9mm, 380 and 38 Super Brass Sorting

jsflagstad · December 21, 2013, 11:43 PM

Just finished sorting 9mm, 380 and 38 Super brass. About 300 9mm, 200 38 Super and about 100 380 mixed in.. Talk about an eye workout!

I pass it under a magnification light to easier see the head stamp, but still takes some time. Most of the 38 super brass was nickel so that made it a bit easier but the little 380's really like to look like 9mm after awhile.

Anyone else have a better method?

DannyB1954 · December 22, 2013, 12:27 AM

It may take longer, but how about a balance scale. I see them on ebay all the time. Or use a beam type powder scale set for the weight of the 9mm shell. If you put a shell on the scale and it weighs less it is a 380, if it weighs the same it is a 9mm, if it weighs more, it's 38 super.

If they are different lengths, line them up in a row, (push them against the back of your bench or a piece of wood), and put a straight edge across the tops. The 38 super are almost 23 mm long, the 9mm is 19mm and the 380 is 17mm long.

I don't know that any of these will work for you, but good luck with it.

Forrest68 · December 22, 2013, 12:41 AM

wellafter sorten nearly 1000 pieces of brass mostly 9mm,40 s&w, 45 acp, and a few .380 mixed in, I now try to keep my brass seperate when I go shooting, gather up my 9mm put it in one bag, then the 45acp or 40 s&w into another bag. Insteadof throwing it all into one container and sorten later. Save a good amount of time

Overscore · December 22, 2013, 12:48 AM

I personally enjoy throwing it all in one big triage bucket. A) It allows for more time shooting at the range, since brass pickup consists of just grabbing everything I see and throwing it in a bag. B) When the kitty litter bucket is full and it's time to sort it all out, I put on some music, break out a cigar, and enjoy a few beers while doing my sorting. In the end, it all must be sorted, so I'd rather do the sorting with beers in my garage than on my knees at the range when I'm up against the clock to get to work.

DannyB1954 · December 22, 2013, 01:25 AM

Just thought of something else. You can use a 3/4" open end wrench as a gauge. 19mm and 3/4" are real close, (3/4" = 19.05 mm). If you cant fit the shell into the opening it is a 38 Super, if it fits snug, it is 9mm, if it fits real loose, it is a 380.

Jim Watson · December 22, 2013, 01:30 AM

Saw a video the other day.

Get some .40 ammo box inserts, the hard plastic with square pockets, not the molded Styrofoam. Just dump handfuls of brass over an insert, shaking it to settle cases into the pockets. Different calibers will be immediately obvious.

I'm going to be dumpster diving at the range to find some of those trays.

jsflagstad · December 22, 2013, 05:37 PM

Wow! Some pretty good tips here. Thanks everyone. I guess I knew what I was getting into when I started reloading for all of these calibers as well as 40 S&W. A few tips always help.

rdmallory · December 22, 2013, 09:05 PM

You can buy a sorting tray that will sort .380 and 9mm. Not sure if it would work for 38 Super.

I used them when I had a place to buy range brass. I would buy pick out what I needed and sell the rest. At the time .380 brass would pay for the price of the bucket.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/847...acp-3-bowl-set

rodfac · December 22, 2013, 09:46 PM

I've got a Glock 23 as well, and both my wife and I get good range practice with a Lone Wolf 9mm barrel. Accuracy is every bit as good as with the .40 barrel. Good luck with yours. Best Regards, Rod

jmorris · December 22, 2013, 09:50 PM

My sorter will sort 38 super, 9 mm and 380 from one another.

This is a video of how it works, when I first tested it.

http://s121.photobucket.com/user/jmo...opper.mp4.html

It takes about 15 min to sort a 5 gallon buck of brass.

Overscore · December 22, 2013, 11:31 PM

That is so awesome, Mr. Morris.

December 21, 2013, 11:43 PM	#1
jsflagstad Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: Up Nort Posts: 419	9mm, 380 and 38 Super Brass Sorting Just finished sorting 9mm, 380 and 38 Super brass. About 300 9mm, 200 38 Super and about 100 380 mixed in.. Talk about an eye workout! I pass it under a magnification light to easier see the head stamp, but still takes some time. Most of the 38 super brass was nickel so that made it a bit easier but the little 380's really like to look like 9mm after awhile. Anyone else have a better method? __________________ JSF "Is your rifle interesting? -Larry Potterfield

December 22, 2013, 12:27 AM	#2
DannyB1954 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2013 Location: Pahrump Nv USA Posts: 480	It may take longer, but how about a balance scale. I see them on ebay all the time. Or use a beam type powder scale set for the weight of the 9mm shell. If you put a shell on the scale and it weighs less it is a 380, if it weighs the same it is a 9mm, if it weighs more, it's 38 super. If they are different lengths, line them up in a row, (push them against the back of your bench or a piece of wood), and put a straight edge across the tops. The 38 super are almost 23 mm long, the 9mm is 19mm and the 380 is 17mm long. I don't know that any of these will work for you, but good luck with it. Last edited by DannyB1954; December 22, 2013 at 01:14 AM.

December 22, 2013, 05:37 PM	#7
jsflagstad Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: Up Nort Posts: 419	Wow! Some pretty good tips here. Thanks everyone. I guess I knew what I was getting into when I started reloading for all of these calibers as well as 40 S&W. A few tips always help. __________________ JSF "Is your rifle interesting? -Larry Potterfield

December 22, 2013, 09:46 PM	#9
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	I've got a Glock 23 as well, and both my wife and I get good range practice with a Lone Wolf 9mm barrel. Accuracy is every bit as good as with the .40 barrel. Good luck with yours. Best Regards, Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

December 22, 2013, 12:41 AM	#3
Forrest68 Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2013 Posts: 135	wellafter sorten nearly 1000 pieces of brass mostly 9mm,40 s&w, 45 acp, and a few .380 mixed in, I now try to keep my brass seperate when I go shooting, gather up my 9mm put it in one bag, then the 45acp or 40 s&w into another bag. Insteadof throwing it all into one container and sorten later. Save a good amount of time

December 22, 2013, 12:48 AM	#4
Overscore Member Join Date: February 4, 2013 Posts: 72	I personally enjoy throwing it all in one big triage bucket. A) It allows for more time shooting at the range, since brass pickup consists of just grabbing everything I see and throwing it in a bag. B) When the kitty litter bucket is full and it's time to sort it all out, I put on some music, break out a cigar, and enjoy a few beers while doing my sorting. In the end, it all must be sorted, so I'd rather do the sorting with beers in my garage than on my knees at the range when I'm up against the clock to get to work.

December 22, 2013, 01:25 AM	#5
DannyB1954 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2013 Location: Pahrump Nv USA Posts: 480	Just thought of something else. You can use a 3/4" open end wrench as a gauge. 19mm and 3/4" are real close, (3/4" = 19.05 mm). If you cant fit the shell into the opening it is a 38 Super, if it fits snug, it is 9mm, if it fits real loose, it is a 380.

December 22, 2013, 01:30 AM	#6
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,539	Saw a video the other day. Get some .40 ammo box inserts, the hard plastic with square pockets, not the molded Styrofoam. Just dump handfuls of brass over an insert, shaking it to settle cases into the pockets. Different calibers will be immediately obvious. I'm going to be dumpster diving at the range to find some of those trays.

December 22, 2013, 09:05 PM	#8
rdmallory Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2009 Location: Deltona FL Posts: 953	You can buy a sorting tray that will sort .380 and 9mm. Not sure if it would work for 38 Super. I used them when I had a place to buy range brass. I would buy pick out what I needed and sell the rest. At the time .380 brass would pay for the price of the bucket. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/847...acp-3-bowl-set

December 22, 2013, 09:50 PM	#10
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	My sorter will sort 38 super, 9 mm and 380 from one another. This is a video of how it works, when I first tested it. http://s121.photobucket.com/user/jmo...opper.mp4.html It takes about 15 min to sort a 5 gallon buck of brass.

December 22, 2013, 11:31 PM	#11
Overscore Member Join Date: February 4, 2013 Posts: 72	That is so awesome, Mr. Morris.