Gents - I've obviously stirred up a hornets nest. The point in question relates to the potential benefits of case segregation by firings. For an experienced reloader, as H4831 et al state, this is un-neccesary as their inspection regimen allows them to monitor case integrity, and their reloading regimen minimizes excessive case expansion and cumulative metal fatigue.
However, for a 20-and-some year old newbie reloader (and there are a lot of them thanks to the internet) case segregation by firings will, as a minimum, give them the opportunity to keep track of the number of firings. Setting a conservative limit to the number of firings is an appropriate method to mitigate the risk of case failure, as reloading manuals suggest.
I follow this approach. I segregate by firings and brand for convenience - using the 50 rd MTM cases. All cases go through firing and reloading cycles together, such that I can keep track of the number of sizings. I load several calibers, from 303 to 8 mm Mauser. I do my best to eliminate case expansion by partial resizing to my tightest chamber - I'm loading for several rifles in each caliber. In calibers like 303, case life is short - I limit to two resizings. For the other rimless cases, I go up to 4 resizings, unless inspection dictates otherwise.
I understand that I could get more use out of my brass. However, given the extra time spent managing my brass, and the reloading economies realized, its not worth the risk for me. Additionally, I hunt with my reloads, so I dont want to run the risk of a case failure in the field.
Each to his own... I dont care whether I prevail in this discussion. I would hope that by presenting varying points of view, those newbie reloaders will benefit in some way, and manage the risk of reloading in an informed manner.
However, for a 20-and-some year old newbie reloader (and there are a lot of them thanks to the internet) case segregation by firings will, as a minimum, give them the opportunity to keep track of the number of firings. Setting a conservative limit to the number of firings is an appropriate method to mitigate the risk of case failure, as reloading manuals suggest.
I follow this approach. I segregate by firings and brand for convenience - using the 50 rd MTM cases. All cases go through firing and reloading cycles together, such that I can keep track of the number of sizings. I load several calibers, from 303 to 8 mm Mauser. I do my best to eliminate case expansion by partial resizing to my tightest chamber - I'm loading for several rifles in each caliber. In calibers like 303, case life is short - I limit to two resizings. For the other rimless cases, I go up to 4 resizings, unless inspection dictates otherwise.
I understand that I could get more use out of my brass. However, given the extra time spent managing my brass, and the reloading economies realized, its not worth the risk for me. Additionally, I hunt with my reloads, so I dont want to run the risk of a case failure in the field.
Each to his own... I dont care whether I prevail in this discussion. I would hope that by presenting varying points of view, those newbie reloaders will benefit in some way, and manage the risk of reloading in an informed manner.
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