Amerc Brass???

Singlestack · August 14, 2001, 09:47 AM

Whats up with Amerc brass? I have been reloading for about 2 years and I shoot IPSC so I'm somewhat of a "brass Buzzard". I reload mostly 45ACP. Recently I came across some Amerc 45ACP brass while reloading on my 550. I noticed it first because it was very hard to resize then it stuck on the powder funnel. I went ahead and loaded it but it failed to pass a chamber guage test after it was loaded. I measured it and all seemed ok but it would not chamber? I had never seen Amerc before so I must have picked it up while scrounging for brass. I found about 30 of them in my supply and removed them. What gives? They seem real hard. Are they brass? They look like they are brass. Is this a "known" problem ?

Thanks, John

Poodleshooter · August 14, 2001, 10:13 AM

Most folks on the web will tell you to trash them. Many have had problems seating primers in them. Myself, I found their pockets to be too loose. I junk 'em when I find 'em.

bfoster · August 14, 2001, 11:01 AM

American brass factory loads and my reloads function in my HK, but neither factory loads nor handloads will relliably function in my National Match. The wall thickness of the lot I am (too) familiar with produces a cartridge which is larger in diameter than minimum chamber specifications.

If the workmanship evident in the forming operations is any indication of the quality and consistency of the brass itself, these cases are best avoided.

When I find American brass, I save the cases for sale as scrap.

Bob

Fred · August 14, 2001, 02:21 PM

It sucks. Toss 'em.

Steve Smith · August 14, 2001, 02:25 PM

As bfoster said, the wall thickness causes the problem. No way 'round it. If you want to prove it to yourself, use your calipers and measure them agains other brands.

Rezdog · August 14, 2001, 05:18 PM

At a recent shoot, one of the members put out a bag full of AMERC brass for free and I scarfed them right up. Totally useless and not even good for dummies. They now reside in my scrap brass bucket.

Steve Smith · August 15, 2001, 12:31 AM

Rezdog, why keep them? I hope you never grab them sometime accidentally and load up a bunch of ammo!

August 15, 2001, 06:15 AM

Is this the stuff from the copper plated American Ammunition in the clear boxes with the blue label? If so, I wouldn't even shoot it factory new.

Sub MOA · August 16, 2001, 02:41 AM

Not only is this brass thick walled, the walls are often times uneven. You know it's really bad when you can tell with the naked eye. I scrounged some of this up at the range a while back and wish I'd just left it there.

Sub

Rezdog · August 16, 2001, 06:49 PM

Steve, I keep them because I live on an Indian Rez and lots of guys use cartridge cases to make bangles and jingles and such. I loan them my Lee decapper and they go to town. They look nice on buckskin. There are very few reloaders out here and I doubt they'll fall into the wrong hands. I also pick up any Berdan primed brass cases I find as well.

Steve Smith · August 16, 2001, 08:32 PM

A-ha. That makes sense. However, what you said is hilarious! You said:

Quote:

I doubt they'll fall into the wrong hands.

The thing is, they're totally useless for reloading. In fact, we'd probably all do ourselfs a favor by GIVING these cases to the "wrong hands!" Can you imagine the look on a gang banger's face when he racked his slide and it wouldn't go into battery? It would really be funny if he were about to shoot a reloader and the reloader says, "Son, are you trying to reload those Amerc cases? Don't you know they suck?"

(I know gang types don't reload...but the "wrong hands" thing got me in stitches)

jtduncan · August 19, 2001, 02:18 PM

Never them on the floor.

Avoid them.

August 14, 2001, 09:47 AM	#1
Singlestack Junior Member Join Date: July 29, 2001 Location: Smyrna, Georgia Posts: 13	Amerc Brass??? Whats up with Amerc brass? I have been reloading for about 2 years and I shoot IPSC so I'm somewhat of a "brass Buzzard". I reload mostly 45ACP. Recently I came across some Amerc 45ACP brass while reloading on my 550. I noticed it first because it was very hard to resize then it stuck on the powder funnel. I went ahead and loaded it but it failed to pass a chamber guage test after it was loaded. I measured it and all seemed ok but it would not chamber? I had never seen Amerc before so I must have picked it up while scrounging for brass. I found about 30 of them in my supply and removed them. What gives? They seem real hard. Are they brass? They look like they are brass. Is this a "known" problem ? Thanks, John __________________ NRA USPSA I love 1911's John

August 14, 2001, 02:21 PM	#4
Fred Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 1998 Location: CA Posts: 465	It sucks. Toss 'em. __________________ Regards - AZFred

August 14, 2001, 02:25 PM	#5
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	As bfoster said, the wall thickness causes the problem. No way 'round it. If you want to prove it to yourself, use your calipers and measure them agains other brands. __________________ Favor the X. Steve Smith NRA Life Member

August 15, 2001, 12:31 AM	#7
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	Rezdog, why keep them? I hope you never grab them sometime accidentally and load up a bunch of ammo! __________________ Favor the X. Steve Smith NRA Life Member

August 19, 2001, 02:18 PM	#12
jtduncan Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 1999 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Posts: 1,681	Never them on the floor. Avoid them. __________________ The Seattle SharpShooter - TFL/GT/AR15/SGT/PCT/KTOG/SWF/RF/HKPRO/OA2/1911Forum Reloaded .223 Rem, 9mm, 40SW, 357 SIG, 10mm, 44 Spl, 44 Mag, 45 ACP Today?

August 14, 2001, 10:13 AM	#2
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,536	Most folks on the web will tell you to trash them. Many have had problems seating primers in them. Myself, I found their pockets to be too loose. I junk 'em when I find 'em.

August 14, 2001, 11:01 AM	#3
bfoster Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 1998 Location: N. of Fords Switch, OK, USA Posts: 299	American brass factory loads and my reloads function in my HK, but neither factory loads nor handloads will relliably function in my National Match. The wall thickness of the lot I am (too) familiar with produces a cartridge which is larger in diameter than minimum chamber specifications. If the workmanship evident in the forming operations is any indication of the quality and consistency of the brass itself, these cases are best avoided. When I find American brass, I save the cases for sale as scrap. Bob

August 14, 2001, 05:18 PM	#6
Rezdog Member Join Date: July 18, 2000 Posts: 76	At a recent shoot, one of the members put out a bag full of AMERC brass for free and I scarfed them right up. Totally useless and not even good for dummies. They now reside in my scrap brass bucket.

August 15, 2001, 06:15 AM	#8
PreserveFreedom Guest Posts: n/a	Is this the stuff from the copper plated American Ammunition in the clear boxes with the blue label? If so, I wouldn't even shoot it factory new.

August 16, 2001, 02:41 AM	#9
Sub MOA Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2000 Location: WA Posts: 292	Not only is this brass thick walled, the walls are often times uneven. You know it's really bad when you can tell with the naked eye. I scrounged some of this up at the range a while back and wish I'd just left it there. Sub

August 16, 2001, 06:49 PM	#10
Rezdog Member Join Date: July 18, 2000 Posts: 76	Steve, I keep them because I live on an Indian Rez and lots of guys use cartridge cases to make bangles and jingles and such. I loan them my Lee decapper and they go to town. They look nice on buckskin. There are very few reloaders out here and I doubt they'll fall into the wrong hands. I also pick up any Berdan primed brass cases I find as well.