Paperclip method for brass?

[Jack B.]

Straight section of a metal clothes hanger cut to desired length. 90 degree bend on one end and sharpened to a point. Has worked for me for many years and for me it's free.

 

[jmorris]

It is squeaky dry when new, drags on expanders etc.

Mine was more like Charlie98’s an who had the revolver on the last page.

As soon as I had the issue I grabbed a new case from the bag an sectioned it.



It gets out of focus on the right side above but that jagged ring runs all the way around on the inside radius.

I don’t know if it’s indicative of a manufacturing problem or just a stress riser left by their process.

 

[Axis II]

Well I began going through a hundred or so pieces I have and found some that felt odd so I grabbed a flashlight and began looking and wouldn’t ya know it there is a ring on the inside. I also had some that didn’t feel anything and they too had a ring. These are 50 Remington pieces that have maybe 3 firings in them. If I don’t feel anything but see the ring should I toss them?

 

[Demi-human]

Brass is the most expensive part of a cartridge.

And infinitely less expensive than lost sight.

If in doubt, toss it out. You might go through brass quicker, but you’ll get the hang of it sooner. All while not being blind!

 

[Ironicaintit]

I’m tellin ya, shine a relatively dim light up through the flash hole, as you look down the neck sortve at an angle so you don’t see the light directly, but see the light cast on the sides of the case. I had a bunch that passed the sharpened and bent paper clip test, but when inspected with the light, clearly had a ring.
Now if I have a case that feels even the least bit rough on the inside, but still passes the paper clip, I decide with the light.
Give it a whirl, it may be illuminating

 

[Axis II]

I’m tellin ya, shine a relatively dim light up through the flash hole, as you look down the neck sortve at an angle so you don’t see the light directly, but see the light cast on the sides of the case. I had a bunch that passed the sharpened and bent paper clip test, but when inspected with the light, clearly had a ring.
Now if I have a case that feels even the least bit rough on the inside, but still passes the paper clip, I decide with the light.
Give it a whirl, it may be illuminating

Shined it through the flash hole and saw rings. I’ve got 10-20 LC that feel rough but it’s only 10k or so from the bottom of the case and it feels like a lot of crust cause it’s very large. I’ve got some once fired nickel cases coming soon so I’ll just use those up. Just trying to save as much as possible.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Shined it through the flash hole and saw rings. I’ve got 10-20 LC that feel rough but it’s only 10k or so from the bottom of the case and it feels like a lot of crust cause it’s very large. I’ve got some once fired nickel cases coming soon so I’ll just use those up. Just trying to save as much as possible.

I guess I blew through reading your post so fast, I didn’t see that you said you used a light!
I’m always real reluctant to toss out brass. A lot I have is truly vintage, but low mileage, and so I treat them like they’re rare coins or something

 

[Charlie98]

I guess I blew through reading your post so fast, I didn’t see that you said you used a light!
I’m always real reluctant to toss out brass. A lot I have is truly vintage, but low mileage, and so I treat them like they’re rare coins or something

I used to feel that way, too... you spend so much money, time, and effort on brass it would be like kicking the dog to dump it in the scrap bucket. Not so much anymore... reloading surplus 7.62mm cases fixed me of that real quick. I've had the guts of my M1a magazines blow out in my lap a few times because of bad brass... it's just not worth it. I wound up scrapping almost 2000 7.62mm cases, no lie. Replacing that brass is a lot cheaper than replacing an M1a bolt, the rifle, or my eyeballs... let alone my pretty face. Even my pistol brass... I've scrapped my entire lot of .38SPC cases because they became brittle and started to crack... this after only 2 or 3 firings (which I believe was from poor brass stock or manufacturing.)

 

[Ironicaintit]

I used to feel that way, too... you spend so much money, time, and effort on brass it would be like kicking the dog to dump it in the scrap bucket. Not so much anymore... reloading surplus 7.62mm cases fixed me of that real quick. I've had the guts of my M1a magazines blow out in my lap a few times because of bad brass... it's just not worth it. I wound up scrapping almost 2000 7.62mm cases, no lie. Replacing that brass is a lot cheaper than replacing an M1a bolt, the rifle, or my eyeballs... let alone my pretty face. Even my pistol brass... I've scrapped my entire lot of .38SPC cases because they became brittle and started to crack... this after only 2 or 3 firings (which I believe was from poor brass stock or manufacturing.)

Oh for sure, I agree, and I do quit using them when they're ready to be retired. But even then, I turn them into lamp cord pulls or keyrings or something like that.
Especially the vintage stuff! I have 5.56x45 and 7.62x51 that are from when the cartridge originated, and 30-06 from when the cartridge was still the new kid on the block

 

[Charlie98]

and 30-06 from when the cartridge was still the new kid on the block

I've got a .30-06 cartridge from WWII... EW 43 if memory serves, Eau Claire, WI. Neat stuff.

I turn my old brass into cash... along with dead motors, bad copper heat exchangers, and wire I pull out when I replace an electrical appliance.