writing on brass?

alwayspackin1 · November 17, 2009, 10:32 PM

can anyone foresee any problems with writing on brass with say, a sharpie? for instance, for the sake of load development, you could label which were which?

just checking.

chris

RyeDaddy · November 17, 2009, 10:41 PM

Absolutely no problems at all. I do this when developing loads every time now. Only took one time dropping an organized ammo box with a workup in it to figure out this was necessary. Try figuring out what's what with 50 rounds of all same components, just different powder levels. I just put an "A" or "B", etc. on each case with a fine tip Sharpie and write in my log book what each letter corresponds to.

Wipes right off with rubbing alcohol, or in the tumbler.

Mike40-11 · November 17, 2009, 10:44 PM

Don't see how it would hurt, just have to clean it off later I guess.

What I usually do is use different colored sharpies and put a dot on the primers. Note card reminding me what color is what. When I'm done and decap to use the brass again, there are no extraneous markings to confuse me later.

QBall45 · November 17, 2009, 11:41 PM

Writing on side of case if not worth the effort.

Simply use differant colors and draw lines accross the case head.

Markings on the case wall end up smudgin off when fired.

Markings on case head tend to stay better aftering.

Crankylove · November 18, 2009, 12:17 AM

I use sharpies on the case head, and case walls quite often. Makes it easy to identify different loads or the cases that wont be making the trip home due to cracked necks etc.

rg1 · November 18, 2009, 01:40 AM

I use a sharpie to write on pistol and rifle cases. Usually it's still readable after firing. Dillion Case lube on a rag will wipe off the sharpie marks. I suppose it's the alcohol in the Dillion lube that erases the sharpie marks.

Magnum Wheel Man · November 18, 2009, 07:43 AM

when developing loads I usually use 50 round plastic ammo boxes, & load 10 rounds each with varrying charge weights ( & later when still tweaking, maybe varrying COL's ) per bullet, with all the rest of the load conditions the same... I use masking tape on the top of my box with a full component list & usually list my variable range of powder or COL for example, then I write with a sharpie on the side of each case on both ends of each row what the variable is... I've been doing it this way for years, & never had a problem with brass, & often have more trouble polishing off the sharpie than worrying about it coming off too soon... like I said, I don't write on every case, & I only do it when developing loads, & I just write 10.0, 10.3, 10.6, 10.9, 11.2 as an example on the sides for a range of powder charges on those 2 cartridges on each end of the row in the box... all other info is on the box

**Unclenick** · November 18, 2009, 07:56 AM

Coloring the backs of case heads has long been used by bullseye shooters to identify their brass from that of others when policing the range. For load development, I often mark the bullet tips with a fine ring or two or three, etcetera, from a Sharpie. I only need the identification until the round is away, unless I am tracking load history of the brass. Rimless cases that I have set aside for firelapping or other special purposes get a colored Magic Marker applied to their extractor grooves. It takes a long time to wear color out of an extractor groove.

Uncle Buck · November 18, 2009, 08:36 AM

I ran out of storage boxes for my rounds and had to store three different loads in the same plastic boxes. I just colored the case heads and next to the load date I put the color used in that round.
I have some very low pressure rounds that when fired do not completely seal the chamber, so I end up with dirty cases. Marking the side of the cases would not have been a good idea in my situation.
The color comes of in the tumbler.

langenc · November 18, 2009, 08:46 AM

I down loaded some ammo for grandaughter to shoot in sons 300 WSM. Just laid the ammo on paper and 'sprayed' with white spray can.

SwampYankee · November 18, 2009, 08:56 AM

I write on the sides of .303 cases when developing loads for a new Enfield, or a new load for an old Enfield. Never had sharpie come off through the act of firing and ejecting.

Sam06 · November 18, 2009, 09:09 AM

I do it all the time. I also have used different colors to ID loads. I have colored the primers. If I have a round that is a little off on the powder I will make it and use it for a fouling shot.

wncchester · November 18, 2009, 12:06 PM

"for instance, for the sake of load development, you could label which were which?"

Works for me. Denatured alcohol wipes it off, clean.

Bailey Boat · November 18, 2009, 01:53 PM

Am I the only one that uses zip lock baggies with a note inside?????

maggys drawers · November 18, 2009, 02:06 PM

I write on the sides with a sharpie when working up a load for my M1. No problems there, and no question about the load. It vanishes when the brass goes into the tumbler next time.

EdSky · November 18, 2009, 02:31 PM

I use sharpies and write the powder weight when working up loads. works fine on my .45, .38 super, and .9mm without problems. If all loads are within a small range, I'll use lines to represent .1 gr increments. But writing "6.2" in script stays readable on most pistol rounds.

bullspotter · November 18, 2009, 04:31 PM

I do it all the time with my pistol and 223 ammo, that way when shooting at the range with my freinds, or shooting matches, i know what brass was mine, ill use differnt colors for differnt loads, most of the time ill mark them when loaded before storing them, this is also how ill keep track of my load data. I keep a book with color codes in it as to the load. works slick!!! Sometimes I will store some in zip lock bags with a note with load data, do this when all my 100 count boxes are full. I really like the red color sharpie, and nice shiny brass, gives a ammo a nice pretty custom look!!!!

Dilligaf · November 18, 2009, 04:43 PM

I used to put a line across the bottom with a sharpie when they were in the box. Makes it easy to ID my brass from everyone else's at a match.

stump shooter · November 18, 2009, 07:18 PM

I use a fine sharpie on rifle case sides. They come right off with 0000 steel wool when I'm wiping the neck for sizing.

I also use the sharpie on pistol load workup. Just tumble and forget.

Besides using medium size, colored sharpies on the case head to identify my pistol brass from others I will also run a fine sharpie around the primer edge and pocket to diffentiate different boxes of same lot rifle brass and their firings...1x from 0x, 2x from 1x, and so on. It keeps them straight until I get home and decap/size them. They then get the age update on the label.

November 17, 2009, 10:32 PM	#1
alwayspackin1 Member Join Date: April 27, 2009 Location: Southeast Arkansas Posts: 99	writing on brass? can anyone foresee any problems with writing on brass with say, a sharpie? for instance, for the sake of load development, you could label which were which? just checking. chris __________________ *The glass is not half full, nor is it half empty. You simply have twice as much glass as you need.01/01/09*

November 18, 2009, 12:17 AM	#5
Crankylove Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2008 Location: 8B ID Posts: 1,753	I use sharpies on the case head, and case walls quite often. Makes it easy to identify different loads or the cases that wont be making the trip home due to cracked necks etc. __________________ The answer to 1984 is 1776

November 18, 2009, 07:43 AM	#7
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	when developing loads I usually use 50 round plastic ammo boxes, & load 10 rounds each with varrying charge weights ( & later when still tweaking, maybe varrying COL's ) per bullet, with all the rest of the load conditions the same... I use masking tape on the top of my box with a full component list & usually list my variable range of powder or COL for example, then I write with a sharpie on the side of each case on both ends of each row what the variable is... I've been doing it this way for years, & never had a problem with brass, & often have more trouble polishing off the sharpie than worrying about it coming off too soon... like I said, I don't write on every case, & I only do it when developing loads, & I just write 10.0, 10.3, 10.6, 10.9, 11.2 as an example on the sides for a range of powder charges on those 2 cartridges on each end of the row in the box... all other info is on the box __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust... Last edited by Magnum Wheel Man; November 18, 2009 at 08:45 AM.

November 18, 2009, 07:56 AM	#8
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Coloring the backs of case heads has long been used by bullseye shooters to identify their brass from that of others when policing the range. For load development, I often mark the bullet tips with a fine ring or two or three, etcetera, from a Sharpie. I only need the identification until the round is away, unless I am tracking load history of the brass. Rimless cases that I have set aside for firelapping or other special purposes get a colored Magic Marker applied to their extractor grooves. It takes a long time to wear color out of an extractor groove. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 18, 2009, 08:36 AM	#9
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	I ran out of storage boxes for my rounds and had to store three different loads in the same plastic boxes. I just colored the case heads and next to the load date I put the color used in that round. I have some very low pressure rounds that when fired do not completely seal the chamber, so I end up with dirty cases. Marking the side of the cases would not have been a good idea in my situation. The color comes of in the tumbler. __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

November 17, 2009, 10:41 PM	#2
RyeDaddy Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 140	Absolutely no problems at all. I do this when developing loads every time now. Only took one time dropping an organized ammo box with a workup in it to figure out this was necessary. Try figuring out what's what with 50 rounds of all same components, just different powder levels. I just put an "A" or "B", etc. on each case with a fine tip Sharpie and write in my log book what each letter corresponds to. Wipes right off with rubbing alcohol, or in the tumbler.

November 17, 2009, 10:44 PM	#3
Mike40-11 Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 842	Don't see how it would hurt, just have to clean it off later I guess. What I usually do is use different colored sharpies and put a dot on the primers. Note card reminding me what color is what. When I'm done and decap to use the brass again, there are no extraneous markings to confuse me later.

November 17, 2009, 11:41 PM	#4
QBall45 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2008 Location: South Central Minnesota Posts: 584	Writing on side of case if not worth the effort. Simply use differant colors and draw lines accross the case head. Markings on the case wall end up smudgin off when fired. Markings on case head tend to stay better aftering.

November 18, 2009, 01:40 AM	#6
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	I use a sharpie to write on pistol and rifle cases. Usually it's still readable after firing. Dillion Case lube on a rag will wipe off the sharpie marks. I suppose it's the alcohol in the Dillion lube that erases the sharpie marks.

November 18, 2009, 08:46 AM	#10
langenc Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2007 Location: Montmorency Co, MI Posts: 1,551	I down loaded some ammo for grandaughter to shoot in sons 300 WSM. Just laid the ammo on paper and 'sprayed' with white spray can.

November 18, 2009, 08:56 AM	#11
SwampYankee Registration in progress Join Date: November 1, 2008 Location: I can be found on a number of other forums. Posts: 1,333	I write on the sides of .303 cases when developing loads for a new Enfield, or a new load for an old Enfield. Never had sharpie come off through the act of firing and ejecting.

November 18, 2009, 09:09 AM	#12
Sam06 Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2008 Location: Fayettenam Posts: 1,086	No problem I do it all the time. I also have used different colors to ID loads. I have colored the primers. If I have a round that is a little off on the powder I will make it and use it for a fouling shot. __________________ The two most abundant elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity.

November 18, 2009, 12:06 PM	#13
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	"for instance, for the sake of load development, you could label which were which?" Works for me. Denatured alcohol wipes it off, clean.

November 18, 2009, 01:53 PM	#14
Bailey Boat Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2006 Location: NC Posts: 365	Am I the only one that uses zip lock baggies with a note inside?????

November 18, 2009, 02:06 PM	#15
maggys drawers Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2006 Posts: 178	I write on the sides with a sharpie when working up a load for my M1. No problems there, and no question about the load. It vanishes when the brass goes into the tumbler next time.

November 18, 2009, 02:31 PM	#16
EdSky Member Join Date: November 18, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 35	I use sharpies and write the powder weight when working up loads. works fine on my .45, .38 super, and .9mm without problems. If all loads are within a small range, I'll use lines to represent .1 gr increments. But writing "6.2" in script stays readable on most pistol rounds.

November 18, 2009, 04:31 PM	#17
bullspotter Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2008 Location: Montana Posts: 308	I do it all the time with my pistol and 223 ammo, that way when shooting at the range with my freinds, or shooting matches, i know what brass was mine, ill use differnt colors for differnt loads, most of the time ill mark them when loaded before storing them, this is also how ill keep track of my load data. I keep a book with color codes in it as to the load. works slick!!! Sometimes I will store some in zip lock bags with a note with load data, do this when all my 100 count boxes are full. I really like the red color sharpie, and nice shiny brass, gives a ammo a nice pretty custom look!!!!

November 18, 2009, 04:43 PM	#18
Dilligaf Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2005 Posts: 157	I used to put a line across the bottom with a sharpie when they were in the box. Makes it easy to ID my brass from everyone else's at a match.

November 18, 2009, 07:18 PM	#19
stump shooter Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Posts: 61	I use a fine sharpie on rifle case sides. They come right off with 0000 steel wool when I'm wiping the neck for sizing. I also use the sharpie on pistol load workup. Just tumble and forget. Besides using medium size, colored sharpies on the case head to identify my pistol brass from others I will also run a fine sharpie around the primer edge and pocket to diffentiate different boxes of same lot rifle brass and their firings...1x from 0x, 2x from 1x, and so on. It keeps them straight until I get home and decap/size them. They then get the age update on the label.