Brass headstamps-to sort or not to...

bartlet33

bartlet33

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Is there any merit to sorting headstamps on retrieved range brass? I shoot handguns and 9mm and .40 are plentiful.
I have heard different things on this topic such as different thicknesses
and varying metal content that can have an effect on sizing and crimping.
Thoughts on this anyone?
 
Yes, the brass can (and does) vary somewhat. For the vast majority of semi auto shooting, it doesn't make a bit of difference. I would worry more about feeding the brass through my progressive reloader then I would feeding it through my guns. Most 9mm's and 40's are no where near accurate enough for this to be a big concern. There are a few exceptions (the SIG 210 comes to mind), but not many. FWIW - dan
 
I think the biggest concern are variables in volume amongst brass from different manufactures and how that might effect pressure particularly if you are in the habit of shooting maximum loads. IMHO, the best ammunition is the most consistent ammunition. Having said that, I am guilty of mixing brands, but I don't do it when I load to maximum pressures, or when I work up a new load. I also take care not to mix brass which is known to be of smaller volume with my regular brass. This includes surplus military brass or commercial Nosler rifle brass, which I keep separate.
 
I would say for the sake of consistency, and the fact that I'm personally very picky, I would sort the brass by headstamp. When reloading, if using different types of bullets, would you mix and match all the finished cartridges together when finished? Probably not.
 
This brings to mind a little experiment I did a few days back. I realised I had several different .308 Win. headstamps, so I full-length sized one of each, trimmed them to 2.005, primed them and filled them with WW 760 ball powder. They were filled slowly with a drop tube and scraped level.

From largest to smallest, they held:

WW - 59.5 gr.
Norma - 58.8
Rem. - 58.5
Imperial - 57.8 (small headstamp)
Federal - 57.2
Imperial - 55.8 (large headstamp)

Now I know that's not the most scientific, and I would have been more accurate if I'd used 10 of each and averaged them - but I was just trying to satisfy my own curiosity.

All the same, that's a quite a spread and it's why I sort headstamps (rifle, at least!) and use them in batches. I do sort my handgun brass as well, but since it's not being used in any 'serious endeavor', I'm less particular.
 
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