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Author Topic: Disposing of empty primed brass and unknown powder  (Read 612 times)

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Offline huntsman

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Disposing of empty primed brass and unknown powder
« on: February 18, 2004, 02:50:24 AM »
I have some brass that is primed but unfit for use because of damage in the bullet-seating press (shoulder bulges). I also have some unknown powder from some factory rounds that were awfully inaccurate and I pulled the bullets to reload.

What is the proper way to dispose of these potentially hazardous items? I know enough to keep the primed cases and powder separate, but what do I do with them. Obviously they can't just be trhown in the trash.
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Offline Castaway

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Disposing of empty primed brass and unknown
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2004, 02:57:44 AM »
I've poured the powder on my garden before in place of fertelizer.
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Offline Questor

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Disposing of empty primed brass and unknown
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2004, 03:15:21 AM »
Why can't they be thrown in the trash? They're going into a land fill, aren't they?  Even if they're incinerated, they won't explode forcefully enough to do any damage.
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Offline Dave in WV

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Disposing of empty primed brass and unknown
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2004, 03:42:30 AM »
Dump the powder on the ground or better bury it. I've been told when dynamite gets old and unstable just burying it is safe and soaks up the nitro mix. The brass is probably best dealt with by spraying WD40 in the cases and letting them sit for a few days before dumping them.
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Offline Zcarp2

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Disposal of powder
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2004, 05:20:35 AM »
If you don't feel comfortable pouring it on the ground (wonderful source of nitrogen for plants), then make a small pile and light it with a match.  My kids love it when this happens.  MAKE SURE THAT IT IS NOT BLACK POWDER!!!  Black powder will explode or at least singe all the hair off of whatever side is facing the pile at the time of ignition.  Had a less wise acquaintence that did this with one (1) pound of black powder (and lived!).

Don't lean over the pile to light it either.

The empty case with primers can be discharged in you gun.  The disposed of as normal spent primers.  The WD-40 works great too.
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Zcarp2

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Offline huntsman

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Disposing of empty primed brass and unknown
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2004, 09:33:23 AM »
Thanks for the advice, guys!

Extra fertilizer is always nice to have, so that's easy enough. By the way, I can't chamber the primed cases, as they are squashed outward at the shoulder. But the WD-40 is possible. Why does this help? I just don't want a primer going off on the garbage folks on the way to the landfill.
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Offline Dave in WV

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Disposing of empty primed brass and unknown
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2004, 01:53:37 PM »
The WD40 penetrates the primer compound and breaks it down but it takes a few days.
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