Sorting range brass

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Charlie1022

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I found a range that sold me 2 5 gallon buckets of range brass and I am looking for an easy way to sort it. I did see where there is a new rotary separator that has adjustable that looks very interesting for less than $50. What do you use to sort brass? I have all the equipment to clean the brass once I get it sorted but just looking for an easy way to sort this much brass. Most of it is handgun brass from 380 to 45ACP with some 223/556 mixed in.
 
I sort by hand, and inspect each piece for bulhes and cracks at the same time. Of course, I have never had that much to do, but you could spread it out.
 
When I lived near them, I used my two nephews. I paid a dollar for 100 rounds sorted by caliber and headstamp.

They were eager and precise, and it'd keep them busy for a few hours while I was watching them in bad weather.

Since the older nephew has followed myself, his father, his grandfather & great grandfather, and is currently at MCRD Parris Island, I've been considering recruiting a couple of the neighborhood kids for sorting.
 
I use this.



Two different companies have also used it. I liked that best because when I needed brass they would bring me a 5 gallon bucket of clean and sorted brass in the caliber I needed :)
 
I have hand sorted thousands upon thousands over the years. I never have enough to buy/build a machine for.
 
I've never sorted a 5 gallon bucket of brass - let alone 2. So take this with a grain of salt.......

I have sorted 1.5 ammo cans filled with mixed pistol brass. (If my math is right that is about 2.5 gals of brass.) It went surprisingly quickly. I did it in somewhat small increments - maybe 20 mins at a time.

IMHO it's like a lot of tasks in life: They can seem daunting when looked at in the whole, but it's surprising how they're not so bad if you chip away at it consistently in chunks rather than trying to do it all in one sitting.
 
Check out Dawsonprecision.com they have got a three piece set that is color coded for like 28 bucks. I would find the link but I have spotty service right now...(at work).

But they are like a pasta colander set up 45 will stay in one but 380 will fall through and etc...real cheap considering I’ve spent countless hours going through buckets...
 
I have both the 3 piece colander separators and the Berry's rotary separator. The colander type is collecting dust, while the Berry's rotary is getting a lot of use. I'm just finishing up sorting through 8 five gallon buckets of range brass, and I can't imagine doing it without my Berry's separator. It also doubles as the sifter for separating brass from the tumbling media, but will allow .30 carbine and .32 H&R brass to fit through the slots, even when adjusted to the smallest slots.

The best thing about the Berry's is the covered tub the rotary sifter fits in. Dump some brass, close the separator, close the lid and crank the handle. All the .22's, .25's and .32's end up on the bottom, and makes separating the rest of the brass easier.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
I've not had 5 gallons of mixed brass all at once. I am at present just starting to work my way through a gallon and a half with my three piece set. My achy back is good for about half a gallon at a time.

Then I still have to sweep with a magnet to get out the steel, then eyeball for Berdan 9mm and small primer .45.
 
I use the three piece colander set with the 380 steel plate insert. It is a PITA thats why I have 6 five gallon buckets sitting around waiting to be sorted. If I had the space to set one up I would get an automatic sorter but my small garage won't handle it.
 
Charlie1022 asked:
What do you use to sort brass?

Two hands, two eyeballs and a pair of reading glasses.

For me, a big part of reloading is getting hands and eyes on the brass and forming the mental impression it leaves when handled. I wouldn't trade that feeling off to a machine for anything.
 
I hand sort, usually using a bunch of plastic coffee cans. I'll dump a gallon or two out on a towel, on a table and go to looking.
 
I did see where there is a new rotary separator that has adjustable that looks very interesting for less than $50.
Please elaborate on this product. I have kept up on brass sorting for at least a year and am not familiar with this one.
 
I sort shells with my shell sorter. I find it worthwhile because I sort a couple gallons a month; if this is a one-off occurrence for you, just do it by hand.
 
I have been using the Shell Sorter trays for over a year and really like them.
I have found that I need to wear hearing protection though - that particular type of plastic can get VERY loud.
Thanks ReloaderFred I will take another look at the berrysmfg unit.
 
Range brass from the last several trips, including today. I need to finish sorting it.I have picked a lot of the 9MM out of it. The top right pan is today.
Range_Brass_3-18[1].jpg
 
Hand sort, tools required: rocking chair, some good music on the CD player, and a discarded food tray that I put in my lap, and some containers around for the sorted brass, Harbor Freight rubber cloves. Dump a pile in the tray and sort away, don't worry if you do it in several sessions. If you are retired like me, it will be there when you return.
I don't know why, but I like to deprime and size brass. I can't stand to have brass that need that operation, so I handle it.

Have a blessed day,

Leon
 
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I do the sorting in small batches as well. I get to inspect and ID each piece of brass so I do not waste time on bad brass from the get go. Broken up in small sessions it goes rather fast over the long run IMHO.
 
Someone is showing a quick manual method of sorting pistol brass and all it requires is empty loading trays that new comm'l cartridges come in. I typically don't have a lot of brass to sort, and I have more time than money. The whole reloading process, to me, is relaxing and enjoyable. Look at the below...

 
Someone is showing a quick manual method of sorting pistol brass and all it requires is empty loading trays that new comm'l cartridges come in. I typically don't have a lot of brass to sort, and I have more time than money. The whole reloading process, to me, is relaxing and enjoyable. Look at the below...



I use the sorting trays to separate my brass by diameter, but use the method in that video for sorting based on length. Very easy to separate 10mm from 40, and 380, 38super, 9mak ect. from 9 Luger.
 
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