I understand there are many factors which determine how many times you can reload brass but I'm interested in hearing your experiences with different brands. I plan on reloading 7.62x54r from spent factory rounds so if anyone has any particular knowledge with that cartridge that would help too. Generally though, I'd just like to hear about how many reloads you've been able to get out of casings.
Number of reloads from factory ammo
- Thread starter JDTonken
- Start date
Load them hot (!) get one reload. Load light, last almost indefinitly.
I have read of guys using the same individual case, for multiple seasons of competition, when breech seating black powder loads with cast bullets. Mostly in calibers that were stupid hard to find cases for in the first place, like 25-25 Stevens, or the smallbore Maynard cartridges, Scheutzen shooting.
I've seen a lot of brass go into the bin because someone pushed too hard on the first reload.
Reload until the condition is too poor to keep going.
Cheers
Trev
I have read of guys using the same individual case, for multiple seasons of competition, when breech seating black powder loads with cast bullets. Mostly in calibers that were stupid hard to find cases for in the first place, like 25-25 Stevens, or the smallbore Maynard cartridges, Scheutzen shooting.
I've seen a lot of brass go into the bin because someone pushed too hard on the first reload.
Reload until the condition is too poor to keep going.
Cheers
Trev
Bolt action only!
Brass new to your gun full length resize, then neck size for the next 4 reloads. Then you have to full length resize again. Then you have to anneal the case necks and shoulders. Neck size for the next 4 reloads, full length resize, anneal and so on and so on. Some people profess to shooting the same brass 30+ times.
If you don't do all this it could be toast in 6 - 8 reloads. My 270 semi auto, that requires I full length resize it each time, toasts the brass in 8 reloads or less.
Another note is to watch out for berdan primed cases, looking down in case seeing two small holes. Most people only reload Boxer primed cases, looking down in case seeing one hole.
Brass new to your gun full length resize, then neck size for the next 4 reloads. Then you have to full length resize again. Then you have to anneal the case necks and shoulders. Neck size for the next 4 reloads, full length resize, anneal and so on and so on. Some people profess to shooting the same brass 30+ times.
If you don't do all this it could be toast in 6 - 8 reloads. My 270 semi auto, that requires I full length resize it each time, toasts the brass in 8 reloads or less.
Another note is to watch out for berdan primed cases, looking down in case seeing two small holes. Most people only reload Boxer primed cases, looking down in case seeing one hole.
JohnC
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
about 10 years ago i got 6 reloads ( medium) out of 7.62 x 54R brass fired in a Mosin-Nagant. They were starting to get thin around the neck though. I was going to try for more get more but I stopped when Berdan surplus became available
Brass life?
I am playing with this very subject...
although I reload a lot of different calibers, I have picked the 223 and the 22/250.. basically because bullets are cheaper...
in the past I have been getting 8 to 12 reloads out of brass, before I have a neck or web split on me...
I break all my brass into lots of 10 to 20, put them in a ziplock bag with a 3 x 5 card that logs their history...
I have recently started using the Lee Collet Dies a lot more to just neck size, although you can also neck size with a full length die...but the Collet Die is more symetrical...
I have also learned about a nifty die from Redding, a Body Die.. bumps the shoulder back without doing do to the neck.. and doesn't touch the neck...
I have also learned to anneal a simple way.. and in small quantities for this experiment..
with all of those parameters being said... right now I have a batch of Rem 223 brass that has just had its 30th reload... I annealed at 25 reloads, and applied the Redding Body Die to the cases at 15th and 25th times... these are being shot in a Rem ADL rifle...
the 22.250 brass is Winchester.. they have ran 25 reloads at the moment.. and the Redding Body Die has been used at the 10th and 20th reloading.. the load on this rifle, is light enough, that I only have to deprime for next use as the neck has not expanded enough to need resizing, except every 5th reload...the Brass is Winchester.. and the rifle is a Model 70 in 22.250 with a custom aftermarket barrel.. this rifle was bought used and has had 5 other barrels on it by its original owner.. a man in his 80s, but a former national high power champion on the US side of the border...
I am finding out alsohow important it is to analyse your velocity needs for the application... also to check load data to see what powders also may generate less pressure for that MV than say another powder...
my motivation for this experiment is concern over component availability.. you never know what governments are going to do with regards to firearms and hunting...
Lapua's web site had a claim that they have reloaded some of their brass over 300 times!
well If I can count on getting 50 to 75 reloads out of a piece of brass, then I am set for most of my life time... heck even the 30 reloads is looking awfully good...
but I can say, a Redding Body Die for $22.00 and a Lee Collet Die , which costs less... is a pretty darn good investment for stretching out case life big time.. It works the brass less, much less.. resulting instantly in longer brass life...
seafire
I am playing with this very subject...
although I reload a lot of different calibers, I have picked the 223 and the 22/250.. basically because bullets are cheaper...
in the past I have been getting 8 to 12 reloads out of brass, before I have a neck or web split on me...
I break all my brass into lots of 10 to 20, put them in a ziplock bag with a 3 x 5 card that logs their history...
I have recently started using the Lee Collet Dies a lot more to just neck size, although you can also neck size with a full length die...but the Collet Die is more symetrical...
I have also learned about a nifty die from Redding, a Body Die.. bumps the shoulder back without doing do to the neck.. and doesn't touch the neck...
I have also learned to anneal a simple way.. and in small quantities for this experiment..
with all of those parameters being said... right now I have a batch of Rem 223 brass that has just had its 30th reload... I annealed at 25 reloads, and applied the Redding Body Die to the cases at 15th and 25th times... these are being shot in a Rem ADL rifle...
the 22.250 brass is Winchester.. they have ran 25 reloads at the moment.. and the Redding Body Die has been used at the 10th and 20th reloading.. the load on this rifle, is light enough, that I only have to deprime for next use as the neck has not expanded enough to need resizing, except every 5th reload...the Brass is Winchester.. and the rifle is a Model 70 in 22.250 with a custom aftermarket barrel.. this rifle was bought used and has had 5 other barrels on it by its original owner.. a man in his 80s, but a former national high power champion on the US side of the border...
I am finding out alsohow important it is to analyse your velocity needs for the application... also to check load data to see what powders also may generate less pressure for that MV than say another powder...
my motivation for this experiment is concern over component availability.. you never know what governments are going to do with regards to firearms and hunting...
Lapua's web site had a claim that they have reloaded some of their brass over 300 times!
well If I can count on getting 50 to 75 reloads out of a piece of brass, then I am set for most of my life time... heck even the 30 reloads is looking awfully good...
but I can say, a Redding Body Die for $22.00 and a Lee Collet Die , which costs less... is a pretty darn good investment for stretching out case life big time.. It works the brass less, much less.. resulting instantly in longer brass life...
seafire
I have 222Remington Dominion brass that has been reloaded over 50 times over the last 45 years. When Valcartier Industries took over from CIL some of their case necks were split in the factory box before they were fired the first time. I have noticed large variance in brass quality in the same brand.My 222REM. brass has never been aneald.
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I would say it is unloadable, for me at least. Normally when there are 2 flashholes they are off center and I have no dies that will resize that.
Maybe someone else can chime in?
Well, actually, it can be reloaded, but it is a bit of a pain. I have a hydraulic decapper for 308, and can deprime Berdan 308/7.62 cases easily and quickly. But, except for certain experimetal reasons, I would not bother.
I have one caliber in which the only brass made is Berdan. I decap it with a little prick tool that looks a bit like a bottle opener. A pain, but the only way to load the brass.
For a 7.62x54, just contact Hirsch Precision and buy 100 Lapua cases. They are boxerprimed and easy to decap. Will cost around $75 and if you neck size, as explained above, will last a very long time. If you avoid full power loads, 25 reloads is doable.
I have one caliber in which the only brass made is Berdan. I decap it with a little prick tool that looks a bit like a bottle opener. A pain, but the only way to load the brass.
For a 7.62x54, just contact Hirsch Precision and buy 100 Lapua cases. They are boxerprimed and easy to decap. Will cost around $75 and if you neck size, as explained above, will last a very long time. If you avoid full power loads, 25 reloads is doable.
i just started reloading 9mm and it seems pretty easy on the brass havent relaoded them many times yet but ive been told they can go up to 20-30 relaods
i kno rifle brass is alot shorter lifespan depending on the gun my ag-42b in 6.5X55 sweede like to demolish the necks on brass sometimes....that if you can find them
i kno rifle brass is alot shorter lifespan depending on the gun my ag-42b in 6.5X55 sweede like to demolish the necks on brass sometimes....that if you can find them
