A question of Brass ?

Delancey

Correct me if I'm wrong but brass is still the main material used in the manufacture of ammunition casings ( both small arms and artillery ).Why is this so ?
Given the advances in materials such as plastics and polymers it seems surprising that a cheaper and more lightweight alternative to brass has not been found. What advantages does brass have over others ?

concussion

The advantages of brass are - ductility, low coefficient of friction, plasticity at operating temps, low susceptibility to corrosion and good heat transfer. The disadvantages are weight and cost. Aluminium and steel are also used but AFAIK they aren't as advantageous as brass. I'm sure there are a lot of people working away on advanced polymers it's a difficult proposition to find a good replacement.

Stovepipe

Hi there,
Brass is, as concussion has said, easy to manipulate for manufacturing cartridges of any size.It also has the excellent quality of providing perfect sealing of the bullet to the cartridge and containing the burning of the propellant and the expansion of gases in the firing process.In the past, steel cartridges have been found to jam in the breech after firing, having expanded too much.Brass is also easy to recycle.
regards
Stovepipe

Delancey

When brass casings are recycled do they have to be melted down or is it possible that , say , 5.56mm casings can just be returned to the factory and re-used without further ado ?

Stovepipe

Hi there,
Sometimes, brass cases can be simply cleaned, reprimed and refilled.Other times, they are too deformed from the act of firing to be reused without reshaping or renecking so they are melted down.
regards
Stovepipe

tac foley

delancey42 wrote: »

When brass casings are recycled do they have to be melted down or is it possible that , say , 5.56mm casings can just be returned to the factory and re-used without further ado ?

Military brass is usually recycled, either back to the ordnance factory that makes the stuff in the first place, or surplus-ed out in those countries where reloading it permitted.

Stuff that YOU dump at the range in the used brass box[es] is no doubt collected by the range authorities and recycled via the scrap metal merchants in return for money.

Or picked up by the tinks when you've gone home...

tac

deise go deo

tac foley wrote: »

Military brass is usually recycled, either back to the ordnance factory that makes the stuff in the first place, or surplus-ed out in those countries where reloading it permitted.

Stuff that YOU dump at the range in the used brass box[es] is no doubt collected by the range authorities and recycled via the scrap metal merchants in return for money.

Or picked up by the tinks when you've gone home...

tac

Its normally picked up by the people who fire it. Any day of tactics here is finished up with the pleasant task of going back over the area you were in picking brass,
I dont like that job:(

concussion

Grab a sandbag and say it's for 7.62 only - you'll end up carrying more, but boy is it easier to find!

goldie fish

deise go deo wrote: »

Its normally picked up by the people who fire it. Any day of tactics here is finished up with the pleasant task of going back over the area you were in picking brass,
I dont like that job:(

Sure the belgians are still collecting the brass from WW1..

tac foley

deise go deo wrote: »

Its normally picked up by the people who fire it. Any day of tactics here is finished up with the pleasant task of going back over the area you were in picking brass,
I dont like that job:(

Yes, as it is here, since we can actually do something with our Boxer-primed fired brass. The Berdan [military] stuff we bin for scrap recovery.

There are still a few here who do not reload [rich guys] and us poorer shooters hover around them as they leave hoping to get thrown their unwanted empties....

tac

It wasn't me!

tac foley wrote: »

Yes, as it is here, since we can actually do something with our Boxer-primed fired brass. The Berdan [military] stuff we bin for scrap recovery.

There are still a few here who do not reload [rich guys] and us poorer shooters hover around them as they leave hoping to get thrown their unwanted empties....

tac

Was in the Isle of Man for the Easter shoot two years ago, chatting to one of our (then, no longer) pistol shooters. He was shooting a .40 S&W and the locals were on him like pilot fish collecting his brass. He was baffled by it, because he wasn't reloading it. Apparently .40 S&W brass is fairly rare and valuable there! I have a load of .25-06 brass in storage for the day they open reloading to the mortal man here, from Hornady, Winchester and Federal. Probably have the guts of three hundred cases.

tac foley

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Was in the Isle of Man for the Easter shoot two years ago, chatting to one of our (then, no longer) pistol shooters. He was shooting a .40 S&W and the locals were on him like pilot fish collecting his brass. He was baffled by it, because he wasn't reloading it. Apparently .40 S&W brass is fairly rare and valuable there! I have a load of .25-06 brass in storage for the day they open reloading to the mortal man here, from Hornady, Winchester and Federal. Probably have the guts of three hundred cases.

The enlightened legislation on the Isle of Man still trusts its citizens with handguns...very heartening, isn't it?

...and reloading, of course - see -

Storage of Gun Powder

The following guidance is extracted from Reg.5 of Health & Safety Executive publication Approved Code of Practice and guidance (ACOP).
This Advice applied to both Black power and Smokeless (Nitro) Powder. The image on the right shows an example of a suitable Gunpowder Storage box.

1. The powder must be kept in containers with no more than 550grams of powder per container. The containers must be constructed in such a way that, in the event of a fire they do not provide additional containment that will increase the explosive force of any deflagration. Normally plastic/polythene or paper/ cloth containers will be suitable for this purpose. Metal containers with a screw cap, or a push-in lid (similar to a paint tin) must not be used.
2. Although shooters’ powders are generally not very sensitive to ignition by electrostatic discharge, home loaders or others who decant the contents of plastic containers must take care to reduce the risk of build up of static electricity. Advice on the appropriate precautions may be sought from the manufacturer.
3. The containers of powder must be kept in a box constructed of plywood with a minimum thickness of 18mm – or material with an equal or greater fire and physical resistance. (H & S Laboratory tests found that 18mm plywood offered 15 minutes fire resistance; 24mm plywood offered 30 minutes fire resistance).
4. Metal boxes, including ammunition boxes, are not suitable and must not be used. This is because (a) while metal is fire resistant it also transmits heat very well and (b) because the metal container adds additional containment that significantly increases the explosive power of the powder. It should be noted that the requirements in this paragraph replace guidance permitting the keeping of black powder in a lacquered or tinned iron or steel trunk or box contained in ‘A guidance to the Control of Explosives Regulations 1991.’
5. Where the box holds more than once container, each individual container must be separated by a 6mm wooden partition that is securely fixed to the outer walls of the box. Each compartment must allow 30% additional height between the top of the container and the inside of the lid. (e.g. if container is 20cm high the box should be 30cm)
6. It is a good idea to put an intrumescent strip around the edges of the lid to give a good seal.
7. The box should be constructed so that there is no exposed metal on the inside. Internal nuts must be covered by a glued wooden liner not less than 6mm thick. The box must not be kept in any form of metal box, drawer or cupboard. 9. The box must not be located:- .
   1. Under or near any means of access or escape, e.g. under stairs
   2. In the same room as flammable liquids, or
   3. In areas where there are risks of fire

Black Powder

Gunpowder for muzzle-loading firearms
These notes are for guidance for private individuals who use black powder or equivalent substances for shooting with muzzle-loading firearms.

1. Every person who wishes to purchase or store black powder must apply for a ‘Dangerous Goods Licence’
2. This Licence will permit the storage of an agreed amount of powder (e.g. most people only want 1or 2 kilograms) depending on the storage facilities and desired usage.
3. It is advised that the storage should be in a container which complies with the details shown on the web page above.
4. Any person selling black powder to another person must check that the buyer has a Dangerous Goods Licence or an acquisition certificate and they must keep a record of the amount sold, the date of the sale and the name and address of the purchaser and shall produce such record to any inspector or police officer when required to do so.

The above does not apply to percussion caps or small-arms nitro powders.

tac