[harmonic]

When they show signs of fatigue? When they fail? Or after a certain number of loads?

My revolver loads are loaded somewhere between minimum and mid range, so I just pay attention to case wear.

My 45 auto loads are loaded so as to ensure reliable function in the gun. My most recent 45 loads (200 grain SWC w/5 grains Unique) wouldn't cycle my 220ST and created some jams in my Combat Commander. So now I've loaded some with 6 grains Unique. Since I'm loading them closer to factory specs, I'm thinking maybe I should just discard them after 'X' number of loads?

What say ye?

[rcmodel]

I load handgun brass until I lose them in the weeds, or the neck splits.

Rifle brass is used until I can feel a stretch ring forming inside the case with a bent wire "feeler".

If you load rifle brass until it fails, you could be in for,

A Series of Unfortunate Events. :what:

rcmodel

[Marlin 45 carbine]

pistol brass I examine often and when neck splits negin I load it lightly once again and put it with my 'poor brass loads' that I shoot the 'shoot&scoot' with and leave it laying.
rifle brass I examine and when the shoulder has been set back twice I ditch it. sometimes neck splits occur before that, Winchester is bad for this. I have Lapua brass that I've loaded 6 times and still looks good.

[Shoney]

I agree with Count Olaf (rc).

On pistol brass, those I persanally have that are one-fired, I shoot them twice with heavy or +P loads, then retire them to target loads.

[Halo]

My experience with pistol brass is that you usually lose them before they reach the point of being retired.

[Mike Franklin]

When I start getting a split case every 50 rounds or so. I shoot SAAs so don't l;oose a lot. Right now I'm loading shooting and throwing away. New brass lasts me a good while so buying more every 8 years or so is not a big expense.

[UpTheHill]

pistol brass, until they split or get lost, which is usually the case.

on a side note.
Halo's Location: says "NC - the Massachusetts of the South"
NC can't possibly be THAT screwed up can it?

[Walkalong]

rcmodel got it on the first try. ;)

[Halo]

on a side note.
Halo's Location: says "NC - the Massachusetts of the South"
NC can't possibly be THAT screwed up can it?

Compared to the other southern states, North Carolina is overregulated, overtaxed, and the state government is so stubbornly resistant to deregulation "just because" (mostly the executive branch). I'm sure it has a long way to go before it's really as bad as Mass., but it's quite an anomaly among the southern states.

[docgary]

Its an excellent question!

If you wait until you see obvious neck or head defects you may be looking at a seperation on the next shot!

I only shoot .223 rem with my custom AR15 - (Krieger match chamber)

I had a rather cavilier (sp?) attitude towards retiring brass -

As long as they looked OK - reload!

That was until I had a case head seperation a few months back!

I had a bit of powder burns on my face (gas venting from the CH) and the floor of the carrier blew out.

Now, my brass is 99% Win which I retire after 3 -4 cycles.

On occasion, I pick up Nosler or Lapua -
these I fire until defects are apparent - but I feel over 6-7 cycles are pushing it!

The AR platform is tough on brass! And I'd rather be safe than sorry....

1000 Win brass with a coupla 100 Lapua, Nosler will last me, say, 4500 to 5000 reloads....

good enough for me!

Good luck!

docgary

[evan price]

Pistol brass? Until I lose them.

[Afy]

I havent had to discard brass yet... :eek:

I shoot bolt actions.
Generally neck size only...

Have about 300 cases per caliber right now... except for 8x60S where I only have 100.

The 8x60 is on its fifth reload... and the only one that gets semi-full resized each time. I am going to try and anneal them after this round...

The .300 WM cases are on their 2nd round...
The .222 RM on Second
.260 on their 2nd/3rd...

I expect to get about 8-10 reloads per case...

[nambu1]

When the case split on pistol brass and when the primers will not seat firmly, stretch marks or neck splits on rifle brass.