[SHusky57]

Starting to think about reloading to save money....
How many times can you reload pistol brass? Some people I have heard say forever.... after a few loads run it through the tumbler and it is as good as new.

I'm getting a Lone wolf barrel for my G21 that I compete with and it would save me a lot of money over the long run.

[tasco 74]

i reload my .357 magnum brass and .38 spl brass until it splits at the case mouth... or splits anywhere.... i don't think running brass i a tumbler will make any difference in case life unless you run them for days on end... i friend of mine had a couple of coins in his tumbler and they were just metal discs..... all the detail was gone but they were in that tumbler for days .... he lft them in for a couple years i think as he tumbled his brass just to see how long it would take for such a thing to happen....

LIFE IS SHORT.....

[1moa@500]

It all depends on how much you crimp, and how hot the loads are. I have a seperate set of brass for max loads so I monitor more closely. All the rest i load till it splits

[SciFiJim]

On .45acp with light reloads you will loose the brass or wear out the primer pocket before splitting the mouth of the case. I know of some brass that has been reloaded much you can no longer read the head stamp that still functions fine.

[rondog]

If I ever manage to load up all of the brass I have now, I seriously doubt I'll ever be able to shoot it all up to need to load it all again. I've got WAY too much brass. It'll make a helluva stash if I ever get it all stuffed.

[evan price]

I don't even bother to sort my pistol brass except to remove the nickel from autopistol brass. God only knows how many times they've been shot. I've got .45 acp from WWI era.

I shot about 800 rounds of .45 last month, one of them had split when I picked it up (REM-UMC headstamped split down the middle). About 500 rounds of .38 special, had two case failures (One R-P split down the middle, one Winchester had a tiny case mouth crack). About 500 rounds 9mm, had two lost for good and one that failed (A-MERC split down the middle).

I actually lose more than I have fail, I just try to go home with more brass than I left with whenever I go to the range to offset those losses.

[SHusky57]

I'm not plan on making any hot loads, and I plan on using brass for as long as possible.

Besides putting a lone wolf barrel in my glock, and avoiding double charges, anything I need to know to keep from blowing myself up?

[loadedround]

When I was shooting bullsye competition some years ago the primer pockets on my 38 Special and 45 ACP brass would wear out before the cases would split. Their rims would be rather battered but they would still shoot(practice only). When I no longer could feel resistance upon seating primers, I discarded that particular lot. My guess is I was getting at least 10 to 12 reloads with these target loads. When I started shooting heavy 357 and 44 mag loads, iwould average four or five reloads before noticing neck splits. Just don't ask me about 22 Hornet case life! :)

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I keep an eye on the extractor groove for semi-auto brass - once it starts getting beat up badly I put the brass into the 'shoot&scoot' brass tub and leave it lay at the range after it's shot. even then I've had a few neck splits before the groove was badly beaten up. and loose primer pockets.

[Nowhere Man]

I'm not plan on making any hot loads, and I plan on using brass for as long as possible.

Besides putting a lone wolf barrel in my glock, and avoiding double charges, anything I need to know to keep from blowing myself up?


Reloading is easy. Buy a quality reloader. You'll always get your money back. Avoid distractions. Buy components in bulk. Your brass will last a long, long time.

Dave

[SHusky57]

Nowhere Man, if you don't mind giving advice, PM me. I have some ideas on equipment and a budget but I want to make sure I am being smart.

[flipajig]

on my 9mm i spot check the case length (I wouldnt want to load one that was to long) on my 44 mag once the mouth splits bye bye 38 and 357 same story on the bye bye.

[ar10]

Doesn't Glock leave the "ugly bulge" after firing? I don't know because I don't shoot glocks any longer. I know the XD's don't. If they do then it be wise to get a full length sizer for your cases? Especially if your shooting competition.

Brass can be used and used and used again if you don't over crimp or load hot

[SHusky57]

Doesn't Glock leave the "ugly bulge" after firing?

I've heard the 3rd gen's don't, but I got an after-market barrel just in case.

I wish there was an idiot's guide to reloading out there. :-)

[ar10]

I wish there was an idiot's guide to reloading out there

There is, "The ABC's Of Reloading". Best book for anyone starting to reload. I would buy or check it out before I would buy the first piece of reloading equipment.

[ljnowell]

Doesn't Glock leave the "ugly bulge" after firing? I don't know because I don't shoot glocks any longer. I know the XD's don't. If they do then it be wise to get a full length sizer for your cases? Especially if your shooting competition.

Brass can be used and used and used again if you don't over crimp or load hot

My g21 doesnt do it, I dont know about the others. This was mostly a .40 cal thing.

Besides putting a lone wolf barrel in my glock, and avoiding double charges, anything I need to know to keep from blowing myself up?


If I were you I would go ahead and have them ream the chamber on that barrel before they send it to you. Otherwise you stand about a 90% chance of having problems feeding lead reloads.

[freakshow10mm]

I strongly recommend an aftermarket barrel for a Glock. Shoot lead. It's way cheaper. I like KKM and Storm Lake barrels. Cry once, buy quality first.