In my Ballard .25-25 Stevens, I have been using the RCM turned cases with good results.  I bought a quantity of original WRA marked .25-25 brass.  Of the 40 so cases, I found two with the bottom of primer pocket gone.  Started me thinking perhaps mercuric primers had been fired.  I annealed all the other cases.  There is no green colored corrosion, however, some cases have copper colored splotches in places..others are nice clean brass.  When annealing, when the flame hit the copper colored areas, a greenish colored flame was seen.  I am wondering if cases are starting to de-laminate or some type of corrosion causing copper to leach out of brass alloy?  I am thinking it might not be wise to shoot those cases..but what about the clean ones?  Since the Ballard is a cast action, I am only using straight real black (Swiss & Olde Eynsford).  What do you guys think?  Is it worth the risk using these old cases..or should I stick with the modern turned RCM?  Thanks!

Some common Cu compounds turn flames green, which is a standard flame test for Cu, although numerous other chemicals can also give green flames.

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In the big bend of Texas, copper ore is the mineral Malachite, a very green ore, occasionally found with Azurite, a silver ore in a pretty blue.  These are colorful rocks.  It looks like old brass sometimes tries to return to nature, but this is usually only superficial.  An old cartridge collector told me to just scrub it with a steel wire brush and most of the discoloration will wipe away.  If it doesn't clean up and leaves a deep corroded spot, then I might want a mild load for that one.  Color itself doesn't mean much, I shot dirty discolored 30-06 for years without problems.

James