Once Fired .45 Colt

[Old Tanker]

I’ve decided to venture into pistol caliber and decided rimmed cases would be a good place to start. These cases date back to around 2005. Factory loaded, PMC, 255gr FMJ-FP. They’ve been sitting in the original box, in my garage since fired. After three hours in the tumbler, I can still see burn/corrosion marks on the case body. I can’t feel any cracks when doing the paper clip test. My initial assessment is they are safe but need some reinforcement from all of you experts.

 

[451whitworth]

If these are once fired brass that looks like typical blow by/soot stains from oversized factory chambers which are common in .45 Colt revolvers.

 

[joshb]

They look old but I’d load them. I look in the mirror every morning and still go about my day.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Need some polish added to your corncob media. In and hour or two will look like new.

Frank

 

[powderbrake]

What he said above. You need polish in the media. I use Dillons, but there are lots of polishes out there. Brass will look new.

 

[MikeT124]

Add polish to the media and sample check the cases after 45 minutes in the tumbler. Too long in a tumbler and the cases will come out dull. I'm still using cases (although 45acp) from the 60's as long as they don't have cracks you should be fine. My 45 Colt cases are from the early 2000's.

Mike

 

[RegionRat]

It is important to find the root causes of stains if you suspect them of being from your gun cleaning chemicals, versus brass that gets wet on the ground and put away dirty, versus just soot.

Some stains are just cosmetic, but others are a warning flag. Also be aware, some of the chemical attacks that ruin brass are not visible. Soot stains and trivial surface oxidation will clean off with enough elbow grease, deep corrosion or serious chemical attacks will not.

When you size and flare those, I would watch for tears and scrap them if they show. I would just take five or six of the ugliest ones and cycle them under close study to learn if the stains are just cosmetic (which I suspect they are just cosmetic).

If they tear at the flare, don't bother seating bullets. Look again after seating and before crimping. Two cycles on five or six of them should be enough to show you a green light on the rest, and that way you avoid making a giant batch of scrap.

Most times, these stains are nothing to worry about, but I'm taking a moment because sometimes they are...

Overall, try to clean your brass after a range session sooner than later if it hits dirty water on the ground. Try to avoid leaving gun cleaners in chamber or cylinders that are known to be copper fouling removers. Don't use polish or non specific brass cleaners that contain ammonia.