New Old Stock Brass

LE-28 · November 17, 2018, 06:45 AM

I was rooting around in my reloading room the other day taking inventory of loaded ammunition and ran across several bags of never used 30-06 Winchester brass, 30-30 brass, and 308 brass from the early '90s, that is still in there original bags from when I bought them.

Does brass age harden, it is still sealed up in the original bags so the air hasn't worked on it, but that doesn't stop time.
Does anyone think I will have a neck splitting problem with using it without annealing first?

sako2 · November 17, 2018, 07:13 AM

no. air and age will only dull the brass

jpx2rk · November 17, 2018, 07:19 AM

To ease your mind, could try loading up 5 or so with light loads and see if those senior citizens are up to the task. LOL

lamarw · November 17, 2018, 07:30 AM

I suspect since they have remained in environmentally controlled conditions in your reloading room, there should be no problem. I have reloaded ammunition from the early 1970's that is still just fine.

I have seen paper shotgun shells from way back in the day still shoot just fine.

**Unclenick** · November 17, 2018, 03:11 PM

The only things that could go wrong would be oxidation or exposure to ammonia vapor (causes season cracking). If that hasn't happened, you should be good to go. Lack of radioactive heavy elements in the brass means you don't have atoms spontaneously breaking down.

F. Guffey · November 17, 2018, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Does brass age harden, it is still sealed up in the original bags so the air hasn't worked on it, but that doesn't stop time.
Does anyone think I will have a neck splitting problem with using it without annealing first?

If time took a tole on brass I would be a nervous wreck. There was a time when brass was pickled for storage.

F. Guffey

**Unclenick** · November 17, 2018, 05:19 PM

I believe castings still are pickled for storage in some instances. Citric acid is used. Maybe other acids, too. Citric acid seems to passivate the surface in some way. I notice that cases cleaned in citric acid (aka, sour salt) will darken a little bit with age, but, despite being clean of wax or oil, never get verdigris or lose their yellow color (no brown patina like you see on cases left outdoors on the ground for years). The old Frankford Arsenal formula was 10% citric acid in water, by weight. That's all. No detergents or anything. Not really needed, as citric acid softens water and makes it slippery all by itself. Interesting stuff.

LE-28 · November 18, 2018, 08:07 AM

Thanks guys, I'll just leave them sealed up until I either use them or trade them away.

That old Winchester was supposed to be a lot better brass than what they sell today. I don't really know, I haven't bought any '06 brass since I bought these in the early 90s. I'm still using the first 100 count bag of it so it must be pretty decent.

cw308 · November 18, 2018, 09:30 AM

I have a box of 500 45ACP R P brass from the 80's , they look as new as the day I bought them . They have been kept in the house that is temperature controlled. There not in a plastic bag just loose in the original box. I've been using brass from friends that don't reload , all once fired brand names ,. RP , Win., Speer and Federal .All are holding up well . One of these days I will get into the new cases , I would be surprised if they split after a few firings or 500 is alot of surprises.

jpx2rk
Are you saying I would be used as the canary . I thought I was the only one with a warped sense of humor .LOL

November 17, 2018, 06:45 AM	#1
LE-28 Senior Member Join Date: September 24, 2012 Location: North Carolina Posts: 759	New Old Stock Brass I was rooting around in my reloading room the other day taking inventory of loaded ammunition and ran across several bags of never used 30-06 Winchester brass, 30-30 brass, and 308 brass from the early '90s, that is still in there original bags from when I bought them. Does brass age harden, it is still sealed up in the original bags so the air hasn't worked on it, but that doesn't stop time. Does anyone think I will have a neck splitting problem with using it without annealing first?

November 17, 2018, 03:11 PM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	The only things that could go wrong would be oxidation or exposure to ammonia vapor (causes season cracking). If that hasn't happened, you should be good to go. Lack of radioactive heavy elements in the brass means you don't have atoms spontaneously breaking down. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 17, 2018, 05:19 PM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	I believe castings still are pickled for storage in some instances. Citric acid is used. Maybe other acids, too. Citric acid seems to passivate the surface in some way. I notice that cases cleaned in citric acid (aka, sour salt) will darken a little bit with age, but, despite being clean of wax or oil, never get verdigris or lose their yellow color (no brown patina like you see on cases left outdoors on the ground for years). The old Frankford Arsenal formula was 10% citric acid in water, by weight. That's all. No detergents or anything. Not really needed, as citric acid softens water and makes it slippery all by itself. Interesting stuff. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 17, 2018, 07:13 AM	#2
sako2 Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Posts: 741	no. air and age will only dull the brass

November 17, 2018, 07:19 AM	#3
jpx2rk Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2015 Posts: 387	To ease your mind, could try loading up 5 or so with light loads and see if those senior citizens are up to the task. LOL

November 17, 2018, 07:30 AM	#4
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	I suspect since they have remained in environmentally controlled conditions in your reloading room, there should be no problem. I have reloaded ammunition from the early 1970's that is still just fine. I have seen paper shotgun shells from way back in the day still shoot just fine.

November 18, 2018, 08:07 AM	#8
LE-28 Senior Member Join Date: September 24, 2012 Location: North Carolina Posts: 759	Thanks guys, I'll just leave them sealed up until I either use them or trade them away. That old Winchester was supposed to be a lot better brass than what they sell today. I don't really know, I haven't bought any '06 brass since I bought these in the early 90s. I'm still using the first 100 count bag of it so it must be pretty decent.

November 18, 2018, 09:30 AM	#9
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	I have a box of 500 45ACP R P brass from the 80's , they look as new as the day I bought them . They have been kept in the house that is temperature controlled. There not in a plastic bag just loose in the original box. I've been using brass from friends that don't reload , all once fired brand names ,. RP , Win., Speer and Federal .All are holding up well . One of these days I will get into the new cases , I would be surprised if they split after a few firings or 500 is alot of surprises. jpx2rk Are you saying I would be used as the canary . I thought I was the only one with a warped sense of humor .LOL