Sort .380 Cases from 9mm

[Jackson]

What is the quickest, most reliable tool to sort .380 cases from 9mm brass?

I am looking for a reliable means of sorting without having to visually inspect every case.

Does anyone use these? Anyone have a better option?

Shell Sorter Brass Sorter 380 ACP Adapter Plate

"Helping reloaders save time!" The innovative design of the Shell Sorter Brass Sorter helps save tedious hours of separating the most common...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[rosejm]

 

[spencer rifle]

I use the shell sorter and it does work mostly. A few 380 still creep through, but it catches way more than my usual visual inspection does.

 

[Jackson]

Last night we loaded 3800 rounds. 39 .380 cases, 2 9x18 cases, and 2 7.62x25 cases made it on to the press.

Obviously we didn't look through this brass well enough. I think Ill try the tray unless anyone comes up with a better suggestion.

Now, if only I could get primers.

 

[tjh88]

I NEVER shoot 380 and 9mm in the same outing. Now that said, I can't control what the group shoots when we get together so it is a pain. I may have to try the tray for those times.

 

[Latewatch]

I have used the tray and it does work pretty well. That being said, I still occasionally still find a .380 case in the mix. It also doesn't catch 9mm Makarov reliably.

 

[bobjones223]

 

[schmart]

What is the quickest, most reliable tool to sort .380 cases from 9mm brass?

I am looking for a reliable means of sorting without having to visually inspect every case.

Does anyone use these? Anyone have a better option?

Shell Sorter Brass Sorter 380 ACP Adapter Plate

"Helping reloaders save time!" The innovative design of the Shell Sorter Brass Sorter helps save tedious hours of separating the most common...

www.midwayusa.com

I use a 3d printed sorter like you show to separate into general categories, but then to cull out the 380 cases I use a 45ACP plastic ammo carrier and pour the sorted cases into the top. The cases will quickly fill the box and then it is easy to see the few cases that are too short (or too long for 38 super) where you can just pick those out. I wouldn't suggest this if you have a high concentration of 380 cases mixed in, but works well for range pickup brass.
--Rick

 

[gregkl]

I use a single stage so this may not apply, but I find .380 cases when I go to size them. I don't get many, but when picking up brass, I get all kinds of stuff: 9 mm, .380, 10 mm, 45 acp, some .38 Special cases cut down to 9mm OAL?...

I pitch 380 but put the rest in bags and give them to my friends that load those other rounds.

 

[Magyars]

Pain in the ass for me.....I usually only have a couple hundred that are mixed as they come out of the tumbler.
I sort by hand, looking at each head stamp. Gives me a chance to look for defects.

 

[Jackson]

I bought this brass as a 16k lot. It was supposed to be mechanically sorted and was sold as a lot of 9mm brass. Apparently its only 99% 9mm. I would like to avoid as much tedious hand sorting as possible. Even if it cuts it by 80% that would make a big difference to me I think.

 

[sugarcreekbrass]

I also use the shell sorter trays. For me they work great. I also have the 380 insert. I sort through all the brass and then go back through the 9mm bucket with the insert. I put the insert in the yellow tray. This way there is more opening below the insert for the 380s to fall through. I'm not saying it's 100%, but it sure beats sorting hundreds of pounds by hand!

 

[Michigan Slim]

I stand them all up in a shoebox lid. Pick out the short ones.

 

[BGDave]

I use a 3d printed sorter like you show to separate into general categories, but then to cull out the 380 cases I use a 45ACP plastic ammo carrier and pour the sorted cases into the top. The cases will quickly fill the box and then it is easy to see the few cases that are too short (or too long for 38 super) where you can just pick those out. I wouldn't suggest this if you have a high concentration of 380 cases mixed in, but works well for range pickup brass.
--Rick

Same method I use. I generally flip them over into another .45 tray to check for berdan primed cases.......And rocks. And spiders. And mud......

 

[Bennettjh]

I usually stand a handful of cases up on my desk, pick out the short ones. I shoot a lot more 9 than .380 so maybe one case per handful. This tray would make it a lot faster.

 

[Volt]

This is just my opinion but inspection of brass is a very important step in my quality control process so that being said, I use my eyes because I am inspecting every case, every time anyway. If one happens to slip through my initial inspection and sorting I will catch it once I put them in the trays and looking at the from them side and picking out the shorty brass.