Using a case's visual imperfections as a gauge of remaining life

[Novascotiaguy]

I was cleaning the media out of these freshly tumbled mixed headstamp 9mm shells tonight and about one-third looked tarnished. As I am relatively new to reloading I thought I'd throw a couple crappy pics up to get CGN's expert opinion. I am not concerned about how "pretty" they look as much as function. Some of these I can vouch for and say if they are reloaded it will be their forth time, others are just range brass with an unknown history.

The 6 in the centre row are good shiny brass from the same tumble as the front and rear row with little to no imperfections, but I'm interested in the stained ones and the usefulness.

Notice the front left case has a crack in the middle . . .

Do you think they are getting a little long in the tooth? Does tarnishing mean anyting when determining future use?
Thanks for the replies!

 

[Seagull]

No not really, Black soot cases could me light loads. Tarnished maybe spent some time in the great outdoors. Who know as it was range brass.

Tumble them longer, add some polish (car, jeweler rouge, reloading branded stuff). If you really want them shinny go to stainless tumbling, they will look new.

or just shoot them like they are but I like them a bit cleaner looking.

 

[just having some fun]

Red primer ones prob S&B factory (fired once)
Sitting brass out in the weather for a week will tarinish them beyond belife

even picking up your own new once fired brass and letting them sit for 6 months in storage will add hours of cleaning time

 

[TwoTone]

Tarnish means nothing with regard to case condition for reloading.

I just keep using them until they won't hold a primer anymore (rare), won't fit in the shell holder anymore (rare), or they develop splits or cracks (common).

Basically, when I see a cracked case mouth, I chuck it.

Also, tumbling in stainless pins will make them all look like new (except for the cracks).

 

[ATOM]

Mere tarnish is nothing to be concerned about. 3D corrosion (rare, but possible) is different - toss the case.

I go with TwoTone's list, but I find that, especially with 9x19, once the head gets battered enough that it becomes hard to fit it into the shell holder, that's when I generally toss them. 9mm's virtually free for the picking at many ranges.

TwoTone also hit on the one functional reason to tumble - cracks are easier to notice with polished cases.