.45 ACP Case Durability Question

i tried following some 45ACP brass for a while to see how many times i could reload them. i lost them by the time i reloaded them 7-9 times... i lost count lol.

I go for Starline when given the choice. With 45 I just use range pickup brass. I've got a lifetime supply.

I've got some 45acp brass that is so old and reloaded so many times you cant read the headstamp anymore, how is that? I prefer winchester and starline for 45acp, but I have a good amount of CCI, milsurp, etc. Some are thinner than others and can lead to issues. I do not reload FC or RP 45acp cases, just dont like them for reloading, had too many problems over the years.

As others have stated, out of my stock of range pickup .45 brass, the only troubles I have had are with RP headstamps. Never had to toss any but those. I would estimate most of my brass to have been reloaded on the order of 10-15 times.

Honest John said:

I was wondering if anyone thinks that, for example, the $0.38 for a Hornady case would result in cost savings due to longer life?

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I seriously doubt it. You will lose brass at the range a lot faster than you will ever wear it out. Especially in a low pressure round like the 45.

just lost a case today, WCC military dated 56.

I would opt for once fired Winchester, Federal or Remington brass. The only 45ACP brass I toss into the scrapheap is AMERC - I reload all the others. I have some military brass cases from the 1960's which I am using.

You can wear out 45 brass? Man I need to shoot more.

I have some WCC brass that has a 1942 headstamp. Taper crimping is much easier on case mouths than roll crimping. I can't remember wearing out a .45 ACP case.

Starline if buying, winchester is the pref of range scrange, the rest still reloads 25+ times no problem.

Like said above, you will probably lose the brass before you wear it out in a 45 Auto.

Durability wise no. I have had no issue with any brand of brass with the 45acp and have 6+ loads on all of my batch's. Its a low pressure caliber and doesn't beat up the brass like the high pressure calibers like 44mag and others.

I reload .45ACP for a pair of G21's, and a few others, using Bullseye powder, Wolf primers, and Berry's plated round nose bullets. Nearly all the brass is range pick-up, with numerous brands. I tumble polish it all until it looks really shiny and clean, separate the large from small primed cases, and off it goes into the Dillon SDB. Finding a bad case is rare, and I think most all brands last about the same, some I have had for close to thirty years now. Just make sure it is cleaned and free from cracks.

Like most of the others, i lose them before they wear out.

AMERC are junk and i scrap them without trying to reload them. I have had a few WCC cases that the rim would not fit my shell holder. I have quit fooling with them and scrap them.

Keep and eye out for deals and stock up. It won't be long before you have a good stash in inventory.

Starline is great brass. And considering how low pressure the 45 acp is, even with full performance loads, you'll lose more brass than you'll ever wear out.

GS

I am still reloading some mil brass from WW2, have done so many times lost count. When I happen to think of it, (which is not often) I do periodically anneal .45 acp brass in water with about 3/16" of neck exposed to propane torch flame. This is done in a darkened room, heat to a dull red, then tip over in the water.

I also use a LOT of once fired "range brass"; as there is NO COST [for brass]
to the user. Just carefully inspect each piece, clean as needed; and UR good
too go~!

Unless your shooting for competition where having the exact same brass would be to your advantage. Buying new brass is a waste of money in my opinion. I always come back with more than I took and will lose one long before it needs to be trashed.

I shoot a 625 so I don't lose my brass but I can't say I've ever had a case fail.

Highlander; have you tried loading .45GAP for your 625? I have found that they work really great with full moon clips, and the shorter length allows some options for making shot loads for snakes.

I also loose mine to whatever before the brass fails. Most often any damage will be when I ding the case mouth when sizing. I do not remember any of my 45 ACP ever splitting or getting loose primer pockets.

I`m another that loses brass before it wears out, although I have had some rims get beat up bad enough to hinder feeding a time or two.
The cases were still solid and overall were fine except for the rim damage so I don`t count this as "wear"

Just about all of my .45 brass is range pick up, it does last a long time, but since I load mostly cast bullets, I do get a few split necks from repeated belling and crimping. The only brand of cases that I've repeatedly had problems with are PMC, a certain percentage always seem to have off center flash holes.
cfullgraf- you might consider trying a Lee shellholder, they seem to have a looser fit, since I switched from an RCBS to a Lee shellholder, I haven't had any problems with cases not fitting.