how many reloads?
- Thread starter bluetick
- Start date
It depends more on the calibre than anything else, full blast loads from my 300 win mag i get 5 max, from my 260 rem i have brass i've loaded 10 times no problem. Generally the more work you haev to do to the case and the bigger the boom, the shorter the life of the brass.
- Location
- big sky country
I've got 5 loads out of my remington 223 brass. Thats in an AR-15 too. I threw a few pieces away, but most are still looking good.
Another sign that shows when to pitch the brass is the primer pocket. If the primers seat real easy it is time to chuck them out. I have had Remington brass make 12-15 trips through a target rifle without a problem. I changed to Lapua about 5 years ago and have a bigger lot now. They will likely last another 6-7 years before I start pitching them.
I seem to recall one of our distinguished shooters (Kodiak99317? Leeper? Guntech? Bill Gammon?) writing about premature brass failure on one of his .308 target rifles. Seems he only got one hundred (100) reloads before some cases started to fail.
I've also read that 50 6mm BR cases will typically last the life of the barrel. so if that's 2000 rounds that's 40 reloads each, and if you visit 6mmBR.com you'll find that the phrase "moderate pressure" doesn't occur very often.
I've also read that 50 6mm BR cases will typically last the life of the barrel. so if that's 2000 rounds that's 40 reloads each, and if you visit 6mmBR.com you'll find that the phrase "moderate pressure" doesn't occur very often.
Chamber dimensions have a bit to do with brass life. If you have a chamber that is cut close to SAAMI Max dimensions, resizing works the brass a lot more than a chamber cut to SAAMI min specs. The latter will be much easier on brass, given equal pressures. I do not normally hunt with brass that has been reloaded more than 5-6 times, but I also have some 6mm Remington [ W-W] brass that is on it's 25th reload. The point a fellow poster made about primer pockets is very valid. If primers are starting to seat very easily, it is time to retire that brass. I don't know if my experience in this is unique, but it seems that Federal brass tends to loosen primer pockets quicker than any other brass I have used. In domestic brass choices, I do prefer Winchester, but in some chamberings, it is unavailable, so will go to Remington if they make it. I do like Lapua brass, but choices are limited. Regards, Eagleye.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
The firearm itself may play a role as well. For example the typical SMLE if full length resized will usually eat brass at a good rate, sometimes even once fired factory brass is junked.
Headspace issues and sloppy chambers on some rifles. Using the time honoured trick of neck sizing you can still get decent case life if you stay away from the hot stuff.
Headspace issues and sloppy chambers on some rifles. Using the time honoured trick of neck sizing you can still get decent case life if you stay away from the hot stuff.
