Brass Question - The Firearms Forum

Nut Behind the Gun · 07-22-2012, 09:12 PM

Why are most casings made of brass?

Appliancedude · 07-22-2012, 09:15 PM

Not sure why, but I'm glad they are. Aluminum and steel are not really reloadable. Brass is easily reloadable many times over

buildit · 07-22-2012, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Appliancedude

Not sure why, but I'm glad they are. Aluminum and steel are not really reloadable. Brass is easily reloadable many times over

Some day I may need to learn how to do reloads.

bobski · 07-22-2012, 10:24 PM

brass expands to form to the shape of the chamber, to ensure a good gas tight seal for the rounds gases to vent in the right direction...out the muzzle, not out the chamber or breech.

woolleyworm · 07-22-2012, 10:34 PM

Brass was around long before steel and aluminum alloys were suitable for cartridge case use. Brass is still the best choice for rapidly cooling to allow for the best extraction.

jack404 · 07-22-2012, 10:58 PM

Brass has a few properties that are perfect for the role

its malliable ( you can shape it easy)
its not really corrosive but does tarnish in a neutral way ( dont make acidic compounds that may effect the powder)
and its cheap ..

you can reload or re-smelt there is little waste

theres better stuff nowdays but for the cost , why?

at lithgow they are playing with plastics atm for cases

i hope they never go that way , but the UN is pushing folks in that direction , guess they know folks can pick up brass and reload and this wont help stamp out all the guns they want gone for a clean take over ..

Alpo · 07-23-2012, 08:56 AM

It just works so well.

When they first came up with the idea of metal cartridges, they tried several things. They had cartridges made of wrapped wire. (Can't find a picture of that)

They had them made of metal foil. Second from the left.

Neither of these held up well to handling.

They thought they had a winner with copper, but copper gets sticky when it's hot, probably because it is a soft metal. During a battle, with much firing, the hot chamber caused the copper cases to stick, with the extractor ripping through the rim, and requiring the shoving of a cleaning rod down the barrel to punch it out. Kinda defeats the purpose of a repeater.

But the addition of a little zinc to the copper both made it harder, so that extractors did not rip through rims as easily, and "not so sticky", so it did not cling to hot chambers.

Wallah (that's French for "lookie here"), cartridge brass. Hard enough to hold together, soft enough to seal the chamber, strong enough to stand up to handling. Just about perfect.

They've used other things when they had to, but brass is so "just about perfect" that they keep going back to it.

jack404 · 07-23-2012, 09:05 AM

wallah = Viola! without the fancy doodad marks

Alpo · 07-23-2012, 10:29 AM

Glad somebody got that.

Dennis the Menace Sunday comic, when I was a little kid. Mom was gone so Dad was gonna make Dennis some breakfast. And he stirred and he sliced and he diced and he cooked and he fiddled with food for about three panels, then finally put the plate of food on the table, saying, "Voilà!"

Dennis looks at the plate and says, "Wallah? Looks like hash, to me."

jack404 · 07-23-2012, 10:36 AM

i do like Dennis

lotsa folks renamed Dennis by friends and family

cpttango30 · 07-23-2012, 10:57 AM

Brass unlike aluminum and steel returns to its original state if heat is applied.

Hence annealing brass cases after they get reloaded 3 to 5 times. The reloading and firing process makes brass hard so you apply just enough heat to return it to the original state and you can get many more reloadings out of it.

07-22-2012, 09:12 PM	#1
Nut Behind the Gun Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: marion IN Posts: 16	Brass Question Why are most casings made of brass? __________________ Trap Boy ( Don't Push My Buttons) -->

07-22-2012, 09:15 PM	#2
Appliancedude Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The true northern Cal Posts: 1,562	Re: Brass Question Not sure why, but I'm glad they are. Aluminum and steel are not really reloadable. Brass is easily reloadable many times over __________________ It ain't broke it just lacks duct tape. The nice thing about opinions is everybody has one.

07-22-2012, 10:24 PM	#4
bobski Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: va., conn., & mo. Posts: 948	Re: Brass Question brass expands to form to the shape of the chamber, to ensure a good gas tight seal for the rounds gases to vent in the right direction...out the muzzle, not out the chamber or breech. Last edited by bobski; 07-22-2012 at 10:26 PM..

07-22-2012, 10:34 PM	#5
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,883	Re: Brass Question Brass was around long before steel and aluminum alloys were suitable for cartridge case use. Brass is still the best choice for rapidly cooling to allow for the best extraction. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

07-22-2012, 10:58 PM	#6
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Brass Question Brass has a few properties that are perfect for the role its malliable ( you can shape it easy) its not really corrosive but does tarnish in a neutral way ( dont make acidic compounds that may effect the powder) and its cheap .. you can reload or re-smelt there is little waste theres better stuff nowdays but for the cost , why? at lithgow they are playing with plastics atm for cases i hope they never go that way , but the UN is pushing folks in that direction , guess they know folks can pick up brass and reload and this wont help stamp out all the guns they want gone for a clean take over ..

07-23-2012, 08:56 AM	#7
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,661	Re: Brass Question It just works so well. When they first came up with the idea of metal cartridges, they tried several things. They had cartridges made of wrapped wire. (Can't find a picture of that) They had them made of metal foil. Second from the left. Neither of these held up well to handling. They thought they had a winner with copper, but copper gets sticky when it's hot, probably because it is a soft metal. During a battle, with much firing, the hot chamber caused the copper cases to stick, with the extractor ripping through the rim, and requiring the shoving of a cleaning rod down the barrel to punch it out. Kinda defeats the purpose of a repeater. But the addition of a little zinc to the copper both made it harder, so that extractors did not rip through rims as easily, and "not so sticky", so it did not cling to hot chambers. Wallah (that's French for "lookie here"), cartridge brass. Hard enough to hold together, soft enough to seal the chamber, strong enough to stand up to handling. Just about perfect. They've used other things when they had to, but brass is so "just about perfect" that they keep going back to it. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

07-23-2012, 09:05 AM	#8
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Brass Question wallah = Viola! without the fancy doodad marks

07-23-2012, 10:29 AM	#9
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,661	Re: Brass Question Glad somebody got that. Dennis the Menace Sunday comic, when I was a little kid. Mom was gone so Dad was gonna make Dennis some breakfast. And he stirred and he sliced and he diced and he cooked and he fiddled with food for about three panels, then finally put the plate of food on the table, saying, "Voilà!" Dennis looks at the plate and says, "Wallah? Looks like hash, to me." __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

07-23-2012, 10:36 AM	#10
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Brass Question i do like Dennis lotsa folks renamed Dennis by friends and family

07-23-2012, 10:57 AM	#11
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Re: Brass Question Brass unlike aluminum and steel returns to its original state if heat is applied. Hence annealing brass cases after they get reloaded 3 to 5 times. The reloading and firing process makes brass hard so you apply just enough heat to return it to the original state and you can get many more reloadings out of it.