Brass shells(lake)

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Cartridge brass is a type of brass alloy used in ammunition casings, including bullet casings and artillery shell casings. Casings with a diameter of 20mm or less are considered bullets, while those with a diameter greater than 20mm are considered artillery shells. They are typically used to hold gunpowder and a projectile. After use in military and shooting sports applications, the casings are often discarded, becoming scrap. Standard cartridge brass is typically made from a 70% copper, 30% zinc alloy, which is also known as "cartridge brass" or "C26000" brass. Other common types of brass include 67/33 brass and 74/26 brass, which contains 0.5% silicon. Chinese-made artillery shell and bullet casings typically have a lower copper content, around 60%, and also contain about 0.5% iron.
To accurately determine the metal content of a specific batch of cartridge brass scrap, chemical analysis is the best method. This can provide an accurate breakdown of the copper, zinc, and any other elements present. This step is crucial in the recycling and reuse process, as it can help determine the quality of the brass and the best method for reprocessing.
In the metal recycling industry, cartridge brass is highly valued due to its high copper content. During the recycling process, the casings are typically crushed or drilled to render them unusable, cleaned, and stripped of any remaining gunpowder before being sold as scrap metal.
In the ISRI naming system, cartridge brass scrap is categorized into four types:
1. Lace: Clean, fired 70/30 brass artillery shell casings without primers or other contaminants.
2. Lady: Clean, fired 70/30 brass artillery shell casings with brass primers, without other contaminants.
3. Lake: Clean, fired 70/30 brass bullet casings without projectiles, iron, or other contaminants.
4. Lamb: Clean, dented (fired) 70/30 brass casings without projectiles, iron, or other contaminants.

Discarded cartridge brass casings with holes drilled for destruction

Common Classification

Cartridge brass is primarily classified into two types based on its shape: bullet casings and artillery shell casings. Based on metal content, it can be classified into 70/30 brass and 60/40 brass. Additionally, cartridge brass can be classified by country of origin, with US-made casings typically being 70/30 brass and Chinese-made casings being 60/40 brass.

Common Sources

Cartridge brass scrap is a common type of non-ferrous metal scrap in the US and Europe, particularly in the US, where gun ownership is high. Places that consistently produce cartridge brass scrap include military bases, police departments, shooting ranges, hunting clubs, gun stores, and ammunition stores. In addition, some individuals may also collect and process their own cartridge brass scrap at recycling centers.

Value Points

The value of cartridge brass lies in its copper content or impurity rate. The cleaner the brass, the higher its value; the more impurities present, the lower its value.

Processing Methods

Cartridge brass can be either fired or unfired. Fired casings are relatively easy to process, while unfired casings require specialized handling to be converted into recyclable brass material. First, the primer must be removed, and then the casing is fed into a special furnace where the remaining gunpowder is burned off at high temperatures to ensure that the remaining brass does not contain any explosive components, which would be extremely hazardous. Some casings may also require breaking down.

Detection Methods

Brass scrap is primarily tested for its impurity rate. For suspicious shipments, a small sample (e.g., 500 kg) can be taken for testing to determine its weight.

Matching Direction

Cartridge brass is a common type of brass scrap in the US and is also produced in other parts of the world. Although the price of brass scrap is generally higher in China, cartridge brass is considered a hazardous material and is not allowed to be imported into the country as a recyclable material. As a result, cartridge brass is often sold to countries such as South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia, or processed into brass ingots before being re-imported into China.

Special Attention

Cartridge brass scrap requires special attention to its safety. Care must be taken to ensure that no live, unprocessed rounds are mixed in with the scrap, as this poses a significant risk.

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