Range Brass

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Ok I think I know the answer to this but I have read numerous places to not trust "once fired brass". My thought is that as long as it's thoroughly inspected it would be safe to use. Since I would be primarily looking for .45 acp brass I would want to stay away from military brass as it seems to be older. Is this assessment correct? Is there anything else I should keep an eye out for?

Thanks

[zfields]

.45 is usually pretty safe. Low pressures, and no one pushing it way more than its ment to like 9mm Major stuff.

Just make sure its not to worn, or cracked, and your GTG.

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Is .223 a pretty safe bet also especially with just about everyone and their grandma having an ar?

[Na-vah-duh]

I've never bought new brass. A good once over before tumbling usually finds most issues. If not you'll see it while reloading. Somebody will come along and shurly mention a good source.

A reason to avoid military brass(.223,9mm,45acp) would be because of the crimped primer pockets. I find it not worth savings compared to the time it takes to swage.

[zfields]

Is .223 a pretty safe bet also especially with just about everyone and their grandma having an ar?

Couldnt speak to .223, I shoot russian guns : P

9mm I wont pick up unless im at a "normal" range. I pick up .223 and clean it and either give it to a buddy or sell it.

[joelogic]

Some .45 cases have crimped primers and some have a small primer pocket.

.223 crimped not worth the savings? So you don't reload .223 or you only use commercial brass?

[bruceflinch]

Once it's clean it easiy to see flaws. If the headstamps is crisp looking, it probably once fired & GTG, 60,000 rounds loaded & I've bought very little new brass. Had very few issues.

[Clownpuncher]

I pick up range brass all the time. I tumble it in plain corn cob for an hour or so to knock the carbon off and clean it up a bit and then I inspect it and separate it by headstamp. I seem to find most flaws pretty easily since it is moderately clean.
After that, I'll put it in bags and when I load I'll resize it and de cap it then I'll tumble it in Lyman's green for a few hours which makes it nice and shiny then I reaload it.

[Bill Steele]

I usually come home from the range with more brass than I brought.

I also buy a lot of "once fired" brass on Gunbroker.com. Some of it looks like once fired, some of it is ex-military (even some .45 ACP), some of it looks really old, some of it looks fairly new.

I load it all.

[BajaJames83]

It should be fine just clean inspect and measure. When in doubt discard, its easy to get more brass not a new gun....

[grant22]

For .223/5.56, I bought 2500 LC brass on GB.com for $150 (6 cents ea) and they were in VERY good shape. They came polished (eliminating a step for me) but yes they needed to be swaged. That part of the process is zero fun, but still makes it worth the savings in my opinion. BTW, inspecting any cal after polishing makes it really easy to see flaws.

Here's a link to the auction I bought the 5.56 brass:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=247311755

[zfields]

For .223/5.56, I bought 2500 LC brass on GB.com for $150 (6 cents ea) and they were in VERY good shape. They came polished (eliminating a step for me) but yes they needed to be swaged. That part of the process is zero fun, but still makes it worth the savings in my opinion. BTW, inspecting any cal after polishing makes it really easy to see flaws.

Here's a link to the auction I bought the 5.56 brass:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=247311755

Good price, wish I could find some 7.62x39 brass that cheap : )

[Sub95]

only brass i have bought is new ammo, everything else is range pick up, i pick everything up Except steel and aluminum . Cracked cases make a funny sound when they hit a good case, so over time you will pick it up. when you sort them out you will see the damaged ones and if you are not sure post a pic up and someone here will let you no if its good or not.

[popeye4]

Get the Dillon swager. It is not unpleasant to use, and no worse than any other aspect of dreaded case prep.....

[grant22]

Get the Dillon swager. It is not unpleasant to use, and no worse than any other aspect of dreaded case prep.....

That's a very good way to put it. Like eating a poop sandwich with lot's of ketchup!