So, I have not started reloading yet, but I see it in my not too distant future (a few months out). I going to start collecting brass from my shoots and I was wondering if there was anything I should do to it to ease my use of it later or just collect it in a bucket and let it sit there?

Some people separate by headstamp. I do not find this necessary.

 

Also, you may want to order a tumbler now and get it all nice and clean prior to starting.

Some people separate by headstamp. I do not find this necessary.

 

Also, you may want to order a tumbler now and get it all nice and clean prior to starting.

 

+1 If you know that you're definitely going to reload, then I'd go with what j0n said... invest in a decent tumbler, separate the brass by caliber and clean it. You could also de-prime it too, if you like... Once you're ready to start reloading you'll have a nice stash of brass that's ready to go.

 

I also don't separate by headstamp... I have it all mixed and have absolutely no issues with my ammo or accuracy. Some that are anal about that kind of thing will tell you otherwise, but I don't believe it.

Thanks guys. Any recommendations on tumblers? What about wet vs dry tumbling/cleaning?

I like wet tumbling a lot. I think its a little more work but not all that much.

 

The drawback I see is the amount you can tumble in the thumblers tumbler. I built my own and I can tumble 1000 cases at a time. By the time you add water and stainless media my drum is quite heavy. Approx 55 to 60 pounds. I have to update my thread with my finished project but look for my post under this subforum called my home built tumbler project.

Some people separate by headstamp. I do not find this necessary.

 

Also, you may want to order a tumbler now and get it all nice and clean prior to starting.

 

 

i do separate by headstamps; believe it or not it helps on my OAL.

Thanks guys. Any recommendations on tumblers? What about wet vs dry tumbling/cleaning?

 

I have this set, and it works great for me...

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/414369/frankford-arsenal-quick-n-ez-case-tumbler-master-kit-with-quick-n-ez-rotary-media-separator-110-volt

I'm waiting for my fat tax return to show up and im going to be purchasing a whole array of reloading equipment(single stage and progressive). I figured i would just get everything at once, but in the mean time i have been collecting brass and i DO separate by head stamp. The only reason i do this is because mostly the stuff i collect is my spent federal brass, but every here and there i pick up what ever i find.... and i have read that some primer pockets are harder/easier to swap primers. As a new reloader i would like to get some consistency while reloading, and i just dont want any issues if the primer doesn't seat correctly because i load 40 easy ones and on the 41th i get one of the difficult primer pockets and it doesn't seat correctly. Since i havent actually reloaded yet, i will see whether or not there is a difference, and from there i can determine if its worth separating.

what are you guys shooting that you separate by head stamps?!?!!? anyone by lot number?

 

For precision, benchrest rifle, I absolutely understand, for pistol... its a waste of time. Only ones to watch are military crimped brass (seldom run accross), and Winchester NT (non toxic, tight primer pocket). and I will usually toss military stuff, and it is typically not an issue for 40 cal.

what are you guys shooting that you separate by head stamps?!?!!? anyone by lot number?

 

For precision, benchrest rifle, I absolutely understand, for pistol... its a waste of time. Only ones to watch are military crimped brass (seldom run accross), and Winchester NT (non toxic, tight primer pocket). and I will usually toss military stuff, and it is typically not an issue for 40 cal.

 

You don't have to separate by headstamp but as Maks says, there are ones to watch for. I always inspect the headstamp and case after tumbling. I use a mix of walnut and corn cobb with Turtle Wax polishing compound and two used dryer sheets, cut up into 1" squares.

 

Military brass usually has "WCC" and numbers. Any headstamp with a single-digit and a two-digit number is military brass and is crimped. Crimped brass is hard to de-prime and nearly impossible to prime unless you ream the primer pocket which is way too much work. Toss it in the recycling can. Also, "Amerc" is garbage. Don't use it. Any headstamp I am not sure about, I toss. These include *I*, TZZ and PPU. They may be okay but I only see a few so their not worth messing with them.

 

I find Winchester NT to be fine but Federal NT is crimped. I have recently found regular Winchester that was crimped. You can tell a case is crimped by looking at the primer pocket after the primer has been removed. There is a ring below the lip of the primer pocket.

You don't have to separate by headstamp but as Maks says, there are ones to watch for. I always inspect the headstamp and case after tumbling. I use a mix of walnut and corn cobb with Turtle Wax polishing compound and two used dryer sheets, cut up into 1" squares.

 

Military brass usually has "WCC" and numbers. Any headstamp with a single-digit and a two-digit number is military brass and is crimped. Crimped brass is hard to de-prime and nearly impossible to prime unless you ream the primer pocket which is way too much work. Toss it in the recycling can. Also, "Amerc" is garbage. Don't use it. Any headstamp I am not sure about, I toss. These include *I*, TZZ and PPU. They may be okay but I only see a few so their not worth messing with them.

 

I find Winchester NT to be fine but Federal NT is crimped. I have recently found regular Winchester that was crimped. You can tell a case is crimped by looking at the primer pocket after the primer has been removed. There is a ring below the lip of the primer pocket.

It's a good thing i separated it then because i have wcc 11 stamped brass, i looked it up a while ago and i found the same response about it being difficult to prime. I'll just leave it next time i stumble across it. The rest is federal AE brass.

 

Edit: actually now that i looked i have mixed federal and blazer, i so i guess i just separated the problematic brass.

what are you guys shooting that you separate by head stamps?!?!!? anyone by lot number?

 

For precision, benchrest rifle, I absolutely understand, for pistol... its a waste of time. Only ones to watch are military crimped brass (seldom run accross), and Winchester NT (non toxic, tight primer pocket). and I will usually toss military stuff, and it is typically not an issue for 40 cal.

 

I sort pistol brass AFTER walnut tumbling.

 

I sort headstamps for 2 reasons

 

1. Get a hand on each piece of brass, you can feel if there are any defects that you might miss by looking at them.

2. Catch Crimped primers / Odd primers (SPP in .45 ACP)