Topic: Question about integrity of military brass for resale

[kreativecid]

Looking at buying 45acp brass from a local shop that has labeled them "military." I opened said box and it was uncleaned/untumbled brass presumably picked up as once-fired from the local base.

This presumption would be preferable, for me, compared to range pickup because it's a crapshoot: when my brass is not picked up at a range (example: Impact) it usually means that brass is on its last leg and was low level importance, and I sure as heck wouldn't want to be buying and reloading it.

Anyone have experience buying "military" brass from local gun shops? Price is about 9.5 cents per.

[Nealio]

For that price you can get it a lot cheaper both locally and online.  When you inspect your cases (which you should for any kind of brass) you can see if there are cracked lips or other case issues.
Being .45 ACP is a low pressure case compared to most autos I would not worry about range brass too much.  What are your concerns?  Are you loading +P loads?
I've shot probably 4K of 9mm and 1K of .45 ACP range brass this last year.

[kreativecid]

Thanks for the info. I've had split necks on my worn out cases and I wanted to avoid buying those kinds of cases in box.
One time I purchased 1000 9mm and some were steel and/or split. Not the end of the world but I was going for the best case purchase possibility.

Alrighty, time to look for 45acp brass that's cheaper than 9.5 per.

[Nealio]

You can find good deals on BrianEnos.com.
I try not to pay over $35/K for good .45 ACP brass, and not over $20/K for 9mm brass.
The guys there will sell you good brass, not banged up, split mouth crap.

Right now there are several ads:
$102 for 2K of "once fired"
$115 for 2K of polished once fired


I bought 2K of "dirty" brass for $70 shipped a few months ago.

[Grumblecakes]

ive bought once fired 5.56 mil brass (to turn into 300 fireball brass) and it was all good. Almost all needed trimmed to bring it to 223 spec. I think the biggest concern with mil brass is being fired from either fluted chambers (European guns) or machine guns (over sized chambers). with pistol brass i doubt you will have problems.

 mill brass is usually a little thicker and in my experience better than commercial brand once fired. with the rifle brass a little prep work can turn it into great brass.

[Nealio]

ive bought once fired 5.56 mil brass (to turn into 300 fireball brass) and it was all good. Almost all needed trimmed to bring it to 223 spec. I think the biggest concern with mil brass is being fired from either fluted chambers (European guns) or machine guns (over sized chambers). with pistol brass i doubt you will have problems.

 mill brass is usually a little thicker and in my experience better than commercial brand once fired. with the rifle brass a little prep work can turn it into great brass.

The only brass I've seen shot out of a fluted chamber was some 9mm that came out of a MP5.  I thought I had found a goldmine out in the desert, but realized it all had helical flute marks on it..

[broncovan]

If it's truly once fired Mil brass you'll know easily enough, just look for the primer crimp.

[donm]

I loaded and shot some of the fluted 9mm brass and it seemed ok. Found it up at the emmett range.

[RGinIdaho]

"Military" Brass will need the primer crimp removed. If it doesn't have the crimp it probably isn't military brass and you're back to wondering if it's once fired.

Not that once fired or not is a big deal in pistol calibers.

I once tried to count loading on a batch of 45acp brass. I quit counting at 20 loadings.

For $95 per thousand, I'd expect cleaned and sorted by headstamp commercial...

[kreativecid]

Whew, what a productive post! Learned a little and am being set up with 45acp for a gooood price. And keeping money local.

[ekuo]

There are usually one or two tables at local gunshows selling used brass.  Can't remember the prices, but much cheaper than $95/K.  Nampa has a gun show coming up in Jan.  No doubt there will be one at the Expo sometime this winter as well. 

[kaen3e]

fluted chambers are no big deal for reloading.  i.e.  mp5 brass resizes and shoots just fine out of my match chambered uzi barrel(ya there is such a thing because i turned and chambered the barrel) xd 9mm no problem, my 2011 millenium doesn't mind that brass either.   in short i would never worry about those silly stripes on range pickup brass as long as it isn't split etc

[RGinIdaho]

Kaen,

Sssh, you'll dry up my source of brass! 

Don't tell them about using small base dies for the first run on brass from SAW's with oversized chambers either. 

[kaen3e]

rg they still have to know where to find it.... no worries and no troubles