Sorting Brass?

[ScreaminEagle]

I've been going through all the empty brass that I have for the 257 Rob. The problem is that it's not all the same. First off, it was all my dad's before he passed away. He reloaded I don't know how many times. I've reloaded a hundred pieces at least twice. Some of it is +P, some isn't. Some is rem, winchester, and other brands. Some need trimmed, some don't. Not all of it has been shot and loaded the same number of times.

How would you go about sorting through all this. By brand? By weight? Whether it's +P or not? I'm about ready to just start over with fresh brass. Your thoughts?
Steve

 

[FOTIS]

Easy.

First by make. Then by weight. Trim debur square primer pockets etc.

I do not know about you, but if I cull them down to 50 they will last me a looooong time.
Then do the same with the rest and keep separate.

 

[joelkdouglas]

If I were to sort, I would sort by brand first, as different brands sometimes have different case capacities.

This will generally sort by thickness also, but my next step would be to sort by neck thickness, rejecting out of tolerance pieces.

I would then sort by weight.

BUT

I would probably just ditch it all and buy new brass. Me likey new brass.

 

[BK]

Trim all to the same length.
Sort by brand.
Sort by weight.

 

[DrMike]

I get uncomfortable when I receive brass that has been fired an indeterminate number of times. Even with verbal assurance that it has been fired only once, I tend to relegate it to brass that has been fired at least five times and use it for load development in lighter loads. I still get some use out of it, but it isn't something that is essential to my work ups.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

I get uncomfortable when I receive brass that has been fired an indeterminate number of times. Even with verbal assurance that it has been fired only once, I tend to relegate it to brass that has been fired at least five times and use it for load development in lighter loads. I still get some use out of it, but it isn't something that is essential to my work ups.

That's what I'm worried about. I have no idea how many times all this brass has been fired. Some of it is pretty old too. I do like new brass.

 

[300WSM]

Re-size all of them full length. Trim all to the same length and enjoy.

Since you don't know the amount fired all you can really do here is going to be with the eye and feel test. Just pay extra close attention looking them over after any operation you do to them. And even then you may get many more shots out of them or they might be one and done.

Sure you could weigh each one but there are way too many variables to hang your hat on weighing.

For example is that you could have brand x shot 5 times weigh more than brand y shot 8 times.

 

[Elkman]

I sort by brand, I have seen that this does make a big accuracy difference. Then by weight, size tumble and then "really inspect" the cases. Any dents, cracks etc. in the trash they go. On magnums you must check the area in front of the belt for cracks or imperfections, us the paperclip test or similar. When you start to prime any cases with loose primers must go in the trash. I really don't stress much about tracking the number of times fired. There are lots of signs, to use as a guide. I have very "few" case failures.

 

[Guy Miner]

I'd do the sorting the others have recommended, then relegate those to "plinker" status and treat the rifle to 50 or 100 brand spanking new cases. It deserves them.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

I'd do the sorting the others have recommended, then relegate those to "plinker" status and treat the rifle to 50 or 100 brand spanking new cases. It deserves them.

That sounds like a good idea