Range brass - Yes or No?

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pcgunner

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I used to always pick up range brass that no one wanted or was cleaning up.

I recently read that I should NOT do that since the source is unknown.

However, when reloading I clean the brass, inspect for wear, resize as needed, inspect etc so my thoughts are brass is brass as long as I'm taking proper steps to insure case reliabilty

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance
 
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I think if you can do a good job inspecting the brass, there should not be a problem. I am personally finishing up a 9mm range brass project that started out with 1,350 cases I picked up over last summer. I sorted and inspected them and ended up with about 1,200 good cases. I almost have all of those loaded now. They will be used as plinking/target loads, or training where they will not let you retrieve your brass.

Nothing wrong with range brass as long as you inspect it before using it.

Mike
 
I've picked up range brass for as long as I've been reloading and never really had a problem with any. Military brass will need to have the primer pocket reamed/swaged. Certain brass that has been run through some models of machine guns may not resize properly due to oversize chambers... but you can see that during you inspection. I always clean with walnut media as it cleans well but doesn't polish.
 
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Ditto on what the others have said..

Most of my handgun ammo isn't loaded at max. and I use mixed range brass. I'm a bit more picky with my rifle brass and sort by head stamp, weight ,, etc... Even buy new stuff for the rifle I use for long range.

I've been reloading and using range brass since the early 70's.
Probably 98% of the stuff I use is range brass.
Some folks don't reload so they just leave it lay, good once fired brass. Inspect it,, clean it ,, resize it,, if in doubt, throw it out..
 
We advise all new shooters / reloaders not to pick up range brass...
It's not because it's a hazard to use , it's because we want to be able to get some for ourselves.
A few years ago , nobody reloaded and once fired brass was plentiful....now it's next to impossible to find.
Buy new brass and leave that nasty dirty stuff on the range floor , I'll take care of it .
 
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All my brass (MASS quantities of it) was free range brass;)

I got most of it at a public range when you could actually buy and afford ammo so it is 99% once fired or it was.

At my members only range I don't pick much up unless I see it come from new folks with factory ammo. The rest of us old farts, who knows how many times it was reloaded but I still do not think it matters. If it painted to mark it I don't touch it, those are from 50 years ago guys!

Think I had one revolver round crack. I load it till I lose it.

Sure pick up brass, ask people for brass, check it over, clean it size it and check again. I do not pick up rifle (223 BRASS)
 
Rule3 said:
Sure pick up brass, ask people for brass, check it over, clean it size it and check again. I do not pick up rifle (223 BRASS)
Click to expand...

Ooh! Love it. I pick up and reload all the .223 I can find, which is lots!
 
moxie said:
Ooh! Love it. I pick up and reload all the .223 I can find, which is lots!
Click to expand...


223/556 I don't trust/ Much higher pressure and who knows how many times it was reloaded. I guess if it is still military crimped no problem. I do not like case head separations.:eek:
 
No, you should leave all brass for ME!

There is reloading and there is OCD-reloading.
You get decide which group you're in.
Obviously, you will be marginally safer if you only pick up your cases.
Obviously, you will be marginally safer if you always wear a helmet while driving.
Case head separations? Look for shiny ring around case above extractor groove.
Get a long paper clip, straighten it out, and feel for the incipient separation at the junction of the web and case.
 
It reminds me of folks who spend $60+ for a brass catcher.
I figure that my most expensive cases or 9x21 and .32-20, where I bought StarLine virgin cases years ago and replacement cases are $0.15. So, I would have to lose about 400 cases to pay for the unit. I lose about 1-2 9x21 cases every trip (don't lose any .32-20, as they are shot in a revolver) and I shoot those about 6 times a year, so I lose maybe 10 cases a year, or 40 years to pay for a brass catcher. At 66 years old, I could only hope to have 30 years left.
You have to stop once in while and think about what you are doing and if it really makes sense.
However, when I take someone to the range, I tell them that every case we fire is equal to a dime for me, so I would really appreciate it if they helped pick up cases after we're done.
 
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Go For It

I've been using range brass all my life, including rifle rounds. However, especially with rifle, I do not use any rounds that show any evidence of having been reloaded.

I've been reloading since about 1962 and I've yet to blow up a gun.
 
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