Marking Brass for Number of Times Fired

[chkunz]

Like most of you, I mark my brass to keep up with how many times it has been fired. The way I do it works but I have thought from time to time that there are probably better ways to do this than what I am doing. How do you mark your brass to keep up with the times fired?

 

[jlow]

The problem with marking your brass means you have to look at each to sort them not to mention the time it takes to permanently mark them properly - I just don't shoot them at the same time and so no marking is necessary. When I get into a situation where I have to shoot brass with different firing (which is rare), I just mark the outside with a sharpie - one ring = once fired, two rings = twice fired, and so on.

 

[Sheldon N]

I run brass in lots of 50 cases which fit in a normal ammo box. I keep them together and tumble them and do brass prep separately from other lots of the same caliber. Then every time I finish with brass prep I put a piece of masking tape inside the lid of the case and mark the number of times it's been fired along with any other pertinent info (such as trimmed, annealed, what bushing it was sized with). Sometime prepped brass will sit for a bit before reloading so it's good to keep track. A typical sticky inside the case might read "4x fired, annealed, .337".

 

[Egg]

I run lots of 20 and keep them separated in their own ammo box at all times, then each lot has their own number. Lot # 101-2 , this tells me lot 101 has been reloaded and shot twice. Next time when I reload lot # 101 I will mark it 101-3.

Egg

 

[Gabe22BR]

I write mine down in my book, according to box number they are in.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I run brass in lots of 50 cases which fit in a normal ammo box. I keep them together and tumble them and do brass prep separately from other lots of the same caliber. ....".

I'm trying a very similar approach. Not all the batches are 50 cases any more, but I do try and keep them in that box for their useful life.

Regards

JCS

 

[Lapua40X]

I try to keep track of firings by "batch" reloading in 50 case sets but it doesn't work very well. Some of the matches I participate in require a minimum of 60 round with unlimited sighters in some phases, limited sighters in others. Then there's the inevitable few, here and there, for load development etc. I have just started a process of marking case on the underside of the rib/base using an electric engraver with each firing. Not a big mark, just a dimple that is visible. I believe it will work out better than any method I have tried up to now.

 

[savagedasher]

I rotate my in my box loaded in the right fired on the left every time I mark the box I have a label on the left side and not the amount of firings. Larry

 

[jpx2rk]

Do the sharpie markings come off when the brass is tumbled/cleaned??

 

[jlow]

It depends, even with SS media cleaning, some will stubbornly stay on, but it appears to depend a bit on how long you let it dry. I recently did a few with a blue sharpie and almost had trouble seeing it after about 10 minute tumble with corn cob media. So some experimenting would be my suggestion. Of course, they will all disappear in a flash with acetone.

 

[Danattherock]

Do the sharpie markings come off when the brass is tumbled/cleaned??

Yes. I mark my 6.5 cm brass for PRS and similar tactical matches with black ring from Sharpee, spinning on my 21st Century concentricity gauge. The marks fade and entirely come off tumbling in walnut. I keep up with firings marking 50 round MTM boxes with sharpee. Brass spends its life in same box. Got 6 boxes and 300 cases dwindles down as I loose brass at matches so will eventually have 200-250. As it wears, it is being lost slowly anyway. Then I will start over with 300 new cases.

Dan

 

[Dusty Stevens]

When they quit working right i abandon em. Im not gonna keep using junk brass cause its only been fired 3 times.

 

[Iowa Fox]

I'm trying a very similar approach. Not all the batches are 50 cases any more, but I do try and keep them in that box for their useful life.

Regards

JCS

Thats what I do. Lots of different boxes here, 20-50-60-100 round boxes. The 20 rounders are for the hunting rifles, the others depending on cal are for practice, dog towns, and match's. The brass stays with the box with notes until its junk, even if only a few pieces are left.

 

[Cold Bore]

I run brass in lots of 50 cases which fit in a normal ammo box.

When they quit working right i abandon em. Im not gonna keep using junk brass cause its only been fired 3 times.

I do a combination of the above.

Lots stay together in ammo boxes (either 20 or 50, depending), and all get reloaded together.

As soon as some of it gets ratty, the whole lot gets trashed.

I don't go into it with a preset number of potential firings in mind, and figure that when I see a couple showing worn out signs during processing, the rest are probably close as well, since all lived the same life (load data, firings, etc).

 

[dickn52]

I use colored sharpies. Each batch has a different color, and going from the center out I remark each time. So when I look at the head stamp, I may see 2 or 3 stripes of the same color. Each stripe is a reload. Anneal at 4, alcohol removes the markings.

 

[chkunz]

I use colored sharpies. Each batch has a different color, and going from the center out I remark each time. So when I look at the head stamp, I may see 2 or 3 stripes of the same color. Each stripe is a reload. Anneal at 4, alcohol removes the markings.

This is similar to what I am doing but I think your method is an improvement over mine. If I do not get a better idea I am going to switch to your method. Thanks.

 

[Fotheringill]

Paper and pen work for me, as well and quart sized plastic Ziplock bags.

I buy 500 cases, unfired and do whatever prep needs to be done for the entire 500. I use them in lots of 50-100. When the 500 are used, I then clean all in two stages, trim, if needed and chamfer for VLD. Then I neck size, drop powder and seat bullets. It may not work for everyone, but it keeps things neater in my work room.

 

[fourpower]

Like most of you, I mark my brass to keep up with how many times it has been fired. The way I do it works but I have thought from time to time that there are probably better ways to do this than what I am doing. How do you mark your brass to keep up with the times fired?

for 2 years now I keep 2 mtm 50 rd boxes for large calibers & 2 100rd boxes for small calibers. I will shoot all from 1 box and then go to next and put mark inside box for number of times reloaded. when I see a few of brass getting bad I get rid of whole box. I have now been sitting all my brass at zero headspace and been annealing all my brass. as of now I have a 6.6x47 laupa with laupa that just went 30 times reloaded and brass is still good. also I never see this listed but I take all my brass and used primers to a metal recyle place and they buy them.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Tumbling removes the sharpie markings.

Except markings in the extractor groove - I color code brass that way.

 

[Paddyd]

Do the sharpie markings come off when the brass is tumbled/cleaned??

If you thoroughly de grease before you mark them and use a sharpie with permanant ink and dry an hr or so before you tumble, it is pretty hard to get those marks to disappear.