Informational only.
This has been a curiosity test beginning in late May with a discrete batch of several hundred Winchester cases. I estimate each case has been loaded 10 times during the test.
Just wanted to see if I could wear them out and if so how long would it take. And what would it look like. Heard all the stories about loaders still using Daniel Boones’ grandfather’s cases. Don’t care. This is about how long I can use THESE cases.
Then, I ran across the below article causing me to start measuring and sorting cases by length. I know all the stories on this too and whether it’s worthwhile or not. Don’t care. This test is about THESE cases.
Anyway, take a look at the article if you haven’t already.
www.floridareloading.com
So, I started loading only those .893” and longer. This is an arbitrary length threshold and I certainly keep all cases regardless. Just don’t use them for the test unless I decide to drop the threshold which I might have to since they do indeed keep shortening.
After today’s range session, as usual, I wet tumbled and resorted the cases by length and, wowza, 26 have dropped below my .893” threshold. That’s a ton of shortening or a really crappy job of measuring.
I‘m also getting pocket tightening as revealed by the go/no go gauge I use each week. Absolutely NO pocket loosening.
I’m using light loads only, BTW—4.5gr Bullseye w/230gr RN.
Im also in the midst of roughly the same test with Winchester 9mm cases.
View attachment 1186750
But I still gots to know. Actually I’m only shooting/loading 100 per week and I’d either be using 100 other cases or these. Either way I still load 100.