Gravel pit brass,223

SixGun45 · April 10, 2012, 11:01 PM

I consider it a good thing to get free brass by the bucket even if it comes from gravel pits. I sort and wash all of it before working with it. The question is, a lot of the 223 brass has slight dings in it, would you reload and use it? I have been and have not had any problems. If it is more than a minor ding I toss it. I have a 5 gallon bucket full of brass that is going to the recyclers tomorrow. Also when I size the brass some of the necks are too small for the pilot point. I found that a 7/32" drill is 5.56mm so I put it in the vise and chuck the brass lightly in my 1/2" drill and with a little lube turn the brass onto the butt of the drill and it works fine... Thanks,

dacaur · April 10, 2012, 11:16 PM

A good rule on dents, as long as its smooth, its ok, if there is any kind of crease or corner, toss it.

NWPilgrim · April 11, 2012, 02:52 AM

Yes, I pick up gravel pit .223 brass. I put in with my miscellaneous brass for reloading plinking ammo. Small dents just get expanded out with the next firing. I like the above rule about smooth versus creased. I never load to max pressures either (like below military case levels). But overall I find very little .223 brass compared to what I shoot of my own.

My own good brass, LC and R-P, I keep separate from the mixed bag brass. I use this good brass for loading more precision rounds by headstamp.

thedaddycat · April 11, 2012, 08:36 PM

For dings in the case mouths I use a line-up punch that has a long taper to it. It definitely will turn a dented mouth round without an issue, no lube required. They come in a couple of different sizes to suit your needs.

Will Lee · April 11, 2012, 10:14 PM

thedaddycat, I wonder how old that Maxwell House coffee can is?? Same for that can of WD-40. I say you been around for a while.

Been using your method to round out case mouths for quite some time and using dacaur's rule for culling bass just as long (40 years).

medalguy · April 12, 2012, 04:21 PM

Sure it's good as long as there are no deep scratches from sharp rocks.

chris in va · April 12, 2012, 07:25 PM

What is 'gravel pit' brass?

dacaur · April 12, 2012, 07:46 PM

Quote:

What is 'gravel pit' brass?

Other people brass picked up off the ground.

SixGun45 · April 12, 2012, 10:11 PM

Abandoned gravel pits and rock quarries are where a lot of people go to shoot guns and most of them leave their brass on the ground. I have a retired friend that knows where all these areas are around the town he lives in. So every couple weeks he takes a day and goes brass picking. Until he found out that I reload he would take it to the metal recyclers and get cash for the collection.
Now he gives me a couple 5 gallon buckets a year. I have to sort it out and clean and clean and clean it all before reloading. I only use this for practice and making loud noises... I sell some to friends for the same purpose. By the way, cleaning got a lot easier after I bought an Isonic ultra sonic cleaner from Amazon, 2.1 quart with a heater for $100 with free shipping.

April 10, 2012, 11:01 PM	#1
SixGun45 Junior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 2	Gravel pit brass,223 I consider it a good thing to get free brass by the bucket even if it comes from gravel pits. I sort and wash all of it before working with it. The question is, a lot of the 223 brass has slight dings in it, would you reload and use it? I have been and have not had any problems. If it is more than a minor ding I toss it. I have a 5 gallon bucket full of brass that is going to the recyclers tomorrow. Also when I size the brass some of the necks are too small for the pilot point. I found that a 7/32" drill is 5.56mm so I put it in the vise and chuck the brass lightly in my 1/2" drill and with a little lube turn the brass onto the butt of the drill and it works fine... Thanks,

April 11, 2012, 02:52 AM	#3
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,346	Yes, I pick up gravel pit .223 brass. I put in with my miscellaneous brass for reloading plinking ammo. Small dents just get expanded out with the next firing. I like the above rule about smooth versus creased. I never load to max pressures either (like below military case levels). But overall I find very little .223 brass compared to what I shoot of my own. My own good brass, LC and R-P, I keep separate from the mixed bag brass. I use this good brass for loading more precision rounds by headstamp. __________________ "The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition." - James Madison

April 12, 2012, 10:11 PM	#9
SixGun45 Junior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 2	What is gravel pit brass? Abandoned gravel pits and rock quarries are where a lot of people go to shoot guns and most of them leave their brass on the ground. I have a retired friend that knows where all these areas are around the town he lives in. So every couple weeks he takes a day and goes brass picking. Until he found out that I reload he would take it to the metal recyclers and get cash for the collection. Now he gives me a couple 5 gallon buckets a year. I have to sort it out and clean and clean and clean it all before reloading. I only use this for practice and making loud noises... I sell some to friends for the same purpose. By the way, cleaning got a lot easier after I bought an Isonic ultra sonic cleaner from Amazon, 2.1 quart with a heater for $100 with free shipping.

April 10, 2012, 11:16 PM	#2
dacaur Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2010 Posts: 733	A good rule on dents, as long as its smooth, its ok, if there is any kind of crease or corner, toss it.

April 11, 2012, 08:36 PM	#4
thedaddycat Senior Member Join Date: September 25, 2011 Posts: 388	For dings in the case mouths I use a line-up punch that has a long taper to it. It definitely will turn a dented mouth round without an issue, no lube required. They come in a couple of different sizes to suit your needs.

April 11, 2012, 10:14 PM	#5
Will Lee Member Join Date: November 30, 2011 Location: North Texas Posts: 99	thedaddycat, I wonder how old that Maxwell House coffee can is?? Same for that can of WD-40. I say you been around for a while. Been using your method to round out case mouths for quite some time and using dacaur's rule for culling bass just as long (40 years).

April 12, 2012, 04:21 PM	#6
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,033	Sure it's good as long as there are no deep scratches from sharp rocks.

April 12, 2012, 07:25 PM	#7
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	What is 'gravel pit' brass?