Using older brass

[Hunt]

I have buckets of brass that have been in temperature controlled storage for about 10 years. It’s very dark but not copper blue patina, is it still good?

[baih777]

Yes.
Just clean it.
I had some brass that turned green. I ignored it till i decided to clean it.
I waited too long. The green stuff etched the brass. I threw it all away.
All my brass is kept clean now.

[pacrat]

I have buckets of brass that have been in temperature controlled storage for about 10 years. It?s very dark but not copper blue patina, is it still good?

Sadly no! It has "age hardened" to the point that it will fail if used.

Send it to me, and I will safely repurpose it for you, in an environmentally friendly manner.

OK, kidding aside. Clean it and use it, unless it fails structural inspection.

[BIGOX]

Saw this title and was expecting to see some balloon head brass or something. Clean it and use it.

[bohoki]

ive given them a bit of rub with steel wool but they dont have to look pretty they just need to be smooth

[Paseclipse]

I have buckets of brass that have been in temperature controlled storage for about 10 years. It?s very dark but not copper blue patina, is it still good?

Load it up and shoot it!! If you want to clean it up, run it through a case tumbler with steel pins and Lemishine. It will come out looking brand new.

I have buckets of 45 ACP brass over 50 years old and it shoots just fine.

[racinjason233]

Sadly no! It has "age hardened" to the point that it will fail if used.

Send it to me, and I will safely repurpose it for you, in an environmentally friendly manner.

OK, kidding aside. Clean it and use it, unless it fails structural inspection.

Pacrat couldn?t be more wrong. It is unsafe and has the ability to destroy all that is good. I?ll ?dispose? of it properly with gun and powder.

Clean load and send it.

[baranski]

I have a friend that gave me some .223 brass that was dark as could be almost reddish brown. This was after hours wet tumbling. never di get them clean but boy were they smooth and glossy.

All loaded fine and shot fine.

[Waldog]

I have 30.06 brass from 1945 (non-corrosive) that is still usable (Was my Dad's)

[bigbossman]

Sometimes old brass can get a bit brittle around the mouth, and you will get some neck splits on firing. But like everyone else has said - you shouldn't have any issues loading and firing it.

I have milsurp brass from the 40's and 50's that I'm still loading for my Garands. The only thing that kills them is enough reloads to get incipient head separation. And I've never annealed brass in my life.

[bigbossman]

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1161383&stc=1&d=168225 6596

I have a friend that gave me some .223 brass that was dark as could be almost reddish brown. This was after hours wet tumbling. never di get them clean but boy were they smooth and glossy.

All loaded fine and shot fine.

LOL. I've picked up 30-06 brass while hunting at Hunter-Liggett that was probably laying there in the sun and the mud since the 50's-60's. Same deal - polished up nice, but still blacker than a banker's heart. Reloaded just fine, too.

[kcstott]

I have buckets of brass that have been in temperature controlled storage for about 10 years. It?s very dark but not copper blue patina, is it still good?

really? I have powder and primers older than that. stuff works fine.

What you don't want is brass that gets wet and corroded badly. thats an issue. but normal tarnish?? no nothing to be concerned with.

[hambam105]

What! "06 brass laying on the ground at Army Fort Hunter-Leggit for 20 years? Don't you know
how many feral hogs are walking around Hunter-Leggit every day.

Hog urine stained rifle brass? No thanks.

[kcstott]

FYI I have ammo from 1923, It's 45 ACP and it works just fine. With the occasional split case. I can't expect much from 100 year old ammo. the brass is tossed in with the rest and treated like all the rest. Might even be corrosive primed for all i know.

As for hog urine stained brass. matters not to me. I guaranty brass that has hit the ground has touched manure of some sort.

[bigbossman]

Hog urine stained rifle brass? No thanks.

It's a natural, environmentally friendly form of annealing.