Reloading range brass

[Warbirds]

What are your opinions about reloading brass picked up off a public range? Yea.. No way?

I work as a RSO at a local range and while I work I get the chance to pick up a lot of brass. Right now I divide it into two groups. The brass that I pick up knowing that it came from a reliable manufacturer and run through a gun in good working order and the "other stuff" I find laying around. I see no issue in reloading the brass I saw fired and plan on recycling the "other" for cash.

Other RSOs I work with have no issue reloading the "other" brass but I don't know if it is the best practice.

Thoughts?

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[Dave in Colorado]

I have been picking up range brass for more years than I can count. I have only had 2 or 3 problems in thousands of rounds. Before you clean it take a look. Look for signs of pressure or having been reloaded several times. If you see signs like that throw it away. Also when your priming it, if the primer pocket has been enlarged get rid of that brass also. If there is any question in your mind that the brass is no good don't reload it. However it cuts reloading costs.

Just my 2 cents worth

[jimster]

Used to reload and share ammo with my friend. My ammo would not fit in his gun as his chamber was at the low end of specs and mine at the high end. He could chamber it with effort but it would not eject. Don't use it if it not from the same gun.

[Warbirds]

Used to reload and share ammo with my friend. My ammo would not fit in his gun as his chamber was at the low end of specs and mine at the high end. He could chamber it with effort but it would not eject. Don't use it if it not from the same gun.

Were you resizing your brass or just the neck?

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[jimster]

Just resized the neck. It was 50 years ago and I was but a youngster didn't even think about till you said something. I will retain this infor for future use. Thanks

[Kalamity023]

A semi-automatic firearm has a larger throat in the chamber than other actions. This expands the case neck larger when firing than a bolt gun etc. If you use a small base reloading die any brass will be re-sized down to the correct tolerances for either, and should guarantee no trouble if using range brass. Now I haven't loaded many rounds yet as I just started a month ago. However, what I have loaded has had no issues and it's all been a mix of range brass.

[Warbirds]

A semi-automatic firearm has a larger throat in the chamber than other actions. This expands the case neck larger when firing than a bolt gun etc. If you use a small base reloading die any brass will be re-sized down to the correct tolerances for either, and should guarantee no trouble if using range brass. Now I haven't loaded many rounds yet as I just started a month ago. However, what I have loaded has had no issues and it's all been a mix of range brass.

It is more an issue that when you fire a round in a gun the brass is fire formed to that specific chamber which allows you to resize the neck and use it again in the same gun. But It may not fIt In other guns. That works very well in a bolt action.

A semi auto depends on looser tolerances for the brass to feed reliably.

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[wizard]

As long as the brass I P/U is fairly clean and shows no signs of abuse I reload it. Most brass I find is from people who don't reload and just leave it lay. Meaning it is once fired factory brass!

[golocx4]

My re-loading mentor taught me.
Pick up case, Inspect. before each and every process and then again with the finished round.
Split brass, bad seated primers, poor or no crimp, and on and on.
Not the fastest process in the world but it is about quality and safety.

[RustyNut]

I've been doing it for years also. I do use a depriming die to remove primers, gives you a good idea if the pockets are still tight.