Wet tumbling handgun range brass

[AccelR8]

I was given a bucket of brass from an action shooting event. I sorted it and found 45 acp, 40&W, lots and lots of 9mm, some 38 Special and way more 380 ACP than I would have thought. Sorting out the 380 (separating from the 9mm) was easy just by feel. I didn't need to look at each one, they were quite obviously smaller just picking them up. So they went into their own can. I have, I bet about 350 380s.

A lot of them had mud and dirt and had been stepped on so I washed the 380s by themselves (or so I thought) in the wet tumbler. After a trip in the media separator I found I had what appeared to be many pairs of cases stuck together, case mouth to case mouth. Of course I had left my glasses upstairs. I took one of these pairs, still wet and a little soapy (was going to give a second rinse after I got all the SS pins out). They were really stuck. Huh? Eventually got them pulled apart. Inside were pins and a 32 ACP case! I had about 30 of these trios!

I gave them another rinse, no pins this time, and dumped out the water. Those 32 ACPs had again teamed up, each with two 380s, to wedge together. I thought without the pins it might not be so bad. At least this time they came apart easily.

I had no idea so many shooters shot 380, and I no idea anyone was shooting 32 ACP!

 

[RegionRat]

Yup, picking up random range brass at a busy range means you open yourself up to the sort/inspect process.

Those manual shell sorters help with the first cut, but you have discovered that you still touch/look at each one.

If I am at my clubs, I try to sweep the area before I start. I am a fan of brass catchers too. Even then, you are on your guard for weird stuff that gets into the mix.

380 and 32 ACP never went away. They are used for plinking, SD, and competition of several kinds.

 

[Ray123]

Yep, 32acp do get mixed up with 380 acp range brass...the 32 acp still has a following. I shoot alot of 380, many thousands, sometimes exceeding the 9mm.

 

[BigBolt]

Last time I was at the range no one was there so the brass hunt was on. I picked some 45 apc, 444 marlin, 45/70, 38 special, 9mm, 40 cal s&w, 44 mags. and some 375 cases. The only ones I could us was the 45/70, 9mm and 40 cal. I use the rest for bartering. I use an ultrasonic cleaning system with lemishine dish washer additive and dawn dish soap. I run them for 30 minutes without heat and they come out clean inside and out. I resize the ones I use and run them through the vibrating tumbler for high polish. One time I found a 1-gallon bucket of 350 legend brass and got a good trade for it especially when it was cleaned.

 

[NorCalMikie]

All the same caliber? No problems.
Mix 38 and 44 mag or big and little? The 38 sticks in the 44 mag and you may NEVER get it out.

 

[BigBolt]

All the same caliber? No problems.
Mix 38 and 44 mag or big and little? The 38 sticks in the 44 mag and you may NEVER get it out.

Nope, did not say I ran them all together only the same caliber as I learned that lesson 40 years ago.

 

[divingin]

After a trip in the media separator I found I had what appeared to be many pairs of cases stuck together, case mouth to case mouth.

Yup. That's why I always run one caliber at a time (not necessarily one cartridge, but I select cartridges that don't nest; 32SWL with its .314" bullet is fine with .308, for instance.)