Old brass

[351 WINCHESTER]

I have some older brass (maybe 30 years old) that's never been loaded. It looks fine. Just wondering if it's still good as someone told me brass gets brittle over time.

 

[mbopp]

I had a 25 year hiatus from the shooting sports. When I got back into it the only item that went bad was a can of powder that looked rusty and smelled acrid. The rest of my powders, primers, and brass still seem OK.
Yeah, I've still got 100 218 Bee cases that are NIB.

 

[rcmodel]

30 year old brass isn't old.

I have Jockey shorts older then that!

rc

 

[FROGO207]

I always figured that's why they dated military brass. So I could see how old my reloading brass is when it finally does fail. A lot of my MIL brass is older than me and still shoots fine.

 

[gamestalker]

30 year old brass is too old, and needs to sent to me for proper disposal.
So long as it isn't badly pitted it is A-OK.

 

[ranger335v]

"..someone told me brass gets brittle over time."


Well, if it does it takes more than 7 decades, I'm still happily using some GI surplus .30-06 cases made in 1942.

 

[abn82d]

.351 WSL Brass

You can get new-manufacture brass from Quality Cartridge
www.qual-cart.com

 

[Drail]

It won't be negatively affected unless it has come in contact with some nasty chemicals. Polish a couple up and look at them under magnification and decide. I am loading and shooting .45 ACP brass dated 1952. Works fine.

 

[amlevin]

someone told me brass gets brittle over time.

So does the human body. Brass though will outlast us.

30 years for brass is young. Only OLD brass to worry about is some of the old Black Powder stuff that's over 100 years old by now.

 

[788Ham]

My understanding, is that using cleaning products to clean the brass in a tumbler, that has ammonia in it, over time will cause it to become brittle. Some say this is untrue, others say not to use these products. I have some '06 brass thats stamped 41 and 42, still goes boom when the hammer drops, the brass doesn't look like new Norma brass, no qualms here though!

rc, sounds like Santa needs to bring you some new skivvies for Christmas! LOL

 

[jcwit]

My understanding, is that using cleaning products to clean the brass in a tumbler, that has ammonia in it, over time will cause it to become brittle.

This is usually ment for products such as Brasso. They can still be used if one lets the ammonia evaraporate overnight.

With that said there are so many other products that work excellant from products made just for the reloaders to about ANY liquid auto polish if one wishes to save some cash.