Once Fired Brass - Is this too good to be true?

[DaveInPA]

I'm very tempted to place an order here, but I wanted to check with you guys first. Do you think this is a scam? The prices seem too good to be true, and there is no phone number listed on the site.

http://www.seminolebrassandbullet.com/shop/category.asp?catid=2

45ACP 1000 casings for $41.00
9mm 1000 casings for $18.50

IF this is a legit business WOW those are good prices.

[ojibweindian]

Probably not a scam. But, for that price, don't expect bright, shiney brass. It'll need cleaning, and depriming.

[DaveInPA]

At that price I don't care. Thats what the tumbler and decapping die are for :)

[ojibweindian]

At that price I don't care. Thats what the tumbler and decapping die are for

Exactly :D

[tom234]

I just pick mine up at the range......:D

[Dave P]

yeah - don't you get them for free like the rest of us??

[DaveInPA]

I'm just getting into reloading. Just getting my initial stock.

[UniversalFrost]

hey daveinpa I can probabbly do a 1k set of .45acp tumbled for that price shipped.

Let me know if you are interested.

JOE

[Crosshair]

I'm just getting into reloading. Just getting my initial stock.
Oh, OK. Nothing wrong with that. I've done that too as a CYA measure. 9mm and 40 S&W is plentiful where I live. 45 ACP brass is scarce though so I did have to buy most of mine.

[TexasSeaRay]

Here's a phone number I found for the guy.

386-774-5481

Jeff

[WESHOOT2]

I say: New reloaders should acquire new brass cases for their initial attempts at reloading.

New.

I recommend in specific order (for 45 ACP): IMI, Winchester, Starline, others...

[DaveInPA]

Why? Seems like a waste of money to me.

[WESHOOT2]

Because new reloaders have other things to concern themselves with, and there is all that experience they have inspecting fired cases....

Safety first; just buy 100.

'Used' cases are great for working up dummy rds.

[DaveInPA]

Thanks for the advice but you are the ONLY person I've ever heard this from. I'll stick with once fired and "keep my fingers crossed", although I still don't see what you're saying. New brass is just money down the drain.

[KimberDen]

DaveInPa, you'd be well advised to listen to what WESHOOT has to say.

If you need another voice on "use new brass" I'll add mine.

"once fired" brass is a joke - it means it's been fired at least once. If you don't want to buy brand new brass, your best bet to start off is to buy decent hardball ammo, shoot it yourself, then load that brass. You'll know for sure it's been used only once.

Some guys start complaining about their guns jamming when it's the brass that's to fault. Used brass may have damage at the rim or the case mouth. Oftentimes that damage will lead to failures to load. If the brass was used with hot loads you may have fractures in the case walls that are hard to see, especially for a beginner, in that case you run the risk of trashing your mag if the case goes bad.

IMHO, used brass isn't worth buying. Pick up and inspect used brass, buy brand new brass.

[DaveInPA]

I have about 100 cases from factory ammo that I've fired. The once fired brass I ended up ordering was collected from a police practice range. I just can't justify

1. Buying new overpriced ammo just so I can use the brass

or

2. Paying for new brass

[KimberDen]

If the "police practice range" claim is true then you got yourself a good deal. You'll see it once the brass comes in. Good luck and have fun reloading :)

[WESHOOT2]

I bow to frugality and experience.....

How about the expense for safety glasses?

[Alleykat]

It's pretty simple for a veteran reloader to tell if brass picked up at the range is "once fired". ;) When loading a low-pressure round like .45ACP, I don't care if it's once-fired or 10-times-fired.

[freakshow10mm]

I suggest known once fired brass. Buy a box of WWB. Fire it and use that brass. Firing it one time will let you know if there are any manufacturing defects in the brass that might not be apparent in virgin brass.

[DaveInPA]

To the poster that made the comment about safety glasses - I own them and wear them whenever doing ANYTHING that could potentially harm my eyes.

[WESHOOT2]

My advice (which I follow): Safety glasses when touching anything other than paper.

Since you'll need to inspect that fired brass, suggest taking a small handfull and 'rattling' them, listening for the dulled 'tink' of cracked brass (imagine the Three Stooges, when at the dentist office they hit the teeth listening for the bad one; brass cases do the same, but the sound is a wee bit different LOL).

Always be wary of fired brass, because there can be unseen or hidden splits or faults that only matter when the primer's struck.

Assume nothing; check inspect test.

[NavyLT]

Has anyone actually reloaded .45 ACP to the point of brass failure, assuming proper charge, OAL and primer? I have never heard of anyone actually wearing out .45 acp or 9mm brass.

[freakshow10mm]

Yeah, it happens. Generally it will last a lifetime but sometimes you get some that wear out. Just another mass produced product.

[Alleykat]

I've loaded .45ACP brass until the mouth splits.

[Walkalong]

New reloaders going with new brass or once fired brass they saw shot is pretty good advise. Like WESHOOT2 said, they have enough to worry about, being new to reloading.