Once Fired Brass - Is this too good to be true?

DaveInPA · February 20, 2008, 03:48 PM

I'm very tempted to place an order here, but I wanted to check with you guys first. Do you think this is a scam? The prices seem too good to be true, and there is no phone number listed on the site.

http://www.seminolebrassandbullet.co...ry.asp?catid=2

45ACP 1000 casings for $41.00
9mm 1000 casings for $18.50

IF this is a legit business WOW those are good prices.

ojibweindian · February 20, 2008, 03:50 PM

Probably not a scam. But, for that price, don't expect bright, shiney brass. It'll need cleaning, and depriming.

DaveInPA · February 20, 2008, 03:51 PM

At that price I don't care. Thats what the tumbler and decapping die are for

ojibweindian · February 20, 2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

At that price I don't care. Thats what the tumbler and decapping die are for

Exactly

tom234 · February 20, 2008, 05:02 PM

I just pick mine up at the range......

Dave P · February 20, 2008, 05:28 PM

yeah - don't you get them for free like the rest of us??

DaveInPA · February 20, 2008, 05:31 PM

I'm just getting into reloading. Just getting my initial stock.

UniversalFrost · February 20, 2008, 05:39 PM

hey daveinpa I can probabbly do a 1k set of .45acp tumbled for that price shipped.

Let me know if you are interested.

JOE

Crosshair · February 21, 2008, 05:12 AM

Quote:

I'm just getting into reloading. Just getting my initial stock.

Oh, OK. Nothing wrong with that. I've done that too as a CYA measure. 9mm and 40 S&W is plentiful where I live. 45 ACP brass is scarce though so I did have to buy most of mine.

TexasSeaRay · February 21, 2008, 01:05 PM

Here's a phone number I found for the guy.

386-774-5481

Jeff

WESHOOT2 · February 22, 2008, 09:15 AM

I say: New reloaders should acquire new brass cases for their initial attempts at reloading.

New.

I recommend in specific order (for 45 ACP): IMI, Winchester, Starline, others...

DaveInPA · February 22, 2008, 09:26 AM

Why? Seems like a waste of money to me.

WESHOOT2 · February 22, 2008, 09:37 AM

Because new reloaders have other things to concern themselves with, and there is all that experience they have inspecting fired cases....

Safety first; just buy 100.

'Used' cases are great for working up dummy rds.

DaveInPA · February 22, 2008, 11:53 AM

Thanks for the advice but you are the ONLY person I've ever heard this from. I'll stick with once fired and "keep my fingers crossed", although I still don't see what you're saying. New brass is just money down the drain.

KimberDen · February 22, 2008, 12:08 PM

DaveInPa, you'd be well advised to listen to what WESHOOT has to say.

If you need another voice on "use new brass" I'll add mine.

"once fired" brass is a joke - it means it's been fired at least once. If you don't want to buy brand new brass, your best bet to start off is to buy decent hardball ammo, shoot it yourself, then load that brass. You'll know for sure it's been used only once.

Some guys start complaining about their guns jamming when it's the brass that's to fault. Used brass may have damage at the rim or the case mouth. Oftentimes that damage will lead to failures to load. If the brass was used with hot loads you may have fractures in the case walls that are hard to see, especially for a beginner, in that case you run the risk of trashing your mag if the case goes bad.

IMHO, used brass isn't worth buying. Pick up and inspect used brass, buy brand new brass.

DaveInPA · February 22, 2008, 12:17 PM

I have about 100 cases from factory ammo that I've fired. The once fired brass I ended up ordering was collected from a police practice range. I just can't justify

1. Buying new overpriced ammo just so I can use the brass

or

2. Paying for new brass

KimberDen · February 22, 2008, 12:23 PM

If the "police practice range" claim is true then you got yourself a good deal. You'll see it once the brass comes in. Good luck and have fun reloading

WESHOOT2 · February 22, 2008, 12:36 PM

I bow to frugality and experience.....

How about the expense for safety glasses?

Alleykat · February 22, 2008, 12:39 PM

It's pretty simple for a veteran reloader to tell if brass picked up at the range is "once fired".

When loading a low-pressure round like .45ACP, I don't care if it's once-fired or 10-times-fired.

freakshow10mm · February 22, 2008, 12:41 PM

I suggest known once fired brass. Buy a box of WWB. Fire it and use that brass. Firing it one time will let you know if there are any manufacturing defects in the brass that might not be apparent in virgin brass.

DaveInPA · February 22, 2008, 12:53 PM

To the poster that made the comment about safety glasses - I own them and wear them whenever doing ANYTHING that could potentially harm my eyes.

WESHOOT2 · February 22, 2008, 01:01 PM

My advice (which I follow): Safety glasses when touching anything other than paper.

Since you'll need to inspect that fired brass, suggest taking a small handfull and 'rattling' them, listening for the dulled 'tink' of cracked brass (imagine the Three Stooges, when at the dentist office they hit the teeth listening for the bad one; brass cases do the same, but the sound is a wee bit different LOL).

Always be wary of fired brass, because there can be unseen or hidden splits or faults that only matter when the primer's struck.

Assume nothing; check inspect test.

NavyLT · February 22, 2008, 01:58 PM

Has anyone actually reloaded .45 ACP to the point of brass failure, assuming proper charge, OAL and primer? I have never heard of anyone actually wearing out .45 acp or 9mm brass.

freakshow10mm · February 22, 2008, 02:03 PM

Yeah, it happens. Generally it will last a lifetime but sometimes you get some that wear out. Just another mass produced product.

Alleykat · February 22, 2008, 02:24 PM

I've loaded .45ACP brass until the mouth splits.

February 20, 2008, 03:48 PM	#1
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	Once Fired Brass - Is this too good to be true? I'm very tempted to place an order here, but I wanted to check with you guys first. Do you think this is a scam? The prices seem too good to be true, and there is no phone number listed on the site. http://www.seminolebrassandbullet.co...ry.asp?catid=2 45ACP 1000 casings for $41.00 9mm 1000 casings for $18.50 IF this is a legit business WOW those are good prices.

February 20, 2008, 05:28 PM	#6
Dave P Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 1999 Location: North Florida Posts: 1,351	Range Pickups yeah - don't you get them for free like the rest of us??

February 20, 2008, 05:39 PM	#8
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	hey daveinpa I can probabbly do a 1k set of .45acp tumbled for that price shipped. Let me know if you are interested. JOE __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

February 21, 2008, 01:05 PM	#10
TexasSeaRay Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 810	Phone number Here's a phone number I found for the guy. 386-774-5481 Jeff

February 22, 2008, 09:15 AM	#11
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	I don't care what anyone else says I say: New reloaders should acquire new brass cases for their initial attempts at reloading. New. I recommend in specific order (for 45 ACP): IMI, Winchester, Starline, others...

February 20, 2008, 03:50 PM	#2
ojibweindian Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2000 Location: Huntsville, Alabama Posts: 1,199	Probably not a scam. But, for that price, don't expect bright, shiney brass. It'll need cleaning, and depriming.

February 20, 2008, 03:51 PM	#3
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	At that price I don't care. Thats what the tumbler and decapping die are for

February 20, 2008, 05:02 PM	#5
tom234 Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 753	I just pick mine up at the range......

February 20, 2008, 05:31 PM	#7
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	I'm just getting into reloading. Just getting my initial stock.

February 22, 2008, 09:26 AM	#12
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	Why? Seems like a waste of money to me.

February 22, 2008, 09:37 AM	#13
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	new only Because new reloaders have other things to concern themselves with, and there is all that experience they have inspecting fired cases.... Safety first; just buy 100. 'Used' cases are great for working up dummy rds.

February 22, 2008, 11:53 AM	#14
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	Thanks for the advice but you are the ONLY person I've ever heard this from. I'll stick with once fired and "keep my fingers crossed", although I still don't see what you're saying. New brass is just money down the drain.

February 22, 2008, 12:08 PM	#15
KimberDen Member Join Date: January 23, 2007 Posts: 46	DaveInPa, you'd be well advised to listen to what WESHOOT has to say. If you need another voice on "use new brass" I'll add mine. "once fired" brass is a joke - it means it's been fired at least once. If you don't want to buy brand new brass, your best bet to start off is to buy decent hardball ammo, shoot it yourself, then load that brass. You'll know for sure it's been used only once. Some guys start complaining about their guns jamming when it's the brass that's to fault. Used brass may have damage at the rim or the case mouth. Oftentimes that damage will lead to failures to load. If the brass was used with hot loads you may have fractures in the case walls that are hard to see, especially for a beginner, in that case you run the risk of trashing your mag if the case goes bad. IMHO, used brass isn't worth buying. Pick up and inspect used brass, buy brand new brass.

February 22, 2008, 12:17 PM	#16
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	I have about 100 cases from factory ammo that I've fired. The once fired brass I ended up ordering was collected from a police practice range. I just can't justify 1. Buying new overpriced ammo just so I can use the brass or 2. Paying for new brass

February 22, 2008, 12:23 PM	#17
KimberDen Member Join Date: January 23, 2007 Posts: 46	If the "police practice range" claim is true then you got yourself a good deal. You'll see it once the brass comes in. Good luck and have fun reloading

February 22, 2008, 12:36 PM	#18
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	hmmmm..... I bow to frugality and experience..... How about the expense for safety glasses?

February 22, 2008, 12:39 PM	#19
Alleykat Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2007 Posts: 3,668	It's pretty simple for a veteran reloader to tell if brass picked up at the range is "once fired". When loading a low-pressure round like .45ACP, I don't care if it's once-fired or 10-times-fired.

February 22, 2008, 12:41 PM	#20
freakshow10mm Junior member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: MI Posts: 1,398	I suggest known once fired brass. Buy a box of WWB. Fire it and use that brass. Firing it one time will let you know if there are any manufacturing defects in the brass that might not be apparent in virgin brass.

February 22, 2008, 12:53 PM	#21
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	To the poster that made the comment about safety glasses - I own them and wear them whenever doing ANYTHING that could potentially harm my eyes.

February 22, 2008, 01:01 PM	#22
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	excellent practice My advice (which I follow): Safety glasses when touching anything other than paper. Since you'll need to inspect that fired brass, suggest taking a small handfull and 'rattling' them, listening for the dulled 'tink' of cracked brass (imagine the Three Stooges, when at the dentist office they hit the teeth listening for the bad one; brass cases do the same, but the sound is a wee bit different LOL). Always be wary of fired brass, because there can be unseen or hidden splits or faults that only matter when the primer's struck. Assume nothing; check inspect test.

February 22, 2008, 01:58 PM	#23
NavyLT Junior member Join Date: January 25, 2006 Location: Oak Harbor, WA Posts: 1,719	Has anyone actually reloaded .45 ACP to the point of brass failure, assuming proper charge, OAL and primer? I have never heard of anyone actually wearing out .45 acp or 9mm brass.

February 22, 2008, 02:03 PM	#24
freakshow10mm Junior member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: MI Posts: 1,398	Yeah, it happens. Generally it will last a lifetime but sometimes you get some that wear out. Just another mass produced product.

February 22, 2008, 02:24 PM	#25
Alleykat Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2007 Posts: 3,668	I've loaded .45ACP brass until the mouth splits.