Reloading Brass Question

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

10 hours ago, Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L said:

Do you have to deprime the cases before turning them in?

No, but scrap brass and loose primers must separated.  ACME Metal is my recycler.  And no, it is not run by Wile E Coyote, though roadrunners might be seen hunting lizards in the scrap yard.

Edited July 8 by Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971
bad link

[Eyesa Horg]

In reality, just how dangerous is it to have a live primer mixed in with scrap primers? 

I've got about 2 gallons worth and don't think any live ones are in there, but impossible to be positive. It would be absurd to dump em out and check every single one!

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

1 minute ago, Eyesa Horg said:

In reality, just how dangerous is it to have a live primer mixed in with scrap primers? 

I've got about 2 gallons worth and don't think any live ones are in there, but impossible to be positive. It would be absurd to dump em out and check every single one!

A pile of metal with a live primer in it is hazardous material instead of valuable recyclable material.  While the physical hazard is low, scrap dealers want nothing to do with hazardous material.

[Eyesa Horg]

2 minutes ago, Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 said:

A pile of metal with a live primer in it is hazardous material instead of valuable recyclable material.  While the physical hazard is low, scrap dealers want nothing to do with hazardous material.

Understood, but they aren't going to check them either are they? Would take forever!

[Sedalia Dave]

@Iron Monger Jimmy had a post a while back looking for scrap brass.

 

I save mine for my stepson. He melts it down to make pommels, hand guards, belt buckles and other things. He has a forge and foundry that he spends time in during the winter. He told me that the occasional live primer is not a problem. Live rounds on the other hand would be a serious problem.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

This is of no help to the OP or even "others," however I discovered I had a "live" primer in one of the cases I was annealing.  Gave me a real surprise and launched the cast (case Otto, Case) to "Parts Unknown" of my garage.  Four years later and I still haven't found that case.  Just a little funzie!!

Edited July 8 by Colorado Coffinmaker
I hate Otto

[watab kid]

my response to OP is you can expect quite a few , my approach has always been to inspect the brass before i put them in the tumbler , recycle the split ones , inspect after tumbling , recycle any obvious questionable ones then inspect as you load reject what doesnt load nicely [tear them down first and save components] ive reloaded most of mine a dozen times because our loads dont over work the brass , 

 

if your buying brass your sytarting fresh you can get a lot of reloads from them with my method , if like me most of your brass comes from a range just be careful to inspect each one as you go - all but a small amound of mine was range brass , ive gotten lots of reloads on them 

[John Kloehr]

6 hours ago, watab kid said:

... inspect the brass before i put them in the tumbler ...

 

A split case dropped on a hard surface should sound duller and ring less clear compared to a good case.

 

[Eyesa Horg]

They have distinctive ring to them if shaken with a few others in your hand.

[Yankee Bones]

I have no problem with the tangents from my original question. I didn't grow up in a gun-household so being a part of SASS has lead to me learning quite a bit about everything involved with firearms. I'm  happy for the discussions because it allows me to learn even more and gain perspectives on things I never new about. Thanks again to everyone for their responses and the valuable information, it's all really appreciated. 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

I shoot more activities than CAS.  For some of them reloading is unnecessary and participants do not reload.  The young shooters in action pistol buy bulk 9 mm cartridges and leave their brass on the ground.  Many clays shooters buy 12-gauge shells and simply toss the empties.  CAS is different.  Reloading is part of the sport.  (See this thread for reasons.)  Spend a few years shooting CAS and you will know more about reloading than many shooters.  You will also pick up knowledge about historical firearms development.