How are the brass casings made?

choover · November 15, 2009, 01:44 AM

Just curious if anyone has a video link, I know most rifle cases are a longer draw process I was curious if handgun cases were the same with todays technology.

I know its a odd question, I am just a "how its made" buff of sorts

armoredman · November 15, 2009, 02:09 AM

I have to confess I would like to see that too.

**Mike Irwin** · November 15, 2009, 08:29 AM

Yes, handgun cases are still made via the punch and draw method. It's fast, cheap, proven, and effective.

SDC · November 15, 2009, 08:50 AM

There's part of a quick Federal video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7ihrEvfIEI , but it doesn't really show much detail. Nevertheless, the techniques are still the same.

tom234 · November 15, 2009, 11:19 AM

http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com...brass-is-made/

Tomas204 · November 16, 2009, 11:14 AM

I used to made tooling for copper plugs ( electrical for Cats and John Deer) ,it is a interesting process cold heading ,a lot of the tooling is carbide ,it is ,amazing on how accurate we had to get the tools ,with in .0001 these where then gold plated

,for the electrical conection ,I could probably make the dies for brass ,it would be fun ,but now I went back to being a carpenter

**Mike Irwin** · November 16, 2009, 11:58 AM

One of the biggest problems they had in the early days of metallic cartridges was being able to draw brass consistently. That's why a lot of the early cartrdige cases were copper, which was more maleable.

What really helped turn it around for brass was the revolution in steel making, which made large quantities of high-quality, consistent tool steel available for drawing dies.

mapsjanhere · November 16, 2009, 12:09 PM

DWJ had an article on the making of the first metal cartridges, they had 58 steps from brass to final cartridges. Lots of intermediate annealing steps were needed do to the questionable and inconsistent brass quality.

November 15, 2009, 01:44 AM	#1
choover Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2006 Posts: 172	How are the brass casings made? Just curious if anyone has a video link, I know most rifle cases are a longer draw process I was curious if handgun cases were the same with todays technology. I know its a odd question, I am just a "how its made" buff of sorts

November 15, 2009, 08:29 AM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Yes, handgun cases are still made via the punch and draw method. It's fast, cheap, proven, and effective. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

November 15, 2009, 08:50 AM	#4
SDC Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2001 Location: People's Republic of Kanada Posts: 1,652	There's part of a quick Federal video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7ihrEvfIEI , but it doesn't really show much detail. Nevertheless, the techniques are still the same. __________________ Gun control in Canada: making the streets safer for rapists, muggers, and other violent criminals since 1936.

November 16, 2009, 11:58 AM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	One of the biggest problems they had in the early days of metallic cartridges was being able to draw brass consistently. That's why a lot of the early cartrdige cases were copper, which was more maleable. What really helped turn it around for brass was the revolution in steel making, which made large quantities of high-quality, consistent tool steel available for drawing dies. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

November 16, 2009, 12:09 PM	#8
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	DWJ had an article on the making of the first metal cartridges, they had 58 steps from brass to final cartridges. Lots of intermediate annealing steps were needed do to the questionable and inconsistent brass quality. __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

November 15, 2009, 02:09 AM	#2
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,299	I have to confess I would like to see that too.

November 15, 2009, 11:19 AM	#5
tom234 Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 753	http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com...brass-is-made/

November 16, 2009, 11:14 AM	#6
Tomas204 Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 144	I used to made tooling for copper plugs ( electrical for Cats and John Deer) ,it is a interesting process cold heading ,a lot of the tooling is carbide ,it is ,amazing on how accurate we had to get the tools ,with in .0001 these where then gold plated ,for the electrical conection ,I could probably make the dies for brass ,it would be fun ,but now I went back to being a carpenter