Automated Case Sorter

[Oso]

I came across this build series for an automated case separator (sorts by headstamp) on YouTube. Hands down to his ingenuity and commitment. There were several design iterations / prototypes as the components were either sourced or created (3D printing parts) and software developed. This is not something the average reloader needs, but the final product is worth observing. It is very clever. See link below.

Automated Case Sorter by Headstamp

 

[ebb]

Coolest thing I've seen in a long time, wonder what one of those will cost in Biden dollars?

 

[Jdne5b]

I’ve built a few now for myself and some friends. This project was strictly the reason I got a 3D printer. It’s a pretty cool machine.

 

[The boogalorian]

Awesome. Just started printing a couple of months ago. Been loading lots of 9mm too. Perfect project for me in 2024. Thanks for the link.

 

[Jdne5b]

Awesome. Just started printing a couple of months ago. Been loading lots of 9mm too. Perfect project for me in 2024. Thanks for the link.

If you do discord, he has one and there is a ton of info/help in there.

 

[RustyInBend]

Seems like a solution seeking a problem. That said, it's definitely a cool gadget if one finds oneself regularly carrying around a big bag holding brass from multiple calibers and weapon-types. Um ... can't think of when that would happen, except maybe at a commercial range, but whatever. I applaud the innovation.

 

[Oso]

Seems like a solution seeking a problem. That said, it's definitely a cool gadget...

That was my thoughts but it was too cool not to share. I think if you were cleaning and selling range brass then it might make sense or if you were a competition shooter (high-volume) who has an OCD issues about grouping headstamps.

Depending on cost, this would have been a nice tool for sorting .223/5.56 range brass. It feels like the early days of the Annie Annealer.

 

[ebb]

I used to load it as i picked it up from the ground, But lately I've been sorting according to headstamp. Just loaded 1500-1600 Lake City with 69 gr HPs. If I am OCD its with loading only, maybe I am just an ammo snob????

 

[HighlandLofts]

I talked to a friend about these, he was looking into it and said when all said & done probably around $400 of so to put together

More then I'd want to invest.

 

[Jdne5b]

Pretty close if you have to buy all of the parts and don’t have anything laying around. The cost comes down considerably for the second or third if you have a few friends building them together. Close to $250.

 

[markm87]

Funny. I just sorted like 2000 cases the other night. 9 Thumler's Tubler loads in one day.

 

[The boogalorian]

My brother sent me this picture from shot show yesterday evening. No other info as I haven’t talked with him yet.

Just in the last year he, myself and our brother in law sorted more than 10,000 223 cases by head stamp. My brother had 6-7 5 gallon buckets of range pickups. And I know that I have sorted at least 5,000 9mm. I am seriously looking at building one of these when I can find the time.

 

[Oso]

My pistols don’t discriminate by head stamp. A strong magnet handles 95% of sorting my pistol brass. Everything that sticks to it gets tossed.

One of these automated sorters would have been extremely useful for sorting 223/5.56 brass. Unfortunately, most of mine has already been hand sorted and stored. Too late to get wife to forget image of mad man sitting in middle of room surrounded by bins.

 

[HighlandLofts]

As low as range brass is I wouldn't spring for a case sorter.
If there was three or so local guys who would want to split the cost I'd be all over one or if I were ten years younger.

 

[searcher]

I have probably 20k Lake City once-fired cases of various years. When I look at the time it could take me to sort those by hand (I can't even read the headstamps with my glasses on), $400.00 would make a lot of sense just to save time. Then I could pass the machine along to another in need. That is very cool!

 

[markm87]

I weighed FC, WOLF, PSD, PMC and LC brass last night after sorting them off. The all really float around 93 grains so closely that paying for a sorting machine wouldn't be worth it.

The only reason I'll continue to sort is that PMC, which is a pretty common range pick up, doesn't have a crimp, and I can bypass the removal step completely.

 

[Oso]

This would be handy for separating headstamps for use in cases forming (300BO, 300HAM'R, and a bunch of other .223 based cartridges). Easy to select headstamps with case wall thickness that are known to be good for case conversion.

Otherwise, you just have to be a tech gadget junky.