.45 brass ??

lodi · February 7, 2001, 08:09 PM

I have been picking up .45 brass every time I go shooting wether mine or the guy before me.I plan on buying a dillon press soon as I can find one.How do I know if the reason the guy before me did not pick up his brass is because he has reloaded it to many times ?? can I tell by looking ??
Thanks for the help. Steve

MikeFromIowa · February 7, 2001, 09:20 PM

You don't have to check. No reloader that I know would ever leave brass on the range, even the stuff they aren't going to reload again. Picking up brass gets to be such a habit its automatic...Besides, none of the guys I know would leave "unusable" brass laying around, because they wouldn't want you to load with it if they weren't going to.
Seriously, I think with .45ACP you should be safe, as long as the brass looks fairly new and isn't split at the case mouth or exhibiting a "ring" or "smile" near the base of the casing where the indentation for extraction starts.
--Mike From Iowa

Keith J · February 7, 2001, 11:57 PM

I've reloaded .45 brass soo much it completely lost its headstamping.

As long as it chambers and looks good, its fine.

Your best bet is to pick up new stuff, like the kind with the red lacquer sealant visible. Most ranges have policies against it but if you reload, what can they do if you are safe about it?

Sub MOA · February 8, 2001, 02:41 AM

Must respectfully disagree with MikefromIowa. Most reloaders are conscientous enough to discard bad brass, but not all. I stumbled onto what first appeared to be a great haul of .40 at the range about a year ago. Not wanting to waste time, I swept them into a nice neat pile them scooped them up for inspection at home. Over 150 pieces, various headstamps, and approx. %90 of it with bulging at the web so excessive as to not even warrant breaking out the caliper. There was no way to tell how many times this brass had been loaded hot and fed into an unsupported chamber. I like my hands and firearms just the way they are. Dropping these in the waste basket wasn't too difficult a choice.

All this being said, the vast majority of pistol brass found on the range will be perfectly safe to reload. Simply make it a habit to inspect brass carefully and toss it if you've got any doubt. Why cause a safety issue trying to save a couple bucks worth of brass? You'll most certainly find more on your next trip.

Sub

Patrick Graham · February 8, 2001, 05:19 AM

My guess is that I've go some 45 acp brass that has been reloaded 75 times. I can't read the headstamp anymore on some of it.

Jager1 · February 8, 2001, 10:13 AM

I only pick up range empties if I see the shooter loading from a box of factory ammunition. I do not/will not pick up mixed headstamp lots or any brass that has been reloaded because it may be quite 'used' as mentioned above. I always ask the shooter if they are going to claim their brass. If not, I reap the benefit. I also have shot the same brass up to about 30 times and have left it laying at the range since it had passed my threshold for use. Anyone who picks up mixed headstamp brass at the range must be VERY careful. If you are just getting started, I suggest you only use cases that you can ascertain the history of.

**Mike Irwin** · February 8, 2001, 11:07 AM

.45 is much like .38. If you don't hot rod it, (and most .45 loads aren't hot rod loads at all), the cases will last virtually forever.

I've got some .38 Spl. brass that have 50+ reloads on them. I use them for lightish plinking loads, and don't crimp.

As for .45, I've just started reloading for this, so I'll let you know in a couple years how they're doing.

jtduncan · February 8, 2001, 12:15 PM

I always ask.

But just discard the cracked or buldged 45 cases. i also don't pick up the really dirty cases too. If you tumble your own brass plus once fired brass, you can cut an hour off of the tumbling time.

If I retumble my brass, an hour and a half is all I need. but if it's really filthy range brass that been reloaded, my tumbler runs for a good 3 hours before I get it sparkling.

Pick it up and don't worry.

I've even trained no-relaoders to sweep their brass back to the wall so I can pick through it instead of sweeping it out past the firing line.

Got to love yuppies and newbies. They don't reload and always want to help you scoop up their brass so you can svae some bucks.

9x45 · February 8, 2001, 07:36 PM

.45acp brass is easy to check. It fails from either splitting the case wall, or it will be abnormally buldged. Even split cases may be fired, but you can't get the bulges to resize.

lodi · February 8, 2001, 10:52 PM

Thanks that is what I was hoping to here.

Karsten · February 9, 2001, 12:53 AM

Lodi
Just check the brass. Watch for cracked cases in the neck and the base. I loaded way hot to shoot IPSC and I still threw very few cases out and I have no idea how many times they have been loaded. I am sure I have brass (Milsurp) from WW2 but it still works.
Karsten

[Edited by Karsten on 02-09-2001 at 12:14 PM]

lodi · February 11, 2001, 11:00 PM

My gun I noticed puts a sharp little burr on the shell casing on the back egde I juess this is from the exstactor is this normal ??

**Bud Helms** · February 12, 2001, 05:21 AM

Small nicks and gouges around the rim are normal after repeated reloadings and firings. It is possible that your extractor is not fitted just exactly right, but if the brass is flying, don't fix it.

HandloaderJohn · February 12, 2001, 06:02 AM

Inspect it... clean it...load it...inspect it..shoot it..., I love loading up 45acp with head stamps that are dated in the 60s, the stuff just keeps on going, I have never had a prob with it. God bless the shooter who leaves 45 brass behind for little ole me.
5.3 gr of 231 and a 230 hardball do it for me.

WESHOOT2 · February 12, 2001, 07:57 AM

Case neck tension......

LEE "U" undersized Carbide sizing die.......

Safety first.

TVDean · February 12, 2001, 01:01 PM

Testing this, BTT.

February 7, 2001, 11:57 PM	#3
Keith J Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2000 Posts: 469	Not to worry I've reloaded .45 brass soo much it completely lost its headstamping. As long as it chambers and looks good, its fine. Your best bet is to pick up new stuff, like the kind with the red lacquer sealant visible. Most ranges have policies against it but if you reload, what can they do if you are safe about it?

February 8, 2001, 10:13 AM	#6
Jager1 Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2000 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 422	It is up to you I only pick up range empties if I see the shooter loading from a box of factory ammunition. I do not/will not pick up mixed headstamp lots or any brass that has been reloaded because it may be quite 'used' as mentioned above. I always ask the shooter if they are going to claim their brass. If not, I reap the benefit. I also have shot the same brass up to about 30 times and have left it laying at the range since it had passed my threshold for use. Anyone who picks up mixed headstamp brass at the range must be VERY careful. If you are just getting started, I suggest you only use cases that you can ascertain the history of.

February 8, 2001, 11:07 AM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,379	.45 is much like .38. If you don't hot rod it, (and most .45 loads aren't hot rod loads at all), the cases will last virtually forever. I've got some .38 Spl. brass that have 50+ reloads on them. I use them for lightish plinking loads, and don't crimp. As for .45, I've just started reloading for this, so I'll let you know in a couple years how they're doing. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 8, 2001, 12:15 PM	#8
jtduncan Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 1999 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Posts: 1,686	I always ask. But just discard the cracked or buldged 45 cases. i also don't pick up the really dirty cases too. If you tumble your own brass plus once fired brass, you can cut an hour off of the tumbling time. If I retumble my brass, an hour and a half is all I need. but if it's really filthy range brass that been reloaded, my tumbler runs for a good 3 hours before I get it sparkling. Pick it up and don't worry. I've even trained no-relaoders to sweep their brass back to the wall so I can pick through it instead of sweeping it out past the firing line. Got to love yuppies and newbies. They don't reload and always want to help you scoop up their brass so you can svae some bucks. __________________ The Seattle SharpShooter Reloaded .223 Rem, 9mm, 40SW, 357 SIG, 10mm, 44 Mag, 45 ACP Today?

February 12, 2001, 07:57 AM	#15
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Case neck tension...... LEE "U" undersized Carbide sizing die....... Safety first. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

February 7, 2001, 08:09 PM	#1
lodi Junior Member Join Date: January 4, 2001 Posts: 11	I have been picking up .45 brass every time I go shooting wether mine or the guy before me.I plan on buying a dillon press soon as I can find one.How do I know if the reason the guy before me did not pick up his brass is because he has reloaded it to many times ?? can I tell by looking ?? Thanks for the help. Steve

February 7, 2001, 09:20 PM	#2
MikeFromIowa Member Join Date: May 13, 2000 Location: Darn Near Canada Posts: 46	You don't have to check. No reloader that I know would ever leave brass on the range, even the stuff they aren't going to reload again. Picking up brass gets to be such a habit its automatic...Besides, none of the guys I know would leave "unusable" brass laying around, because they wouldn't want you to load with it if they weren't going to. Seriously, I think with .45ACP you should be safe, as long as the brass looks fairly new and isn't split at the case mouth or exhibiting a "ring" or "smile" near the base of the casing where the indentation for extraction starts. --Mike From Iowa

February 8, 2001, 02:41 AM	#4
Sub MOA Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2000 Location: WA Posts: 292	Must respectfully disagree with MikefromIowa. Most reloaders are conscientous enough to discard bad brass, but not all. I stumbled onto what first appeared to be a great haul of .40 at the range about a year ago. Not wanting to waste time, I swept them into a nice neat pile them scooped them up for inspection at home. Over 150 pieces, various headstamps, and approx. %90 of it with bulging at the web so excessive as to not even warrant breaking out the caliper. There was no way to tell how many times this brass had been loaded hot and fed into an unsupported chamber. I like my hands and firearms just the way they are. Dropping these in the waste basket wasn't too difficult a choice. All this being said, the vast majority of pistol brass found on the range will be perfectly safe to reload. Simply make it a habit to inspect brass carefully and toss it if you've got any doubt. Why cause a safety issue trying to save a couple bucks worth of brass? You'll most certainly find more on your next trip. Sub

February 8, 2001, 05:19 AM	#5
Patrick Graham Junior member Join Date: January 18, 1999 Location: Kokomo, Indiana USA Posts: 674	My guess is that I've go some 45 acp brass that has been reloaded 75 times. I can't read the headstamp anymore on some of it.

February 8, 2001, 07:36 PM	#9
9x45 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2000 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,089	.45acp brass is easy to check. It fails from either splitting the case wall, or it will be abnormally buldged. Even split cases may be fired, but you can't get the bulges to resize.

February 8, 2001, 10:52 PM	#10
lodi Junior Member Join Date: January 4, 2001 Posts: 11	Thanks that is what I was hoping to here.

February 9, 2001, 12:53 AM	#11
Karsten Junior member Join Date: January 22, 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 479	Lodi Just check the brass. Watch for cracked cases in the neck and the base. I loaded way hot to shoot IPSC and I still threw very few cases out and I have no idea how many times they have been loaded. I am sure I have brass (Milsurp) from WW2 but it still works. Karsten [Edited by Karsten on 02-09-2001 at 12:14 PM]

February 11, 2001, 11:00 PM	#12
lodi Junior Member Join Date: January 4, 2001 Posts: 11	My gun I noticed puts a sharp little burr on the shell casing on the back egde I juess this is from the exstactor is this normal ??

February 12, 2001, 05:21 AM	#13
Bud Helms Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 1999 Location: Middle Georgia, USA Posts: 13,198	Small nicks and gouges around the rim are normal after repeated reloadings and firings. It is possible that your extractor is not fitted just exactly right, but if the brass is flying, don't fix it.

February 12, 2001, 06:02 AM	#14
HandloaderJohn Member Join Date: September 18, 2000 Posts: 38	Inspect it... clean it...load it...inspect it..shoot it..., I love loading up 45acp with head stamps that are dated in the 60s, the stuff just keeps on going, I have never had a prob with it. God bless the shooter who leaves 45 brass behind for little ole me. 5.3 gr of 231 and a 230 hardball do it for me.

February 12, 2001, 01:01 PM	#16
TVDean Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 1999 Posts: 173	Testing Testing this, BTT.

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