Question about brass?

MDS · December 19, 2007, 07:09 PM

Pretty sure I'm getting a press for Christmas. I picked up the ABC's of reloading. I've been looking around some sites. MY question is this. When buying used brass. Such as Gunbroker, this site, etc. Are there any tips anyone can share? Thanks, All

crowbeaner · December 19, 2007, 07:27 PM

Stick with sellers that advertise weekly and buy once fired brass. Then you uniform it up and you're set to go.

frag · December 19, 2007, 07:29 PM

It's usually a crapshoot when buying used stuff on-line. Check the users feed back and that should tell you something. If he has a lot of positive responses, he's probably trustworthy.
That being said, if it's just brass you're looking for, once or twice fired brass is going to be ok. Try Midway (www.midwayusa.com) for other tooling and components. I've always been happy with them.

MDS · December 19, 2007, 08:31 PM

Thanks, Is there any big differance between Nickle and Brass?

rrp · December 19, 2007, 09:37 PM

Stick with brass. The nickel is harder on your equipment and doesn't usually last as long.

Grandpa Shooter · December 20, 2007, 02:06 AM

I have found it best to buy from regulars on the site. There are guys who will be in the sales section who never go on any other sub-forum and just want your money. Read in the general discussion section and rifle and hand gun sections for anyone selling or trading guns, and in the sale/trade for the same thing. You can PM them and ask what they are doing with any brass they have. Usually they haven't really thought about it, and you can pick it up for 2-4 cents per piece. Works for me anyway.

Doublestack · December 23, 2007, 04:39 AM

Howdy.

I honestly do not know if I would ever buy used brass on line anywhere. Not that I wouldn't trust people, it just seems easier to obtain in other ways without the risk. I save all the brass from factory bought and fired ammo, and supplement with brand new Starline brass when I get low on something. Honestly, I have only bought new brass when I am adding a new caliber to reload. New brass is not that expensive, and you will get many, many reloads out of them. Many folks at the range will give away there brass as well if they don't reload.

DS

rg1 · December 23, 2007, 05:16 PM

I buy once-fired brass and I agree to stick with sellers that sell a lot of brass and check their ratings. Stay with brass of the same manufacturer and not mixed lots. STILL this brass from unknown origins fired from unknown rifles needs to be very closely checked for defects. Check each case closely using the bent sharpened wire feeler method on the inside for stretching and potential separation. You'll occasionally find a case that may have been fired more than once. Check the case heads for ejector impression marks. This could indicate a high pressure 1st firing or soft brass. Check the fired primers for flattening as this could mean high pressure on the first firing. I'm just saying inspect each and every case just as you should with your own once fired brass.
Hope Santa brings you your press!

Thesenator · December 23, 2007, 08:30 PM

Tips:

1. Stay away from Federal brass, it's soft, usually deformed (stretched) and their primer pockets loosen quickly.

2. Stay away from machinegun fired .223, .308 and 30.06 Much of it will show signs of excessive stretching just above the web because of loose headspaced guns.

3. Once fired .223 and .308 and 30.06 military brass will have a crimped primer, (unless its match brass) If it doesn't, it's either not "once fired or its not military brass. ASK before you buy.

Ask seller specifically if any rifle brass has been machinegun fired, if so, move on to another seller.

rigmech · December 23, 2007, 09:55 PM

try www.ammobrasstrader.com

totalloser · December 26, 2007, 04:15 AM

I LIKE the cheap stuff. Got 5000 .223 mixed/machinegun and 2000 .357 sig from www.cheyennebrass.com Hosing brass. Gotta do some cleanup, but once it's done, it's done. First pass sizing is a pain (loose machinegun chambers) and the crimp, I set the decap to barely push out the primer and only have to swage 1 in 30 or so (the REAL crimps will keep the primers in) and the other issue is the ding in the rim from the mean extractor. Roll the cases between two steel plates to smooth out the extractor ding.
To each their own, I say. Watch out for 7.62 (.308) brass. It's thicker and will not hold as much powder. Compressed load and KB!! .223 seems to be close enough to not matter except for accuracy at range.
I was excited about the nickle cases until I started sizing them. They suck.

T. O'Heir · December 26, 2007, 04:29 AM

"...buying used brass..." Avoid it if you can. Ask how many times it has been reloaded and shot and with what load. Once fired is fine, but if the guy doesn't know how many times it has been fired or won't tell you, pass. New brass isn't terribly expensive nor hard to come by.
"...any big differance between..." Nickle is just plated brass. It's easier to clean, but doesn't give you any advantage if it has been used a lot.
"...without the risk..." And the cost of shipping. Shipping costs can eliminate any savings. Shipping costs are determined by the carrier, not the seller, by weight and the size of the package. Unless the brass is something you can't get locally, don't bother with on-line purchases.

xtargeeter · December 26, 2007, 10:55 AM

I'v had excellent results with once-fired brass from Dillon. YMMV, but I doubt it.

qajaq59 · December 28, 2007, 08:09 AM

Since you are just starting to reload I'd suggest you invest in some new brass. It'll just make things easier for now. After you get more experience then you can start looking at the used brass.

December 19, 2007, 07:09 PM	#1
MDS Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 492	Question about brass? Pretty sure I'm getting a press for Christmas. I picked up the ABC's of reloading. I've been looking around some sites. MY question is this. When buying used brass. Such as Gunbroker, this site, etc. Are there any tips anyone can share? Thanks, All

December 20, 2007, 02:06 AM	#6
Grandpa Shooter Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2007 Posts: 140	I have found it best to buy from regulars on the site. There are guys who will be in the sales section who never go on any other sub-forum and just want your money. Read in the general discussion section and rifle and hand gun sections for anyone selling or trading guns, and in the sale/trade for the same thing. You can PM them and ask what they are doing with any brass they have. Usually they haven't really thought about it, and you can pick it up for 2-4 cents per piece. Works for me anyway. __________________ Old enough to know better and way too old to care!

December 19, 2007, 07:27 PM	#2
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	Stick with sellers that advertise weekly and buy once fired brass. Then you uniform it up and you're set to go.

December 19, 2007, 07:29 PM	#3
frag Member Join Date: November 15, 2004 Location: Independence, KY Posts: 59	It's usually a crapshoot when buying used stuff on-line. Check the users feed back and that should tell you something. If he has a lot of positive responses, he's probably trustworthy. That being said, if it's just brass you're looking for, once or twice fired brass is going to be ok. Try Midway (www.midwayusa.com) for other tooling and components. I've always been happy with them.

December 19, 2007, 08:31 PM	#4
MDS Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 492	Thanks, Is there any big differance between Nickle and Brass?

December 19, 2007, 09:37 PM	#5
rrp Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2006 Location: west central Wi Posts: 300	Stick with brass. The nickel is harder on your equipment and doesn't usually last as long.

December 23, 2007, 04:39 AM	#7
Doublestack Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2007 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 295	Howdy. I honestly do not know if I would ever buy used brass on line anywhere. Not that I wouldn't trust people, it just seems easier to obtain in other ways without the risk. I save all the brass from factory bought and fired ammo, and supplement with brand new Starline brass when I get low on something. Honestly, I have only bought new brass when I am adding a new caliber to reload. New brass is not that expensive, and you will get many, many reloads out of them. Many folks at the range will give away there brass as well if they don't reload. DS

December 23, 2007, 05:16 PM	#8
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,131	I buy once-fired brass and I agree to stick with sellers that sell a lot of brass and check their ratings. Stay with brass of the same manufacturer and not mixed lots. STILL this brass from unknown origins fired from unknown rifles needs to be very closely checked for defects. Check each case closely using the bent sharpened wire feeler method on the inside for stretching and potential separation. You'll occasionally find a case that may have been fired more than once. Check the case heads for ejector impression marks. This could indicate a high pressure 1st firing or soft brass. Check the fired primers for flattening as this could mean high pressure on the first firing. I'm just saying inspect each and every case just as you should with your own once fired brass. Hope Santa brings you your press!

December 23, 2007, 08:30 PM	#9
Thesenator Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Posts: 126	Tips: 1. Stay away from Federal brass, it's soft, usually deformed (stretched) and their primer pockets loosen quickly. 2. Stay away from machinegun fired .223, .308 and 30.06 Much of it will show signs of excessive stretching just above the web because of loose headspaced guns. 3. Once fired .223 and .308 and 30.06 military brass will have a crimped primer, (unless its match brass) If it doesn't, it's either not "once fired or its not military brass. ASK before you buy. Ask seller specifically if any rifle brass has been machinegun fired, if so, move on to another seller.

December 23, 2007, 09:55 PM	#10
rigmech Junior Member Join Date: April 2, 2007 Posts: 2	try www.ammobrasstrader.com

December 26, 2007, 04:15 AM	#11
totalloser Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2007 Location: Fort Bragg, CA Posts: 679	I LIKE the cheap stuff. Got 5000 .223 mixed/machinegun and 2000 .357 sig from www.cheyennebrass.com Hosing brass. Gotta do some cleanup, but once it's done, it's done. First pass sizing is a pain (loose machinegun chambers) and the crimp, I set the decap to barely push out the primer and only have to swage 1 in 30 or so (the REAL crimps will keep the primers in) and the other issue is the ding in the rim from the mean extractor. Roll the cases between two steel plates to smooth out the extractor ding. To each their own, I say. Watch out for 7.62 (.308) brass. It's thicker and will not hold as much powder. Compressed load and KB!! .223 seems to be close enough to not matter except for accuracy at range. I was excited about the nickle cases until I started sizing them. They suck.

December 26, 2007, 04:29 AM	#12
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...buying used brass..." Avoid it if you can. Ask how many times it has been reloaded and shot and with what load. Once fired is fine, but if the guy doesn't know how many times it has been fired or won't tell you, pass. New brass isn't terribly expensive nor hard to come by. "...any big differance between..." Nickle is just plated brass. It's easier to clean, but doesn't give you any advantage if it has been used a lot. "...without the risk..." And the cost of shipping. Shipping costs can eliminate any savings. Shipping costs are determined by the carrier, not the seller, by weight and the size of the package. Unless the brass is something you can't get locally, don't bother with on-line purchases.

December 26, 2007, 10:55 AM	#13
xtargeeter Member Join Date: November 25, 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 58	I'v had excellent results with once-fired brass from Dillon. YMMV, but I doubt it.

December 28, 2007, 08:09 AM	#14
qajaq59 Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2005 Posts: 139	Since you are just starting to reload I'd suggest you invest in some new brass. It'll just make things easier for now. After you get more experience then you can start looking at the used brass.