Brass Cleaning

[Sliebl]

this batch of 9mm brass is a mix of once fired, twice fired and three times fired. I think you can see down inside a few of them and notice they are pretty darned clean inside as well as out. Absolutely NO crud, and the primer pockets and flash holes need no extra attention.

As mentioned before, I just began reloading early last year, but have reloaded several thousand (maybe 3000) 9mm rounds thus far.

There are many schools of thought as to what prep steps are necessary for reloading 9mm. I do the following:

• I keep my brass sorted by manufacturer (for the most part... I'm not too anal retentive about an extra piece of range brass getting mixed in! )
• I keep the rounds sorted by # of times loaded (basically "lots" of cases).
• I have never cleaned the primer pocket on the 9mm brass

This is really very easy to accomplish, as I initially bought about 4000 once fired mixed brass cases, and cleaned/sorted them all. Then I began reloading just the Winchester brass to make keeping track easier. I try to shoot all of the once loaded brass first, prior to shooting any of the twice loaded rounds. This allows me to easily keep the "lots" together.

After a range day, I just pop the brass in my tumbler until it's clean, then into a ziplock bag with # of times loaded on the outside.

When it's time to load more rounds, I just grab the bag with the fewest # of reloads and get to loading. I have some 9mm brass with 6 reloads and have only found a few that have started to crack. Obviously, those go in the trash, and the lot gets carefully sorted at that point to check for more. I don't discard the entire "lot" at that point, as some suggest, but do check them more carefully.


I don't lube the cases at all for 9mm. After installing a nice clean case in the press, I don't take it out again until it's finished. I use the Lee Classic Cast Turret press to do the following:

• Die #1 : Punch out the primer, and size the case, install new primer
• Die #2 : Slight flare to case mouth, powder drop
• Die #3 : Seat the bullet to correct length
• Die #4 : Take out flare and add a very slight taper crimp

Repeat 199 more times this hour. Finished rounds go in 50 or 100 round plastic flip-top ammo box with a label on the outside.
Label indicates the following:
Date, Caliber, Bullet & Weight, Powder & Weight, Die # for powder, Primer, Case brand, and number of times loaded. Labels are easy to print out by the sheet, and you only need to fill out the info that actually changes.

Sorry to sort of get your thread off track, but I thought I'd share my reloading method with you guys.

[MW surveyor]

Going off track is what we do here! And --GASP!---BUY BRASS---?

I used to do what you do as far as keeping track of number of times loaded. Now I don't cause I can not pick up anything that goes beyond the firing line where I shoot. I just give the cases a good inspection and move on. I do label what the load is and when loaded. Use a spread sheet for the other details plus comment section. Used to prime on the press, but now prime off the press with a hand primer. Gives me another inspection point and also something to do in the evening.

[mr surveyor]

I do carefully keep up with my own rifle and revolver brass, but it's just for documentation, or in the case of the rifle brass it being fire formed for my chamber. After all, you're gonna keep using it until it shows signs of fatigue that could lead to a failure. There is no exact number of re-uses that record keeping will necessitate taking brass out of the cycle - you use it until it can't be safely used again, then you sell for scrap. It is interesting to know how much money you can save on loading by multiple uses of brass, but if it's free, range pick-up, who cares. As for semi-auto brass, and keeping close records????? unless I have the range completely to myself (which is occassionally possible), there is no way I can keep my brass completely seperate from the other shooters' brass. As long as my range stays open, I will not have a need to seek an outside source of 9mm brass... as long as I can beat the other brass scroungers to it


surv

[MW surveyor]

surv,

I'm with you on this. If I went on a weekend or holiday, I can clean up on just the suff that makes it in back of the shooters. Week days, I go through the 5 gallon buckets. Keeping up with the semi-auto stuff got to be a real pain since at least three times of what I pick up is once fired. Now if I were shooting a rifle, that's different. I'd keep meticulous records.

If I see some one shooting a revolver either 38 or 357 I ask them if they reload. If they don't I give them a bag and ask them to put their empties in. Haven't been refused yet!

Since I use range pickups I don't figure in the cost of the case. Seem to average about 8 to 9 cents per round.