For those of you that consider yourselves “preppers”, we know that maximizing resources is a critical aspect of successful survival planning. Among those resources, spent ammunition – both bullets and shotgun shells – often gets overlooked. However, the leftover casings from your firearms can serve a myriad of practical purposes beyond their initial use. This guide introduces you to the concept of survival-oriented applications for spent casings and shells, demonstrating how they can be transformed from mere waste to valuable tools in a survival scenario. Not only should you save your brass for potential reloading, but understanding and being aware of the strategies below, you’ll be taking another step towards self-sufficiency and preparedness. All calibers of cartridges and shotgun shells, the most commonly expended resources, leave behind spent casings. These items should not be disposed of without consideration due to the potential reutilization strategies. This article aims to highlight the most effective methods for repurposing these abundant materials.
While the most direct and arguably most efficient use of these spent brass casings is for reloading ammunition, one must bear in mind that in a true survival situation, the means for reloading may not be accessible. Having a set of alternative uses for these materials can prove to be crucial. The transformation of what might be perceived as waste into a valuable survival tool is a skill worth its weight in gold when it comes to self-sufficiency and preparedness. Spent handgun ammo or rifle ammo can both be used. However, you probably need to consider size differences before you decide the best of use of each cartridge’s brass.
In light of this, every spent cartridge and shotgun shell – the leftovers from each shot fired – should be seen as a precious resource, rather than mere waste. The methods and strategies we will outline in this guide aim to provide insight into the most effective ways of repurposing these spent casings and shells, further bolstering your survival toolkit. Remember, in the world of survival, nothing is truly waste until you’ve exhausted all possibilities for repurposing.
Repurposing Brass Casings for Other Uses
Brass, characterized by its malleability, lends itself to easy manipulation. Its usefulness spans beyond decorative applications, proving highly effective in the construction of seals and bearings for machinery. It is non-sparking, making it suitable for environments housing combustible fuel sources. Furthermore, its low melting point facilitates easy recasting. Cutting brass can be achieved with any robust blade or saw. Smoothing can be accomplished via grinding, filing, or by friction against a rough surface such as concrete. To achieve a flat brass sheet, the closed primer end is removed and subsequently hammered until flat. Holes can be added using a standard drill bit or by puncturing with a sharp implement.
Repurposing Spent Shotgun Shells
Shotgun shells – these cylindrical marvels aren’t just your everyday shot deliverers or bird slayers. They’re made mostly of plastic, which makes them ideal candidates for some handy cut and splice work. What’s the tool for the job? Good old sharp blade, the sharper the better. Just give it a nice, firm swipe right above the brass, and voila – plastic and brass go their separate ways.
Want a cleaner, more precise separation? Bring out the heat. Not a flamethrower, just an everyday household iron. You know, the one that crisps your shirts and maybe occasionally fries your bacon (don’t actually try that at home). Flip that bad boy upside down and use it as a makeshift stove top to heat up the brass part of the shell.
Take it slow, don’t rush it. Gentle, even heat should do the trick, making the plastic easy to pull free from its metallic counterpart. But remember – safety first! Before you get all hot and heavy with your iron, make sure the shell is free from any remnants. No one wants a surprise mini firework show in their workspace. All clean? Alright, you’re ready to repurpose some shotgun shells!
Applications for Repurposed Casings and Shotgun Shells
Following are the functional applications that can be adopted for repurposed casings and shells:
- Signal Flares: Transform long, brass casings into survival whistles, perfect for signaling in the wild or hailing a distant companion.
- Wasteland Bling: Polish those spent casings into unique trinkets like necklaces, rings, or bracelets. After all, personal flair might come in handy for bartering in a pinch.
- Flame Igniters: Fill a spent shotgun shell with wax and a wick to create a handy fire starter or makeshift candle – perfect for those low-light scenarios.
- Practical Key Holders: Brass casings serve as robust, eye-catching keychains – because losing keys is a hassle, apocalypse or not.
- Zipper Facilitators: Use small casings as zipper pulls, adding a dash of rugged style to any gear.
- Custom Cutlery: Flatten and shape a brass casing, affix it to a blade, and voila, you’ve got a one-of-a-kind knife handle.
- Aquatic Weights: Repurpose brass casings as fishing sinkers by filling them with sand and sealing the ends – dinner’s on you tonight!
- Wind Whisperers: String together large casings to create wind chimes that double as tripwire alarms or wind direction markers.
- Plant Identifiers: Use flattened casings as durable garden markers, ensuring your post-apocalyptic green thumb doesn’t get confused.
- Handy Shims: Those thin brass sheets from flattened casings can fill in gaps in equipment or woodworking projects.
- Primitive Projectiles: Fashion arrowheads from flattened, sharpened brass casings – primitive hunting, here you come.
- Tight Seals: Create effective seals for hard metal equipment using soft brass – no leaks on your watch.
- Friction Reducers: Employ brass as bearings in machinery to prevent damaging metal-on-metal contact.
- Quick Fix Buttons: Repurpose the primer end of a casing into a makeshift button – your clothing repairs just got an upgrade.
- Handy Map Pins: Stick casings onto push pins for easy map marking – and lessen the chances of those pesky pins finding their way into your foot.
- Cord Protectors: Utilize brass casings as grommets for tarps to prevent fray when attached to cordage – because durability is key.
Regardless of whether you plan on reloading your spent shells or repurposing them down the line, you can always buy your ammunition on sale at KIRAmmo.com. We carry the most reputable brands of ammunition and offer fast shipping on all ammunition purchases!
A variety of practical applications exist for spent brass casings and shotgun shells. Initiative is required to execute these projects effectively. Collection of spent casings and shells is advised as a standard operational procedure. In the event of a survival situation, these repurposed materials may be critical for operational success.