Brass
- Thread starter jobbass
- Start date
One less than when it fails.
Seriously, you should inspect your brass each and every time for obvious out of round, split, dented, oversize, undersize, bulging or otherwise mangled. It is really not that difficult to detect something wrong, even on a progressive press. As to how many times you can reload it depends on a whole bunch of things such as the original brass type, the number of loads it has already had, how hot those loads were, the amount of neck resizing done, etc. There is no hard and fast rule. Most people I have read when writing about reloading will reload brass until it is shows some signs of having a problem. Most recommend crushing the casing prior to discarding so that it doesn't inadvertently get used.
Seriously, you should inspect your brass each and every time for obvious out of round, split, dented, oversize, undersize, bulging or otherwise mangled. It is really not that difficult to detect something wrong, even on a progressive press. As to how many times you can reload it depends on a whole bunch of things such as the original brass type, the number of loads it has already had, how hot those loads were, the amount of neck resizing done, etc. There is no hard and fast rule. Most people I have read when writing about reloading will reload brass until it is shows some signs of having a problem. Most recommend crushing the casing prior to discarding so that it doesn't inadvertently get used.
stevesummit
CGN Regular
- Location
- spruce grove
i found that for 9 mm i could do about 1000 for 120 with lead
I reload for rifle only, but don't find I save any money, however, I do shoot way more! That and the notion that I can load a round that is customized to my respective rifles, makes it more worthwhile.
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
It depends on the round and how you load it.
I don't think I have had a non-magnum handgun caliber case fail. You lose them, you step on them, you have the mouth get buggered by striking the edge of a die, but shooting-wise, they seem to go forever.
Bottleneck rifle cases that are full-length resized may start to split around the 4th firing if they are not annealed. If you anneal regularly and do not shoot hot loads, I have heard that you may get 20 or more loadings.
I have never tracked any of my brass long enough to say what the most I have gotten out of it is.
I don't think I have had a non-magnum handgun caliber case fail. You lose them, you step on them, you have the mouth get buggered by striking the edge of a die, but shooting-wise, they seem to go forever.
Bottleneck rifle cases that are full-length resized may start to split around the 4th firing if they are not annealed. If you anneal regularly and do not shoot hot loads, I have heard that you may get 20 or more loadings.
I have never tracked any of my brass long enough to say what the most I have gotten out of it is.
- Location
- In the middle of gopher country
I have 22-250 brass that has been loaded over 40 times. But, I am not a hotrodder loader. Keep the loads reasonably tame and the brass lasts longer.
Cheers
Cheers
Case life
I've got some Norma .308 brass that I've loaded over 40 times. I partially neck size (never push the shoulder back), I load moderate loads and I anneal when I can feel the neck is getting hard (stiffer withdrawing the sizer).
I've got some Norma .308 brass that I've loaded over 40 times. I partially neck size (never push the shoulder back), I load moderate loads and I anneal when I can feel the neck is getting hard (stiffer withdrawing the sizer).
Just had some brand new Winchester brass in 7-08 do that, bag of 50 5 or 6 were sloppy loose, one primer fell out after seating the bullet, tried a diff brand of primer loose too. So how many reloads depends on the brass as much as the strength of the load.
- Location
- In the middle of gopher country
- Location
- In the middle of gopher country
Not to be a horse's a$$ here, but what does annealing have to do with primer pockets staying tight?
Or is this referring to loads at reasonable pressures?
Clear up my confusion, thanks
Cheers?
Or is this referring to loads at reasonable pressures?
Clear up my confusion, thanks
Cheers?
Parsing the sentence, the order of the verbs, is reflected in the order of the results. 
Thus,
If you anneal regularly, say every ten reloads or so, .........necks will not split,
and keep loads at reasonable pressures, .........primer pockets will stay tight,
and brass can last indefintely!
You got it right!
Thus,
If you anneal regularly, say every ten reloads or so, .........necks will not split,
and keep loads at reasonable pressures, .........primer pockets will stay tight,
and brass can last indefintely!
You got it right!
I do not count my time reloading as I really enjoy doing it. All my shooting/hunting buddies really enjoy my time doing it also
I never considered the cost of reloads versus factory. I shoot way more then I ever would if I only shot factory ammo. I do not save any money but I do get to shoot a lot and every rifle I own has at least one load that shoots better than any factory ammo I have tried in said rifle.
I find that my Rem and Win brass lasts a long time, but the Federal brass seems softer and I only get a couple loads and the primer pocket is loose.
I've got 1000 pieces of .308 brass, so after 10 or 15 loadings I'll toss them, they're not expensive. You really save the $$ when loading premium bullets for hunting as opposed to buying factory rounds at $40-$50 per box.
I've got 1000 pieces of .308 brass, so after 10 or 15 loadings I'll toss them, they're not expensive. You really save the $$ when loading premium bullets for hunting as opposed to buying factory rounds at $40-$50 per box.
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I am expecting to save upwards of 1/2 the cost of factory ammo and come out with a better product. As it is also a hobby I do not count the time as cost simply because I am learning something that will benefit me. Most of my brass cost me nothing and I buy bullets off of the EE regularly. Hope that puts it in perspective for you. The only hobby I have that pays for my time is my woodwork shop and that buys my guns and flyfishing stuff. Works for me and the old lady is happy with that too.
