The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old October 17, 2008, 10:12 PM   #1
KDM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 4, 2006
Location: California
Posts: 457
Copper-colored patches on brass...

Got 45 pieces of old 270 Winchester brass. They were heavily tarnished. After 2 hours in my tumbler with walnut media, all the black tarnish turned a reddish copper color.

The reddish copper color can be taken off with 0000 steel wool, although some discoloration remains in its place. Not a metallurgist, so I don't know the extent of this stuff. Is it corrosion, or just a cosmetic defect? Want to avoid shooting weak brass.

I'm real close to throwing these out...what do you guys think? Sorry, don't have access to a camera right now.
__________________
"Ask not for a lighter load. Instead, ask for a stronger back."
KDM is offline  
Old October 18, 2008, 12:35 AM   #2
T. O'Heir
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 13, 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 12,453
Pitch 'em. The red colour is the copper coming out of the alloy. Midway wants $16.49 per 50 for Winchester brass. $167.99 per 100.
__________________
Spelling and grammar count!
T. O'Heir is offline  
Old October 18, 2008, 09:37 AM   #3
KDM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 4, 2006
Location: California
Posts: 457
Thank you, sir. With their low replacement cost, it's not too painful to toss them...certainly less painful than if they rupture.
__________________
"Ask not for a lighter load. Instead, ask for a stronger back."
KDM is offline  
Old October 18, 2008, 02:08 PM   #4
Shoney
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 21, 2002
Location: Transplanted from Montana
Posts: 2,311
And the correct answer is

Cartridge brass is 70% copper and 30% zinc. The zinc leeches from the brass at a rapid rate, either with basic compounds like ammonia or from the formation af small electrovoltaic cells where the case is in contact with something and water. The longer the contact, the more that is leeched. A small reduction in the % zinc will cause the brass to be brittle and can cause catastrophic rupture of the case.- - -

The reddish color is the copper that remains in the brass after zinc has been removed.
__________________
I pledge allegiance to the Flag - - -, and to the Republic for which it stands….Our Forefathers were brilliant for giving us a Republic, not a democracy! Do you know the difference??? and WHY?http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissue...les.asp?id=111
Shoney is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:29 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.04168 seconds with 8 queries