Scored 30-06 brass the hard way

iraiam · February 10, 2013, 08:54 PM

A few years ago a friend of mine gave me a 5 gallon bucket full of some of the dirtiest, nastiest brass I ever saw, it literally looked like it had been buried in mud, Many of the cases were packed full of dirt. After much soaking and cleaning, I tumbled them in plain walnut, then in treated corn cobb for polishing.

It turns out it was worth it, it's nearly all Lake City 1945 brass, with a few oddballs like DEN 43, or TW 42.

Pictured is 1 batch of the final product.

30Cal · February 10, 2013, 09:00 PM

cool headstamps

iraiam · February 10, 2013, 09:08 PM

Just found one that is stamped U 42? I don't recall seeing that one before at all.

F. Guffey · February 11, 2013, 01:42 AM

U for Utah, DEN for Denver, TW for Federal as in Twin City, DM is Des Moines

"brass, with a few odballs like DEN 43, or TW 42"

F. Guffey

TXGunNut · February 11, 2013, 01:54 AM

Looks like better brass than the last batch I bought, and it was new RP. Congrats.

iraiam · February 11, 2013, 02:41 AM

Yes, it's good brass, but it took a heck of a long time to make it usable, I guess it's a testament to my persistence or maybe cheapness.

F. Guffey · February 11, 2013, 06:04 PM

Again, I purchased 1,400 once fired 30/06 military cases for $14.00. the cases were cheap because they were too dirty to clean, tumbling would have required 4 + days for 100 cases. then there were 30 caliber bees, one for each case. I allowed the ‘dirt dobbers’ to hatch, I had no ideal they would accomplish that all at once and on the same day, my wife claimed there was a black cloud that felt the garage.

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.co....php?p=2790047

I know, they are called dirt dobbers, problem dirt will not stick together long enough for the little black bugs to build a nest, they build their nest out of mud. Around here they eat army worms, something like Gypsy moths.

I was told Hawaii had 20 cal bees, seems they believe their problem is made more difficult because their bee is smaller, I was told if you? do not want a bee hatching out of all the small holes like barrels plug them.

F. Guffey

iraiam · February 11, 2013, 08:13 PM

Another interesting head stamp. MJ 41

According to this document it's Australian.

February 10, 2013, 08:54 PM	#1
iraiam Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2012 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 401	Scored 30-06 brass the hard way A few years ago a friend of mine gave me a 5 gallon bucket full of some of the dirtiest, nastiest brass I ever saw, it literally looked like it had been buried in mud, Many of the cases were packed full of dirt. After much soaking and cleaning, I tumbled them in plain walnut, then in treated corn cobb for polishing. It turns out it was worth it, it's nearly all Lake City 1945 brass, with a few oddballs like DEN 43, or TW 42. Pictured is 1 batch of the final product. __________________ NRA Lifetime Member Since 1999 "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials." George Mason Last edited by iraiam; February 11, 2013 at 02:42 AM.

February 10, 2013, 09:08 PM	#3
iraiam Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2012 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 401	Just found one that is stamped U 42? I don't recall seeing that one before at all. __________________ NRA Lifetime Member Since 1999 "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials." George Mason

February 11, 2013, 01:54 AM	#5
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,842	Looks like better brass than the last batch I bought, and it was new RP. Congrats. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

February 11, 2013, 02:41 AM	#6
iraiam Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2012 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 401	Yes, it's good brass, but it took a heck of a long time to make it usable, I guess it's a testament to my persistence or maybe cheapness. __________________ NRA Lifetime Member Since 1999 "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials." George Mason

February 11, 2013, 06:04 PM	#7
F. Guffey Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Posts: 1,620	Again, I purchased 1,400 once fired 30/06 military cases for $14.00. the cases were cheap because they were too dirty to clean, tumbling would have required 4 + days for 100 cases. then there were 30 caliber bees, one for each case. I allowed the ‘dirt dobbers’ to hatch, I had no ideal they would accomplish that all at once and on the same day, my wife claimed there was a black cloud that felt the garage. http://discussions.texasbowhunter.co....php?p=2790047 I know, they are called dirt dobbers, problem dirt will not stick together long enough for the little black bugs to build a nest, they build their nest out of mud. Around here they eat army worms, something like Gypsy moths. I was told Hawaii had 20 cal bees, seems they believe their problem is made more difficult because their bee is smaller, I was told if you? do not want a bee hatching out of all the small holes like barrels plug them. F. Guffey Last edited by F. Guffey; February 11, 2013 at 06:09 PM. Reason: Add: Buck Horn, North Carolina

February 10, 2013, 09:00 PM	#2
30Cal Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2002 Posts: 1,093	cool headstamps

February 11, 2013, 01:42 AM	#4
F. Guffey Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Posts: 1,620	U for Utah, DEN for Denver, TW for Federal as in Twin City, DM is Des Moines "brass, with a few odballs like DEN 43, or TW 42" F. Guffey

February 11, 2013, 08:13 PM	#8
iraiam Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2012 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 401	Another interesting head stamp. MJ 41 According to this document it's Australian. __________________ NRA Lifetime Member Since 1999 "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials." George Mason Last edited by iraiam; February 11, 2013 at 08:18 PM.