Forums46
Topics538,595
Posts9,738,977
Members87,095
|
Most Online25,604 Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
Best method to track brass?
#7135920
04/08/18 07:32 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 118
Olshovel
OP
Woodsman
|
OP
Woodsman
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 118 |
I am looking for the easiest and most effective way to track how many times I have fired my brass. What have you guys found to be the best method for this?
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7135976
04/08/18 08:50 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657
colt45-90
Texas colt45
|
Texas colt45
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657 |
hold on Newt, we got a runaway
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7136265
04/09/18 02:37 AM
|
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,225
Smokey Bear
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,225 |
I keep my brass in the same lots of 50. Stored in it own plastic ammo box that holds 50 rounds. I either use the sticker that is supplied with the MTM boxes and circle the corresponding number each cycle or put a piece of masking tape inside the lid and add the correct number each cycle. I circle each cycle and put a slash through the number if I anneal.
Smokey Bear---Lone Star State.
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7136277
04/09/18 02:59 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,228
J.G.
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,228 |
New brass gets a new MTM case gaurd, with the real hinge. That brass always lives in that case. Buy good reloading labels and write the number of firings each time.
I load for so many rifles I use masking tape, and a Sharpie, on the outside to tell me what the brass needs or has done. Might look like this:
Two firings needs: Clean Anneal Size Trim
I'll line across each as they are done. Once each step is complete, I will write "ready to load".
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7136385
04/09/18 12:04 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219
dee
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219 |
I keep them in batches of 100 or so and mark with different color sharpie's for what cycle they are on.
"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7136486
04/09/18 02:06 PM
|
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,100
TackDriver
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,100 |
I always bag and tag them in batches of 50 or 100. I label them as how many X's fired, needs tumble, anneal, size, etc.
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7136562
04/09/18 03:16 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,102
Bbear
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,102 |
Much like Smokey and Fireman do - one MTM style case per 50 rounds. Each time I load I make a new sticker with the relevant info on it. For most rounds, I'll anneal every two loading/firing series. If I load a 'partial' box, I'll put those point down vs point up and label them appropriately.
[IMG][/IMG]
Pay it forward - Kids are the future.
Rifles are similar to boats and young women...there's no end to how much money you can pour into them without making them any more useful.
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7136602
04/09/18 03:56 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,242
wp75169
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,242 |
Usually only serious about one rifle at a time. I buy 100 pieces of Lapua brass and go by memory. I keep rounds loaded. I know I haven’t reloaded for my 338-06 in a couple of years. Sold the rifle, bought it back, and I still know how many rounds are on the brass.
When I cycle the bolt I do it slowly and catch every round fired and replace in the box upside down. That allows me to see the struck primer because I do have boxes fully prepped and primed but not loaded. Your mileage may vary.
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7136792
04/09/18 08:28 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 118
Olshovel
OP
Woodsman
|
OP
Woodsman
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 118 |
I think I will get some of the mtm boxes and go that route. I only have120 brass for it so far, on my third reload on 40 of them. I notice there were a few comments about annealing brass in the comments. Is this done to just lengthen the useable service life of the brass? How many more uses would you say you get out of annealed vs non annealed brass?
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7136796
04/09/18 08:31 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219
dee
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219 |
Lifespan and in some cases consistency in loads.
"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7136821
04/09/18 09:00 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
garyrapp55
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570 |
I've been doing what was mentioned above but instead of ammo boxes I use Glad Tupperware type containers because they are free with each purchase of the kids lunch-meat and they stack better. Plastic containers, masking tape and sharpie should be all you need.
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7136905
04/09/18 10:21 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,517
BoomStick
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,517 |
I use color sharpies on them
Green - 1st fire - new brass or factory ammo Red - 1st reload Blue - 2nd reload Black - 3rd reload Brown - 4th reload and/or scrap
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: J.G.]
#7137741
04/10/18 08:25 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
garyrapp55
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570 |
MTM case gaurd, with the real hinge. I've noticed you mention the hinge before. I have a number of these boxes that I picked up from Cabela's and none of the hinges look fake. What do you mean by, "real hinge"?
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: garyrapp55]
#7137755
04/10/18 08:48 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219
dee
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219 |
MTM case gaurd, with the real hinge. I've noticed you mention the hinge before. I have a number of these boxes that I picked up from Cabela's and none of the hinges look fake. What do you mean by, "real hinge"? He means traditional door/gate type hinge not the bending plastic that breaks under normal wear/use.
"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: dee]
#7137802
04/10/18 09:50 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,228
J.G.
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,228 |
MTM case gaurd, with the real hinge. I've noticed you mention the hinge before. I have a number of these boxes that I picked up from Cabela's and none of the hinges look fake. What do you mean by, "real hinge"? He means traditional door/gate type hinge not the bending plastic that breaks under normal wear/use. Thanks dee.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: BoomStick]
#7137935
04/11/18 12:25 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,641
DStroud
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,641 |
I use color sharpies on them
Green - 1st fire - new brass or factory ammo Red - 1st reload Blue - 2nd reload Black - 3rd reload Brown - 4th reload and/or scrap
scrap brass on 4th reload? On some brass with hot loads that might be the case but I usually expect 6-20 reloads
"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."
Jack O'Connor 1963
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: dee]
#7138003
04/11/18 02:13 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,124
postoak
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,124 |
MTM case gaurd, with the real hinge. I've noticed you mention the hinge before. I have a number of these boxes that I picked up from Cabela's and none of the hinges look fake. What do you mean by, "real hinge"? He means traditional door/gate type hinge not the bending plastic that breaks under normal wear/use. I haven't seen a plastic ammo box with a "real" hinge. Do you have a link?
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: postoak]
#7138050
04/11/18 03:51 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219
dee
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219 |
MTM case gaurd, with the real hinge. I've noticed you mention the hinge before. I have a number of these boxes that I picked up from Cabela's and none of the hinges look fake. What do you mean by, "real hinge"? He means traditional door/gate type hinge not the bending plastic that breaks under normal wear/use. I haven't seen a plastic ammo box with a "real" hinge. Do you have a link? Here's a pic of the two styles mentioned. The top case will last far longer.
"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7138219
04/11/18 01:45 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
garyrapp55
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570 |
I guess the flex plastic hinge is the old style. I can see those giving up at some point. Post Oak, that green one that dee showed us I guess is the newer ones. I get em at Cabela's for $4. Plano makes some but they're proud of em.
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7139008
04/12/18 12:23 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,113
Ranch Dog
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,113 |
I bag the given lot of brass, actually two bags for each lot; Clean and Dirty (fired). Inside the "clean" bag, I keep an index card that contains the cycle number, date, count and what was done to the brass. Lot size depends on the cartridge, as little as 25 and as large as 600. From there, I use the inventory system in TMT Precision Records. Got to do something as I load for 29 different cartridges with over 25K cases, cataloged, in my shop.
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7139799
04/13/18 03:10 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,835
5 Stand Dan
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,835 |
I tend to load hot, I just count the ejector stamps on the brass.
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7140010
04/13/18 02:11 PM
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,226
papa45
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,226 |
Brass prep is my least favorite part of handloading and I rarely get all the way through the process without interruption. Often I find myself in the middle of multiple batches or calibers.
I keep my brass in Ziplock bags with a little check-off list: times fired, necks cleaned, tumbled, sized, primed, trimmed, chamfered, inside neck brushed.
Once they are loaded and fired, a new checklist goes into the bag and the "times fired" increases by 1.
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: Olshovel]
#7140993
04/14/18 05:58 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,124
postoak
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,124 |
I'm old enough to remember when the flex plastic hinge was introduced. They were advertised as having been tested to last 2 million times. (I guess that was 1 million openings/closings.) I've never had one break on me.
|
|
|
Re: Best method to track brass?
[Re: 5 Stand Dan]
#7141174
04/14/18 11:34 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,528
RiverRider
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,528 |
I tend to load hot, I just count the ejector stamps on the brass.
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, TreeBass, txcornhusker
|