Did I overheat my brass?

[SquarePizza]

I wet tumbled some grendel brass just enough to knock the dirt off buy not make it shiny, so it was still a dark brassy color when I took it out.

To dry them, I tossed them on a cookie sheet and placed them on top of the wood stove to dry out while I went back to running errands. I forgot about them for a few hours and when I came back they had all darkened to a greenish antique bronze color... they almost remind me of the green color of the coating on steel cased wolf ammo or maybe an old penny.

This isn't the first time I have seen dull and darkened brass... but this is the darkest I have seen it, just wondering people's thoughts here.

 

[D Brown]

If there's a chance it got up to 5-600° F, I would toss the batch just to be on the safe side.

 

[Trooperdan]

Sounds like they got pretty warm, why take a chance?

 

[mtgianni]

Squeeze one with a pair of pliers. It should have resistance. if not you may have annealed them to the base. In the future, they dry easily off to the side or under a wood stove.

 

[SquarePizza]

I will try the pliers test, thank you for that tip.

I do not think they got near/over 500, as the chimney temp is usually in the 200-300 range, and the water pot on top of the stove never boils. The only difference though is the water pot is think iron vs an aluminum cookie sheet, so maybe they hadd more direct heat transfer. Either way, I will try to squish them with pliers.

Usually I dry them near the stove but I was in a hurry to load up for a hunting trip so I tried to rush them.

 

[AlHunt]

I will try the pliers test, thank you for that tip.

I do not think they got near/over 500, as the chimney temp is usually in the 200-300 range, and the water pot on top of the stove never boils. The only difference though is the water pot is think iron vs an aluminum cookie sheet, so maybe they hadd more direct heat transfer. Either way, I will try to squish them with pliers.

Usually I dry them near the stove but I was in a hurry to load up for a hunting trip so I tried to rush them.

If the water didn't boil off, the stove top never got close to 500F.

The highest temp I've seen is a little over 400F on a pellet stove door.

 

[cgt4570]

I agree you should be fine.
But! If you have doubts, send them to me. I have a 6.5 Grendel AR (my go-to deer rifle with walnut furniture and a 4.5-14 VX3 scope). I'll give them a try.

 

[rwsmith]

When you squish one.....

...cut it open to see how deep the patina goes.

I don't see how what you did could hurt them. Over-anealled brass probably won't spring back as well and may get stuck in the chamber. Try a few with light loads and eye protection and work up. You may not have to dump the brass.

 

[gwpercle]

When you fire that first reloaded case ... keep your face away from the action ... just in case the head has softened and the primer pocket enlarges leaks/blows .
Be careful , those cases could be soft in the head area .
Gary