I inspect every case I reload, so sorting is just a matter of where I drop the case, which pile, I just looked at. For a load work up, I sort by headstamp, both rifle and pistol brass. After I find the "perfect" load I'll relax my "standards" and often use mixed brass. If some aspect of the load is worsened, I may go back to sorting as a part of trouble shooting. But I have been reloading 38 Specials since '69, 44 Magnum since '87 and rifle rounds since '88, and have found for my shooting needs, mixed brass is acceptable. The only caveat being military rifle brass, which I keep separate by headstamp...