tinkle in your brass cases if your aim is that good. If it holds tinkle than its not cracked right?

 

[papajohn428]

I doubt you'd find them all that way. I just look at them.

You can only hear them if the mouth has split. I visually inspect every case in every caliber as I'm repriming it, charging powder, or handling it at all. Cases like this one have to be examined to be found.