Let's talk match brass management

[davidjoe]

I feel really good about myself seeing that pic…My shelf is about half of that and I was told I have a problem….

This is what happens at 49, when your parents had you wait until you’re 18 to go buy and get to use your first real gun (good thing I had plenty to eat.).

 

[pdhntr]

I mark my case heads with a scratch each time the case has been fired.

My father started doing this 60 years ago with a punch, and I changed the process to a scratch made with a sharp tool. I have been doing it for the last 40 plus years, and it has worked for large amounts of cases shot through my pd guns, and amounts of 50 or less used for competition.

The first thing I do when I start my reloading process is mark the brass. Yes it adds another step, and I really don’t enjoy doing it, but (for me) it makes the management of brass so much easier. A little more work at the beginning saves a lot of work, and organizational headaches later.

With the spent primer still in the case I place the case in a wooden block with different size holes drilled to give a slip fit to the case. This holds the case in place for marking. I mark the case, pull it out and place another in the hole, repeat.

On 204 cases, the stamping leaves very little clear area for a scratch, but the system still works, you just need to scratch across the stamping, and you can still see it.

Lucky for me, my chambers are the same for most of my high volume rifles. The only cases I have to keep separate (for different rifles) is a couple 223s. I mark the case heads, but keep them separate in the reloading process and in storage.

If I wanted to keep cases separate for different rifles, and process them at the same time, I would make a small punch, and strategically place a small dot on the case head to separate them from the others. Just one small dot, and then use scratches to keep track of firings.

The last time I offered this method I was accused of “disfiguring” my brass, so I hesitate posting this. Apparently, I have crossed some line with respect to how my brass should look. The system is not for everyone, and I understand that. It works for me very well.



Above, ergonomically designed tool, and perfectly drilled holes for holding cases to be marked.


Above, case fired three times.


Above, latest ergonomically designed tool for marking case heads, and lower case fired 14 times.

Jim

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I mark my case heads with a scratch each time the case has been fired.

My father started doing this 60 years ago with a punch, and I changed the process to a scratch made with a sharp tool. I have been doing it for the last 40 plus years, and it has worked for large amounts of cases shot through my pd guns, and amounts of 50 or less used for competition.

The first thing I do when I start my reloading process is mark the brass. Yes it adds another step, and I really don’t enjoy doing it, but (for me) it makes the management of brass so much easier. A little more work at the beginning saves a lot of work, and organizational headaches later.

With the spent primer still in the case I place the case in a wooden block with different size holes drilled to give a slip fit to the case. This holds the case in place for marking. I mark the case, pull it out and place another in the hole, repeat.

On 204 cases, the stamping leaves very little clear area for a scratch, but the system still works, you just need to scratch across the stamping, and you can still see it.

Lucky for me, my chambers are the same for most of my high volume rifles. The only cases I have to keep separate (for different rifles) is a couple 223s. I mark the case heads, but keep them separate in the reloading process and in storage.

If I wanted to keep cases separate for different rifles, and process them at the same time, I would make a small punch, and strategically place a small dot on the case head to separate them from the others. Just one small dot, and then use scratches to keep track of firings.

The last time I offered this method I was accused of “disfiguring” my brass, so I hesitate posting this. Apparently, I have crossed some line with respect to how my brass should look. The system is not for everyone, and I understand that. It works for me very well.

View attachment 1272581

Above, ergonomically designed tool, and perfectly drilled holes for holding cases to be marked.
View attachment 1272582

Above, case fired three times.
View attachment 1272583

Above, latest ergonomically designed tool for marking case heads, and lower case fired 14 times.

Jim

Do you hold a straight edge of some sort on the case head before marking with your tool?

 

[pdhntr]

Do you hold a straight edge of some sort on the case head before marking with your tool?

Nope. At first you might not get a nice line from the primer to the outside, but when you get the tool sharpened so it drags across the brass, and you develop a technique as if holding a pencil with your fingers, it doesn't take long to make nice lines.

Forgot to add one thing to the post. A lighted magnifier lamp positioned over the case head really helps in the process.

Lighted magnifier lamp

Jim

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Lots of top talent in here giving feedback/perspective; I sincerely appreciate you guys taking the time. I think I've got a decent idea of what direction to go.

Hopefully this thread helps others too.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[XTR]

One thing I should add in the interest of full disclosure, I don’t weight sort my individual brass; however, I do sort my brass for my team loads at big matches. I can’t prove it helps, but it can’t hurt and sorting enough for the team strings is not particularly time consuming, and while my performance in individual competition is important to me holding up my end of the load for team shooting is bigger.