223 Brass Question

[2007st1300abs]

Hello guys can you tell me how many reloads you are getting out of the 223 case?


Thanks

 

[manitou210]

30+ and no cracks or split necks, Primer pockets still okay. I just neck size,and bump back shoulders

 

[Ron AKA]

It depends on your chamber size, the brass you use, and the way you resize it. Have a look at this Lapua link. The first cartridge case they list, the .220 Russian is said to get up to 200 reloads...

Lapua Brass

 

[M77]

30+ and no cracks or split necks, Primer pockets still okay. I just neck size,and bump back shoulders

Getting pretty much the same numbers using Remington, Federal and Winchester brass. Neck sizing only on brass that has gone through my rifle.

 

[notsorichguy]

10 ish + for everything, 20 ish for some.....

I FLRS as I shoot 223 out of 5 different rifles and only one of them is a bolt gun. Granted I have about 150 brass that is 'optimized' for my bolt gun but all the AR stuff goes through a lee 1000.......

I shudder to think about how many times some of my brass has been reloaded.

I use FC, Win, RP, Nork, S&B, and whatever brass I happen to come across @ the range.......

I'm not real picky about brass in my semi-autos, as long as it chambers & goes bang.

 

[gushulak]

Have a stash of about 15K cases for 5.56mm. Can't say I've reloaded any of it more than twice so far. I am thinking the brass will all outlast me by many years.....more for the next Gunnut that gets it when I am gone.

 

[sunray]

"...how many reloads..." Depends on the load. Hot loads reduce case life.
The rifle matters somewhat too. Some semi-autos beat the cases up. A bolt action, not so much.
"...Have a stash of about 15K cases..." Geezuz! That'll keep you out of mischief for a while. Just remember that they can be used as trading goods should you need brass for another rifle.

 

[BattleRife]

Virtually all my 5.56mm gets shot in AR-15s, and I probably get less life than I do with other calibers. I see cracking after anywhere from 3-6 loadings.

 

[carbonrod]

Virtually all my 5.56mm gets shot in AR-15s, and I probably get less life than I do with other calibers. I see cracking after anywhere from 3-6 loadings.

That seems low. How is your die set? At about 10-12 loads, I don't use mine as match brass anymore, but that is just because the outside looks bad. I don't know that it shoots any different.

 

[Ngyukon]

Usually 10+, but I tend to lose the brass before then! My Swiss Arm is hard on the brass too.

 

[HeadDamage]

Once if it is federal brass, after that I can't trust it not to drop a primer in the action of the AR15. Ok for fun shooting but no good in a comp.

 

[hakx]

I'm near 25 times per brass.

 

[scout]

Once only in my Mini-14 Ranch Rifle ... as it threw the brass waaayyyy out front to the right and could not be found (close in defense mechanism against gophers rushing the firing point is my guess).

In AR's, I've had 10-15 reloads per brass, but have been finding the necks a bit tight after a few reloads. I have enough brass that this has not been a concern, throwing out the few that have cracked along the way. This is my first year with annealing, and so far, the necks feel much better (softer seating), but no range tests yet. This is in a military brand brass (SBMC - Philippines) that has had neck splits previously before annealing after several reloads.

Bolt actions - too early to determine at this point (still using brass cycled through the ARs).