Cartridge Question

[Whitehorse Wayne]

Hey guys,
I'm new to reloading and had a question regarding how many times you can reload the same hand gun cartridge?
Is it safe to assume that as long as the cartridge is void of any visible defects it's good to go.

 

[fiddler]

HI Wayne, there are a lot of variables. Depends how hot you load them and whether or not they are magnums. I have some 9mm that have been loaded between 10 and 20 times. They start splitting after a while. If you load them light, they last a really long time.

 

[Steyr1]

Ditto with .38/.357 and .44mag cases.
I usually just shoot mid-loads, and some of my brass has been reloaded at least a dozen times.
Full-house loads, not so much.

 

[bugs]

I purchased a hundred 44mag brass a while back to test this out they have been fired 20 times so far with 3 case lost to neck splits. I do not use then for full power loads any more but they are ok for light loads

 

[mmattockx]

OP, what calibre and what action are you shooting them from? I have .45ACP brass that has been reloaded enough times that the head stamp has been peened off and they just keep going. .38 Special is another one that lasts near forever with the light PPC level loads I am shooting and .44 Mag seems to go ages with light loads as well.


Mark

 

[graydog]

As others have atated it will all depend on three things. How good the brass is, how good the chamber is that you are shooting it in and how hot the load is.

Graydog