Pistol brass failure rate?

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I reload a LOT of 9mm. I have started to notice a couple of split cases lately, so I figure I'm reaching the total reload lifespan of the brass. So I wonder if anyone has a real world round count before failure that you stick to?

Now of the 5 split 9mm cases I have, 4 happen to be winchester, and 1 is blazer. I have had some issues in the past reloading winchester rifle cases, so in general I avoid them.

So do you guys keep track of number of reload cycles for pistol brass, and if so, how do you do it for large batches? Right now I sort of have them in 5 gallon pails, and sort of just cycle the pails as they empty out. I know 9mm isn't that $ if you buy in bulk lots, but even if I save 2-5₵ on each round, it adds up.
 
Not sure about semis, but I shot my 44Mag cases until they split. Crimped every load, I would get 1-2 splits out of 50 after 10 or so reloads. Max book loads.
 
Okay, good to know. I guess I'll just spend a wee bit extra time examining the brass after it's cleaned. Some of those cases are from as far back as the 80s, I've just been scooping them up forever. My grandfather was a reloader, but I can't recall if he ever gave any advice on keeping count of how many times things were reloaded...
 
I run them until they split or the primer pockets wear out. 10+ Maybe even 20. Semi and Revolver.
 
My experience is splits in straight wall pistol cases are exceedingly rare. I would speculate that any that occur are due to some to microscopic flaw that grew with loading. I would not consider a failure in one or even a few to be an indicator that the whole lot was on the verge of the same fate. Shoot 'em until they fail.
 
I haven’t reloaded very much myself yet but I have picked up at ton of brass, including some from other people who have reloaded quite a bit (mixed in with the factory once fired people leave), and I’ve seen exactly two cases of 9mm in several tens of thousands of pieces split.
 
I have some 9mm cases that have been reloaded so many times there are extractor and ejector marks all the way around and the headstamps are almost illegible.

Auggie D.
 
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Hmm, I never thought of the possibility...some of these cases could well be from other shooters, and really who knows how many times some of them have been reloaded. It's just weird that in ~20 years of reloading I have never come across 1, much less multiple, split cases. I also don't think I've come across a loose primer pocket yet, usually they are either just right, or very seldom, there's a crimp to deal with. Good info guys, much appreciated. I guess I'll just carry on as usual, keep better watch, and just make sure I don't just have a gun with questionable headspace or something. I have recently switched to cfe pistol powder from titegroup (I find it just groups way better for me), but I haven't seen any cratered primers or anything like that.
 
Auggie Doggie said:
I have some 9mm cses that have been readed so many times there are extractor and ejector marks all the way around and the headstamps are almost illegible.

Auggie D.
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Good to know. I always had it in my head that smooth walled cases were more or less good forever. I don't even trim them like I have to on the bottleneck cases. Just figured it was worth asking and see if maybe there was a known failpoint that I had just never known about :)
 
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If you have been reloading the same brass for thirty years or more I wouldn't worry too much about a definitive number on how many times it can be reloaded.

“A brass case may be used dozens, sometimes over a hundred times. It is the most expensive component in the cartridge.”

Excerpt From: Rodney James. “The ABCs of Reloading.” Apple Books.
 
I just keep reloading all the brass I pick up (some of which is mine, some is random range droppings) and I do a inspection of all cases before I load them. My inspection consists of rolling a handful of cases between my hands a few times, listening for the distinct sound that a split one makes.

I've never had to not load or dispose of a 9mm case due to loose primer pocket.
 
adamg said:
I just keep reloading all the brass I pick up (some of which is mine, some is random range droppings) and I do a inspection of all cases before I load them. My inspection consists of rolling a handful of cases between my hands a few times, listening for the distinct sound that a split one makes.

I've never had to not load or dispose of a 9mm case due to loose primer pocket.
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No, talking more .45 large primer and some over-used .40 S & W.
 
Meroh said:
No, talking more .45 large primer and some over-used .40 S & W.
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Ugh, not sure who started using small primers on .45, but it sure made brass salvaging a lot tougher.

Anyone prefer the small primers on .45acp? I have a tub of small primer pocket brass, but I still use large primer pockets just because....
 
[/QUOTE]“A brass case may be used dozens, sometimes over a hundred times. It is the most expensive component in the cartridge.”

Excerpt From: Rodney James. “The ABCs of Reloading.” Apple Books.[/QUOTE]

Hornady has some pretty expensive projectiles now! lol
 
I only shoot pistol but apply that principal. I have 1000 pieces of brass in rotation for 357 and 44. As one splits I’ll replace it with a new piece of brass.
 
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