mixing brass for handgun reloading

Mark · Sep 20, 2006

I have several brass in PMC, Remington, Federal, Winchester and the best,,Starline. I rather keep Starline seperate from factory brass.

Is it OK to mix once fired factory brass together when reloading?

I just took out about unsized and fired 150 cases out of the tumbler and washed with water and blowdry with a hairdryer for 20 or so minutes until water evaporated so it won't contaminate my new dies. I will resize later tommorow and check length of cases so crimp can be right on everytime.

I believe I may have a crimp problem if I don't check length of cases and possibly trim.

Do you guys trim your handgun cases? It is a pain in the butt.

Mark

Guest · Sep 20, 2006

I haven't had trouble loading mixed brass for handguns, with one exception. I keep my 40S&W brass by make, lot, and times fired, because I load for a Glock 23 and don't want to end up without a finger or two. For my other guns, especially for low power practice and plinking ammo, I don't separate. I have a 1 gallon ice cream bucket full of 38spl brass I have used many times, and will use many times more, that I keep full of a variety of brass, both nickel and brass, various headstamps. I load a very low power (750-775fps) wadcutter load in, and I literally cull the brass when I can no longer read the headstamp, or I have a mouth split or something. These loads will also group into less than 1.5" at 25yds standing weaver shooting double action, as well, from my 4" barrelled Taurus Model 65. I love that little gun. Anyway, the long and short of it is that unless you're shooting heavy loads, there's not much concern. If you're shooting high powered stuff, or in a Glock 40 cal, then you might want to keep things separate. Also, I think Starline is the best out there, too. Keep wishing they would get into rifle brass.

FOTIS · Sep 21, 2006

As long as you're not running max loads (case capacity varies).
Also your accuracy will suffer a bit, again due to a larger standard of deviation.

Mark · Sep 21, 2006

POP, You're right, I never do that for hunting rifles or rifle competition, just thought that it may not hurt much with pistols at 15 or so yards.
Mark