Sorting Handgun Brass by Headstamp?

Hunter1970

Hunter1970

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I'll start by saying that I've been shooting for many years, and after hoarding all my spent brass, I've accumulated literally 5 gallon buckets of the stuff :). I have finally jumped in and purchased the necessary reloading equipment, but haven't had the time or space to set up. My question is it necessary or is there any benefit to sorting your handgun brass (9mm, 40 S&W, and 45ACP)by head stamp? The wife already thinks I've got OCD...
 
well each maker of brass will have a slightly different volume inside the case. varying cases with the same load will vary the pressure slightly, making the consistency vary as a result. Plus I like the cosmetics of having the same headstamp in the box of reloads :p
 
In general, no, there is no advantage gained that outweighs the cost of time. You may see a slight improvement in groupings, as varied case capacity does slightly affect velocity. Using the same headstamp "might" make your groups more round instead of ovaled up and down.

However, if you have the time, it won't hurt anything, and you will periodicly find damaged cases that might otherwise slip past and be discovered at the press.

I have a set of twin boys who need busy work on rainy days. I pay them to sort brass by caliber and headstamp. I keep oddball headstamps aside for practice ammo or for ranges where there is little chance of ever finding the cases again.
 
There is one good reason - I shoot 'better' brass where I can collect it back, and the 'other brass' where I won't have time or cannot for whatever reason.
 
Proutfoo said:
well each maker of brass will have a slightly different volume inside the case. varying cases with the same load will vary the pressure slightly, making the consistency vary as a result. Plus I like the cosmetics of having the same headstamp in the box of reloads :p
Click to expand...

X2, I like consistency
 
"...sorting your handgun brass..." Not worth your time. Especially with several 5 gallon buckets. That's a great deal of brass. Don't even think about counting it. You could weigh it if you really want to know how much you have. That's not worth your time either.
Sorting brass by brand is a rifle bench rest shooter thing. Not important for hand gun shooting.
You buy a big tumbler too? Your brass will need to be cleaned, but not shined. You may want to think about making one(needs to vibrate vigorously, mostly. Big bags(18 kilos or so) of crushed walnut shells/corn cobs can be had, inexpensively, in a pet supply shop. It's sold as small pet bedding. The same thing with a reloading kit maker's name on it, comes in small bags and costs more.) or selling/trading some of your brass. You won't get rich, but you might be able to trade once fired brass(especially .45 brass) for other components.
"...space to set up..." A Black & Decker Workmate is strong enough. Look in pawn shops and at garage sales for a used one. Time, I can't help with.
"...I pay them to..." You still feed 'em and let 'em live inside? snicker.
 
sunray said:
"...Big bags(18 kilos or so) of crushed walnut shells/corn cobs can be had, inexpensively, in a pet supply shop.
Click to expand...

It can be had even cheaper in your local Princess Auto.


sunray said:
"...space to set up..." A Black & Decker Workmate is strong enough. Look in pawn shops and at garage sales for a used one.
Click to expand...

Yep a workmate works OK for a bench, it is what I have my press mounted on and is sturdy enough for everything from 9mm up to .338 Win Mag. I did beef up the top with a box made from 2x4's and 2x10's to get the press height to my liking and stiffen up the top boards. OP, if you want pics of what I have done PM me with your email address.

No point to sorting your brass for less than full house magnum loads and even then it is probably a total waste. I shoot all brands for my .44 Mag target loads, but use only Winchester brass for the hot ones. Probably just my OCD kicking in, though.

Mark
 
i'll buy some 45acp brass from ya if you would like to lighten up your load a little!!

if you live southern alberta, maybe i can come by and pick them up :)

seriously!!
 
looks like I'm the only tard to sort brass. I sort all my brass, pistol or not. I group my brass based on headstamp, which gun I shot it in, times fired of course and which load I used in it. I have found huge variations in brass. yes even in pistol! I cant help but apply my benchrest experience to my pistol reloading. funny you mention ocd. Some once fired brass has deformed primer pockets, never much more than a couple thow in length but damn primer pockets! I prime all my brass by hand. all cases are very different.. the first few are just a squeeze but you get so you feel your brass and know when your "in there" head stamp has made a huge difference in that "in there" feeling. You can only learn by doing it. Its very easy to sink a primer out of spec in a winchester case but it feels the same to kink a primer in a dreaded FC piece of brass. When you have all your brass sorted and prime in lots you know damn well when something isnt right. Ive got so I dont even bother with FC brass unless I trim it, and yes I do measure everything. Group all my ammo in lots based on similarity and I find the more consistent my ammo is the better my results. no question. Its just works for me. maybe someone here can shoot you the math but I just feel it and it works for me. Call me crazy but I like to "face" my brass so it is a perfect 90degree angle to my bullet and I keep it sharp. No inside chamfer or spreader tools. very light crimp to avoid movement in the semi auto.

So I may have been drinking tonight and I'll spew some more crap. I have found some heavy barrel erosion in my glock 9mm. I had been shooting like crap for quite a while with it using my "usual recipe" so i pulled my barrel and pushed just a bullet into it so it bottomed out.. measured the length to the end of my barrel. put my gun back together and measured from the end of the barrel to where my striker whacks the primer and calculated my overall bullet length. it turned out to be 5thow. so I made bullets to that overall length and yay! i can shoot a fly with it again.
 
I've been an ardent pistol brass sorter but I'm getting out of the habit. It does no good.

I believe that theoretically you get more consistency, hence accuracy, when you sort brass and I'll certainly continue to do this with rifle brass but, when you dump your sorted pistol brass into the case feeder of your AP press and start cranking away sending flakes of your tossed powder here and there,,,well ??
 
I sort my .357 mag brass when I am doing warm loads. I try to pay attention to some of the smaller details.. but my IPSC brass (~3000) is 80% Speer and 20% mixed and I notice when priming, but that's it. I shoot .40 for production, so I actually need to lower the power a bit from what I'm shooting but for mild loads I can't tell a difference at all.
 
I sort handgun brass. Since I check each case for splitting or other deformities it is no big deal to sort by brand. I also set aside any Winchester 9mm Luger brass for the recycle bin, no matter what shape it is in.
 
Thanks for all the info. It's much appreciated. It sounds like the majority is a "don't was your time unless the In-laws are in town".

Yes I've bought my tumbler media in the "big" bag from Princess Auto, and after you work the fine dust out(drier sheets) it seems to perform quite well.
As I read somewhere before, I wish I had bought a bigger tumbler. My poor Lyman 1200 Auto feed has had a real work out, but is still going strong.

The wife also thinks I should start selling the stuff, but it's hard to part with it. I'd much rather have it on hand than need to source it after you sold it. Her tune might change when Xmas arrives this year. There is a new Sig 226 under the tree for her (got her restricted in the spring) and she will probably appreciate the cost savings on good custom rounds.

I've also been using the Gun Vault program to inventory all my stuff. I love it. As for counting the stuff, no way. I've been weighing it out.
 
Depends on your game. Spray and pray, plinking, it is just a waste of time, as long as you follow all the other steps to a safe reload. If you can shoot 10X bullseye, then every edge you can get to ensure your equipment is up to your performance is probably worth the time. If you shoot mid '90's bullseye, probably less time sorting and more time dry practice will get you closer to needing to sort headstamps.

But hey, if you got the time, and would rather sort than train, go for it.
 
I guess I'm with the obsessive folks here. I can't stand the sight of mixed headstamps in a box of ammo. I sort it regardless. It gives me one additional look at the cases during the case prep process & the devil is in the details :)
 
You have OCD.

On a side note though, for the people who do sort pistol brass, how many rounds a month do you shoot your handguns? Serious question.

If you shoot a lot I can't see having the time to sort by headstamp.
 
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