Sorting 45 ACP brass

[Nature Boy]

I’m fortunate to have a range where a lot of folks don’t pick up their brass so I have a ready supply of pistol brass whenever I need it.

I processed some 45 auto this weekend and now I’m going through the tedious process of separating the LPP from the SPP.

I’m ~100 into this pile and I’m getting about 10% SPP (Blazer and a couple of Federal)



The last time I did this I was thinking I need to come up with an easier process. Maybe decap them and use a pin gauge as a go/no go.

Another thought was to set up the 650 for LPP and just run them all through, letting the press sort them out when I feel resistance on the primer stage. That’s how I deal with crimped 9mm but it’s a lot lower percentage so the interruptions are few.

What are you fellas doing?

ETA, I also don’t trust my calibrated eyeball to spot all of them so even doing it manually has a degree of error in it

 

[BrotherMaynard]

A variation on option 1. I bought a bunch of once-fired brass that was a mix. After decapping/tumbling/drying, I used the Lee primer pocket cleaner as a go/no go gauge.

Eventually, I started grabbing about 5-7 at a time (oriented base down) and it was pretty easy to identify the SP brass by eyeball.

 

[kidneyboy]

I prime as a separate process and sort them there. Same with crimped pockets on 556/223.

 

[kerreckt]

I start depriming as normal. When I feel resistance I stop and throw offending shell into a container. When I am finished I check out the offenders to see the problem(s). This has worked for me since the early 80's. FWIW, I use Dillon 450 and 550's. No broken pins. No long time spent sorting. Best wishes and Merry Christmas to all!

 

[jmorris]

The last time I did this I was thinking I need to come up with an easier process. Maybe decap them and use a pin gauge as a go/no go.

Thats pretty much what I came up with. Have a probe that distinguishes between the two and activate something to separate them after decapping.





I have most of the parts to build a machine that can capture images of the case head to sort not only by primer pocket size but also head stamp but it’s not very close to the top of the list of things to do currently.

 

[Nature Boy]

I knew the Mcgiver of reloading would have an automated answer to this problem.

Fantastic @jmorris !

 

[Slamfire]

I’m fortunate to have a range where a lot of folks don’t pick up their brass so I have a ready supply of pistol brass whenever I need it.

I processed some 45 auto this weekend and now I’m going through the tedious process of separating the LPP from the SPP.

I’m ~100 into this pile and I’m getting about 10% SPP (Blazer and a couple of Federal)

View attachment 1120717

The last time I did this I was thinking I need to come up with an easier process. Maybe decap them and use a pin gauge as a go/no go.

Another thought was to set up the 650 for LPP and just run them all through, letting the press sort them out when I feel resistance on the primer stage. That’s how I deal with crimped 9mm but it’s a lot lower percentage so the interruptions are few.

What are you fellas doing?

ETA, I also don’t trust my calibrated eyeball to spot all of them so even doing it manually has a degree of error in it

I sort them by caliber, and sort the small pistol primer from the large pistol primer. Small pistol primer brass is positively dangerous on a progressive press. Luckily I have caught them, on a Dillion 550B, because I can feel abnormal resistance, and have not set off a large pistol primer by crushing it on the bottom of a small pistol primer case.



I think this is just a small pistol primer going kaboom in a small pistol primer pocket.

Skylab here we come!




Used to keep an eye out for AMERC brass and toss that, but AMERC has been out of business so long, I have not seen any of that brass in a long time.

Surprising number of people had problems with AMERC



I did not have a blow up, but I had AMERC brass drop their primers before firing, and lots of the stuff had off center flash holes, which was hard on decappers.

If sorting brass by maker makes you feel good, go do it. I cannot tell a difference on paper, and that is true for most Bullseye Pistol Shooters. Though many segregate their brass so they can identify it when it hits the ground.

 

[FROGO207]

I have one of the old Lee push type primer pocket cleaners. If it fits the large cleaner one pile. If not then my "use it when times are tuff" pile. All part of the inspection process to me. Granted I have buckets of brass and use the long winter months to process it all and just prime and load as I need it in warmer weather.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Thats pretty much what I came up with. Have a probe that distinguishes between the two and activate something to separate them after decapping.





I have most of the parts to build a machine that can capture images of the case head to sort not only by primer pocket size but also head stamp but it’s not very close to the top of the list of things to do currently.

Well I KNEW you had both automated the process & created a video. But, I did notice with some disappointment, it’s not in HD

 

[luzyfuerza]

I sort range pickup brass visually, just as you do. And my ratio of SPP to LPP is about the same.

But I mostly shoot on my own private ranges. So once sorted, my supply of LPP brass doesn't become contaminated with SPP stuff and my 650 almost never has to deal with small pockets.

When I shoot on public ranges or in lost-brass events, I almost always use the SPP brass.

@jmorris has a cool way to separate this stuff on his progressive. Search for his posts that include a video of his device at work.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I knew the Mcgiver of reloading would have an automated answer to this problem.

Fantastic @jmorris !

Excellent! I can hear the theme music to McGiver now.

 

[luzyfuerza]

We were typing at the same time!

 

[jmorris]

Small pistol primer brass is positively dangerous on a progressive press. Luckily I have caught them, on a Dillion 550B, because I can feel abnormal resistance

One can feel them on most presses, one would have noticed it in that LNL too.
The loadmaster and 4 digit Dillon’s seat while everything else is going on so you can’t feel with them but most other progressives seat primers at the opposite end of the stroke from where everything else is going on.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I’m fortunate to have a range where a lot of folks don’t pick up their brass so I have a ready supply of pistol brass whenever I need it.

I processed some 45 auto this weekend and now I’m going through the tedious process of separating the LPP from the SPP.

I’m ~100 into this pile and I’m getting about 10% SPP (Blazer and a couple of Federal)

View attachment 1120717

The last time I did this I was thinking I need to come up with an easier process. Maybe decap them and use a pin gauge as a go/no go.

Another thought was to set up the 650 for LPP and just run them all through, letting the press sort them out when I feel resistance on the primer stage. That’s how I deal with crimped 9mm but it’s a lot lower percentage so the interruptions are few.

What are you fellas doing?

ETA, I also don’t trust my calibrated eyeball to spot all of them so even doing it manually has a degree of error in it

Manually—can’t help but look as I’m decapping/sizing & dropping in case gauge which I always do before wet tumbling.

But isn’t it odd how they look so obviously different when placed side-by-side yet when just looking at one sometimes you wonder to yourself—small or large?

 

[jmorris]

Well I KNEW you had both automated the process & created a video. But, I did notice with some disappointment, it’s not in HD

Lol. Yeah, doesn’t seem like it’s been that long but I didn’t realize back then it mattered what way the phone is being held, as far as changing how the video is shot.

Maybe I should shoot another video with the machined aluminum one I have on there now.

 

[Palladan44]

Each time I pick up a piece of 45 brass I look.
If it is a SPP I toss it in the scrap bin.
If the tides ever turn where SPPs take over the majority, ill think about changing.
It's just that 95% of the time I'm picking up my own brass anyways, and mine are all LPP.
I'm finding most common folk are putting 9mm brass on the floor....the last couple times I've seen 45 brass from someone else it's been aluminum cases.

 

[entropy]

I use the 59 year old Eyeball, MkI. There's a lot of brass showing on a SPP .45 ACP case.

 

[mmb617]

I deprime them all then use a 3/16" punch as a go-nogo gauge. It's quick and easy. I don't find much .45 range brass though and my own stuff is all LPP.

 

[.45Coltguy]

I just eyeball 'em. So far, so good. Not too many spp ones, probably about 150 or so.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I sort them by caliber, and sort the small pistol primer from the large pistol primer. Small pistol primer brass is positively dangerous on a progressive press. Luckily I have caught them, on a Dillion 550B, because I can feel abnormal resistance, and have not set off a large pistol primer by crushing it on the bottom of a small pistol primer case.

View attachment 1120721

I think this is just a small pistol primer going kaboom in a small pistol primer pocket.

Skylab here we come!

View attachment 1120722


Used to keep an eye out for AMERC brass and toss that, but AMERC has been out of business so long, I have not seen any of that brass in a long time.

Surprising number of people had problems with AMERC

View attachment 1120723

I did not have a blow up, but I had AMERC brass drop their primers before firing, and lots of the stuff had off center flash holes, which was hard on decappers.

If sorting brass by maker makes you feel good, go do it. I cannot tell a difference on paper, and that is true for most Bullseye Pistol Shooters. Though many segregate their brass so they can identify it when it hits the ground.

Those pics make me want to continue hand priming until my hands are too old.
I haven't set off a primer on accident yet. But I don't want to either.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Each time I pick up a piece of 45 brass I look.
If it is a SPP I toss it in the scrap bin.
If the tides ever turn where SPPs take over the majority, ill think about changing.
It's just that 95% of the time I'm picking up my own brass anyways, and mine are all LPP.
I'm finding most common folk are putting 9mm brass on the floor....the last couple times I've seen 45 brass from someone else it's been aluminum cases.

Toss it in a bucket. LPP are scarce right now. You may wish you had a backup plan.
I here you on aluminum casing. I've been finding 38 spl lately that is aluminum. I've been picking up about 1 45 ACP to 15 9mm. I did find 25 brass 38s a couple weeks ago.
On the OP. SPP 45 looks very different to me. But I hand prime so it would never make it past priming.

 

[LiveLife]

tedious process of separating the LPP from the SPP.

What are you fellas doing?

I also don’t trust my calibrated eyeball to spot all of them so even doing it manually has a degree of error in it

We have technology to help.

Use the zoom feature of your smartphone's camera to see details of case rim (My wife's idea).

Get a table top tripod with octopus legs for optimal viewing angle - https://www.amazon.com/Flexible-Portable-Universal-Compatible-Smartphones/dp/B0B457SMHP/ref=sr_1_9?

 

[Charlie98]

I also don’t trust my calibrated eyeball to spot all of them so even doing it manually has a degree of error in it

You too? I have pretty well calibrated eyeballs, but I have a hard time picking out SPP .45 brass visually, for some reason.

I'm lucky... my ProJector is pretty easy to pull a case out of the merry-go-round. It's happened before...

 

[Remington1911]

What I do is use the Lee universal de prime die, and just do them one at a time. It gives me the chance to check over the range pickup, something you should do anyway, and then just toss them in the right bucket. It will also give you a chance to find the odd 40 in there.

I like to finger each and every bit of brass I reload, be they mine or something strange. I bet I look over them at least 3 times during the process.

 

[kidneyboy]

Toss it in a bucket. LPP are scarce right now. You may wish you had a backup plan.
I here you on aluminum casing. I've been finding 38 spl lately that is aluminum. I've been picking up about 1 45 ACP to 15 9mm. I did find 25 brass 38s a couple weeks ago.
On the OP. SPP 45 looks very different to me. But I hand prime so it would never make it past priming.

My small pile of SPP 45acp brass has grown to about 700 pieces. I have a few thousand of what I call miscellaneous small primers and use those in that brass.