hunting camp range brass?

[harrell]

picked up some brass at the camp range. one of the rifles put a small dent in the side of the brass. the dent is very small can this brass be reloaded? thanks

[DDMPrecision]

It would depend on two things...
One, the severity of the dent...
Two, the location of the dent.
If it's an extraction mark, that's one thing.
If it's a true dent in the wall of the case, perhaps not.
If the neck is a little bumped, that's another thing still.
Post a photo so we can get a better idea of what you're talking about.
THe general rule of thumb is to toss dented brass.

You can fire form it back, but not worth it to me.

Is it a dent or a crease? Dent, wouldn't worry too much. Crease, nope.

[Ridge Runner]

IMO, picking up brass from an unknown source is about the same as picking used chewing gum out of the urinal at micky D'sRR

[rjhans53]

Ridgerunner, I'm glad you feel that way, leaves more for me. 95% of the reloading I do is from brass picked up at the range. I will grant that if I was trying to shoot sub 1/2 moa I'd use new brass but I'm content with 1 1/2" @ 100 so it works for me. You just have to keep an eye on it use a feeler gauge and look for case expansion issues. Make sure you full size it hard the 1st time as there is no way of knowing the size of the chamber it was fired in.

[Ridge Runner]

help yourself!RR

Originally Posted by rjhans53

Ridgerunner, I'm glad you feel that way, leaves more for me. 95% of the reloading I do is from brass picked up at the range. I will grant that if I was trying to shoot sub 1/2 moa I'd use new brass but I'm content with 1 1/2" @ 100 so it works for me. You just have to keep an eye on it use a feeler gauge and look for case expansion issues. Make sure you full size it hard the 1st time as there is no way of knowing the size of the chamber it was fired in.

Both you guys are right. Shooting range brass can be like russian roulette. I have had one piece fail, rim came right off. I have to say I am guilty.

I need to get a feeler gauge of some sort.

[Big Uncle]

I never use brass that I don't know it's history. I know guys that shoot super hot loads and discard their brass (sometimes at the range) after a few reloadings. It may only be one mistake that creates a big problem.

[falcon]

Over ninety percent of my brass is once fired stuff that comes from rifle ranges. Have never has any problem with it.

[Big Uncle]

Originally Posted by falcon

Over ninety percent of my brass is once fired stuff that comes from rifle ranges. Have never has any problem with it.

That's great if you have some way of being sure that it really is once fired.