How to mark brass?

[MH357]

I have two different 223 rifles that I shoot at the range with friends. I would like to find a way to mark my brass to seperate them from which rifle I shot them from and to sepearte them from my firend rifle. They are all autos. Any suggestions other than a brass catcher? All are remington brass except what might be left behind by others.

Thanks,
Mike

[gumpokc]

The only thing i can think of that i would do, would be to take all brass for one rifle, get some enamal paint and paint inside the "remington" imprints one color, and another for the second batch.

once dry, it should run or flake out ( and if it does not all at once and can be reapplied) and should not cause any problem operationally.

anyone else have any ideas?

you could probably use crayons to fill the indentions too, but i think that would come out to easily, once that enamal is in, it's in.
Heat will only bake it in better.

[Allen]

I just use a perminent marker on the back end of the case. Use different colors and/ or designs.

Allen

[Terry Blauwkamp]

Originally posted by Allen
I just use a perminent marker on the back end of the case. Use different colors and/ or designs.

Allen

Me too. I have deveopled my own "code" of colors and markings to tell me how old and if I should dump the cases after fireing.

[skeet]

I have 3 of those inked stamp pads in different colors and all I do is stamp the case on the pad and put them in a box. Dries fairly quick and very quick to do. Mine only cost about 3 bucks at Wally world

[denton]

I use a spring loaded centerpunch to put a little mark inside the headstamp. That way, it's permanent.

[PJgunner]

Well, the punch idea has some merit. Color coding is a wash as the first time you timble the brass, the color is long gone.
I have two rifles in .223. A Kimber 84 and a custon job built on a Ruger #1. The Kimber gets Winchester brass and the Ruger gets Remington brass. That's about as simple as it can be.
Paul B.

[Allen]

The color does come off in the tumbler, that is fine with me. Not only do the marks help me to tell my brass from others, it also shows me which load is which if there is more than one. If I am trying different loads, there is a card with the ammo to remind me what they are. After cleaning I just add new marks for the next load.

I have a question about the punch marks because I dont know. Is there any danger of case failure or gun damage due to the punch mark? I guess not because of the people that already use that method. Just a question.

Allen

[Rapier]

Use cold blue, it will turn brass black. Birchwood also bottles the stuff as Brass Black, same price. Just take a Q-tip and color one set of cartridge bases black. It will last for about 10 cleanings.
Ed

[BILLY D.]

I used to use nail polish. But then it didn't match my lipstick and ruined the whole color co-ordination concept. Didn't go with my boots either.

I then used the stamp pad trick and the coloring stayed in the imprinted parts of the casing. But you have to re-stamp after each use.

Bill

[Nat]

Scrumdidliyumpious!!

[MH357]

Cold blue sounds good the whole case would be a different color, easy to spot. Would the chemicals possibly make the brass brittle?

Mike H

[Rapier]

Mike,
I never tried coloring the entire case. I just applied the cold blue to the bottom of my segregated brass. After firing, you throw it into a box and it is very obvious which is which.
Ed

[moneychanger]

i use to run into the same thing with my 270s, then i decided to full size everything that way i'm not worried about what case goes into what rifle.

the only other thing mite be dedicate cases by manufacturer or use dedicated primers such as winc hester in one rifle and federals or cci in the other. no worry about color differences.

good luck ,dan