April 9, 2007, 09:57 PM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: April 8, 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 60
|
Mil surp brass question
Folks, I have recently been delving into reloading GP11 brass, with Berdan large primers, and have recently purchased a small amount from an individual. They were kind enough to send me quite a few Berdan primed 7.62X54 and 303 British brass, both which I can use.
My question is this: The 303 British is some of that 1943 cordite loaded brass. Is this brass safe to use today, given if I am successful in depriming and repriming it? Also, the 7.52X54 brass looks nice, is Berdan- primed, and has a head stamp of 87 on the top, and a character that looks kind of like an S on the bottom. Does anyone know anything about that brass, and again, if I am successful in depriming it, is it safe to reload? I will be washing them out in soap and water, prior to tumbling them, but wanted to get your opinions before I went to a lot of work for nothing. Thanks so much in advance for all your help! |
April 10, 2007, 08:38 PM | #2 |
Junior member
Join Date: December 10, 2006
Location: MANNING SC
Posts: 837
|
berdan brass
it is not the cordite its the corrosive primer.washing will take care of residue.
why are you using berdan brass when you can get cases in boxer primer.also those 303 were made in wartime and longativity was not a concern.I would annell the necks and shoulders. |
April 14, 2007, 10:33 PM | #3 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 11, 2002
Location: high up in the rockies
Posts: 2,289
|
Quote:
I've reloaded a few, using a RCBS Berdan decapping tool, and to me, at least, it just isn't worth it.
__________________
If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs. |
|
April 15, 2007, 06:12 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 14, 2001
Location: State of Confusion
Posts: 2,106
|
Berdan cases
IMHO, reloading Berdan-primed cases is like reloading steel cases: Yes, it can be done, with a great deal more hassle and no better results than by doing it the "right" way--Boxer-primed brass.
There are those people who claim XLNT results, doing one of the above, but they always have to go to more hassle, or buy special equipment, or both, than otherwise. They are also more stubborn than I am, and that's saying quite a bit! If it's not a question of desperate need, don't bother. As to the brass from the 1940's--Look on it as a chance to buy some brand-new, shiny, BERDAN-PRIMED, brass! Brass 60+ years old is likely to age-crack when resized. Yes you can anneal it, but see above regarding extra effort for no better results. Mebbe a collector will want some of it. A scrap dealer will take all of it--brass is currently going for >$1.60/lb.
__________________
God Bless America --Smokey Joe |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|