If I do sort through pistol brass it's only to separate out the NT (Non Toxic) head stamped brass which I've found has a crimped primer pocket. I used to sort it out so I could discard it. But since I got my Lyman case prep tool I'll likely run it through the swage rim removal tool to open the pockets back up and use the brass. Or if there's only a couple of hundred out of many thousands I'll likely just toss them in the brass bucket for scrap metal value.
What bigedp51 posted above is quite valid. And yes there will be some pressure change from head stamp to head stamp due to different makers having different head and wall thicknesses that affect internal volume. But we're talking about variations that for most of our handgun shooting are a tempest in a teapot in significance. For world class bullseye handgun shooters? Of COURSE they will take this into account and use only one brand of brass. But us general IPSC, IDPA and plinkers out there? We'll never see the difference. Mix those headstamps and load 'em up.
The ONLY time I might worry about mixing headstamps on hand gun ammo is for full power loads in any of the magnum cartridges. And what it would do for me is cause me to size without decapping and measure the case volumes. If it's less than 2 or 3 % I'd not be bothered and just mix them all up. I'm going to get a 2 to 3 % error in my powder measuring so what's the point?
Here again it all changes for my rifle loading. Now I get serious about such things. Same brand brass for each gun. I've even thought about the idea of aligning the head stamps consistently as they go into the reloading dies and into the action. I've thought about it but so far haven't done it. I've still got other things to get past before something that small becomes a factor worth worrying about.
What bigedp51 posted above is quite valid. And yes there will be some pressure change from head stamp to head stamp due to different makers having different head and wall thicknesses that affect internal volume. But we're talking about variations that for most of our handgun shooting are a tempest in a teapot in significance. For world class bullseye handgun shooters? Of COURSE they will take this into account and use only one brand of brass. But us general IPSC, IDPA and plinkers out there? We'll never see the difference. Mix those headstamps and load 'em up.
The ONLY time I might worry about mixing headstamps on hand gun ammo is for full power loads in any of the magnum cartridges. And what it would do for me is cause me to size without decapping and measure the case volumes. If it's less than 2 or 3 % I'd not be bothered and just mix them all up. I'm going to get a 2 to 3 % error in my powder measuring so what's the point?
Here again it all changes for my rifle loading. Now I get serious about such things. Same brand brass for each gun. I've even thought about the idea of aligning the head stamps consistently as they go into the reloading dies and into the action. I've thought about it but so far haven't done it. I've still got other things to get past before something that small becomes a factor worth worrying about.
