I have a whole bunch of brass sprinkles to figure out what to do with...../

[Harry O]

They are from .32 H&R Magnum brass. I have been using about 500 cases from Federal since back in the late 1980's. Originally, I had problems with them splitting after one or two reloads. Seems that Federal had a brittle batch of brass. I quickly learned to anneal the necks immediately after shooting them. That almost ended their splitting. However, through the last 25-30 years, there has been the inevitable losses. The number has dwindled enough so that I figured it was time to break open the packs of brand new Starline brass I had accumulated over the years (about 350 to 400 of them).

In loading them, I noticed that the location of the crimp groove on the bullet was all over the place compared to the top of the case. I started checking the case lengths and found that about 1/3 of them were the same length as the Federal, between 1.070" to 1.075". About 2/3 of them were from 1.092" to 1.110". Obviously a problem; 0.020" to 0.035" too long. Interestingly, there was absolutely no brass between 1.075" and 1.092". It wasn't sloppy tolerances. They were made two different lengths. The headstamp is correct; they are not .327 Magnum brass. I have been trimming them to 1.070". About halfway done. Will finish them this weekend. It is usually nice to get extra for your money, but not this time.

I will probably have enough brass sprinkles left over to make 3 or 4 extra cases. Any better ideas for it?

[Nueces]

They'd look pretty sprinkled on meatloaf.

[Bullwolf]

You could sprinkle the brass shavings into some Devcon Epoxy to help strengthen it. Some people swear by this practice when bedding a rifle stock.

Have heard others also do this with JB weld to improve it's strength.



- Bullwolf

[.22-10-45]

Load e'm up in a shotshell & fire into wall of a cave..then sell it as a gold mine!

[azrednek]

Years ago here in Phoenix a couple of pranksters put what the newspaper named "tiny brass specs" into holes that had been drilled in a mountain for blasting. Nearby residents were po'd and triggered numerous calls to the mayor and councilman's offices. Notices were posted that blasting would begin at 8:00AM but it started about 6:00. The newspaper article didn't say anything about the source of the so-called brass specs but I suspect they came from a hand loaders bench seeking revenge for the early wake up calls. According to the newspaper article drilling and blasting was delayed a few days after workers discovered what they thought was gold dust.

[44magLeo]

If you have been collecting them over the years, I might assume the length differences are because of different lots. Are the cases that are the same length are probably from different lots than the longer cases.
Leo

[William Yanda]

Didn't someone here suggest them as a substitute for brass wool in removing lead from a barrel?

[bangerjim]

I turn a LOT of medium hard brass bar stock in my metal lathes making parts for clocks and antique scientific instruments. I have a large box full of your "sprinkles" that weighs over 45#! The brass alloys I use do not string, but come off the cutters in tiny slivers and "sprinkles" as you describe them. Guess I need to haul that box to the scrap yard some day and sell it.

And the milling machines crank out a bunch also.

Only certain alloys of brass makes "chore boy" curls of brass. I have another box of about 15# of that stuff!

banger

[dragon813gt]

Keep them until you have enough to take to the scrap yard. I don't let most metals go to waste. Even get money from the wheel weight clips and dross. Not a lot but every little bit helps.

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

Disappointing to hear of that QA problem with your .32 H&R brass from Starline.

I bought 500 .357 mag brass from Starline about 5 years ago. It was a single batch. I started to cut them to consistent length. After about 200 I gave up. All were perfectly the same length.

I am into loading some 500 .45-70 brass from Starline that I got about two months ago. So far, I've not noticed any differences in case length, but it would be based on consistency in crimping.

I suggest you contact Starline about your issue. They are good, and would likely make things right.

[BNE]

If you have a hole in your workbench that needs filling, you can mix the sprinkles into some epoxy then fill the whole. Sand it down and you have a sparkle finish to your work station. I have seen this done on wood bowls and it is pretty.