Blood Stained Brass

Reloading equipment, methods, load data, powder and projectile information.

Blood Stained Brass

Post by Gwion » 02 Mar 2017, 12:00 pm

Just going over a bunch of 223 brass for loading a fresh batch.

Some are obviously more tarnished after being collected from the back of a ute full of culled vermin. I do recall someone saying not to reload them as the blood corrodes the brass' making it unsafe.

Anyone heard this or able to confirm?

Can't personally see how that would be so but worth asking. Blood was wiped off at the time but they are very obviously dirtier than the rest of the brass.
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Re: Blood Stained Brass

Post by bigfellascott » 02 Mar 2017, 12:39 pm

Sounds like another good internet bs story to me. Just poke ya tongue out and face Mecca whilst standing on one leg whilst washing it and all will be well.
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Re: Blood Stained Brass

Post by Gwion » 02 Mar 2017, 2:38 pm

Tend to agree but from the guy who said it is is more likely to be a rural Tasmanian old wive's story than internet rumour. He's not really the Internet type and not a regular reloader; just something he had been told and was passing it on. Kind of asking if I thought I should reload it. I said I couldn't see a problem but after seeing the obvious difference in condition I thought I'd put it out there. I'm usually quite particular about collecting my brass and keeping it clean but it was a busy night and a few cases strayed in amongst the carcasses.
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Re: Blood Stained Brass

Post by on_one_wheel » 02 Mar 2017, 6:08 pm

I know blood is definitely corrosive on raw steel but that's only if you leave it for days or weeks without washing it and it stays damp.

I think it's a long draw of the bow to say that some blood on the brass will make it dangerous to reload.
At worst I would imagine it would cause some tarnish on the surface that would take a little more cleaning to make shiny again.

It's a good one for myth busters.
Perhaps the blood is supposed to attack the zink in the brass ?
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Re: Blood Stained Brass

Post by in2anity » 02 Mar 2017, 7:33 pm

Can't you just wash them in the NRA solution though? (2L water, 1/4cup vinegar, 1tbs morning fresh, 1tsp salt)
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
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Re: Blood Stained Brass

Post by Oldbloke » 02 Mar 2017, 7:40 pm

" I think it's a long draw of the bow to say that some blood on the brass will make it dangerous to reload."

I cannot see it now. Shooting an arrow to the moon and back"
What a load of BS. There is mainly iron oxide,water and oxygen in blood. Which of those corrode brass?
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Re: Blood Stained Brass

Post by duncan61 » 02 Mar 2017, 11:30 pm

I try to avoid getting the brass bloody as well.It just takes longer in the tumbler
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Re: Blood Stained Brass

Post by Baronvonrort » 03 Mar 2017, 2:34 pm

Gwion wrote:
Some are obviously more tarnished after being collected from the back of a ute full of culled vermin. I do recall someone saying not to reload them as the blood corrodes the brass' making it unsafe.

Anyone heard this or able to confirm?
.


Sounds like a load of crap to me.
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Re: Blood Stained Brass

Post by Chronos » 04 Mar 2017, 2:56 pm

Oldbloke wrote:" I think it's a long draw of the bow to say that some blood on the brass will make it dangerous to reload."

I cannot see it now. Shooting an arrow to the moon and back"
What a load of BS. There is mainly iron oxide,water and oxygen in blood. Which of those corrode brass?


Blood has a salt level similar to sea water (.8-.9% V 1-1.1%) and will cause corrosion pretty quick, leave a carbon steel knfe soaked in blood and see how long it takes to cause pitting.

I seriously doubt it would damage brass in the short term, I'd just wash it in fresh water and tumble as normal

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Re: Blood Stained Brass

Post by Oldbloke » 04 Mar 2017, 3:12 pm

Yes, I forgot about the salt.
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Re: Blood Stained Brass

Post by Harper » 16 Mar 2017, 1:19 pm

As long as it hasn't pitted the brass I'd go ahead and use it.
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