9mm Case Longevity Test--39th Firing

[Random 8]

I'm impressed you were able to find all the cases through 39 firings!

I usually count on entropy to rotate my 9mm brass collection. I had a few Unique headstamps in the mix. Some military with a date code in the early 90s, some odd manufacturers and old "Reminton flat, large font" stamps. Those have long since been lost on the range.

Through a WAG of 30K 9mm loaded and fired, I can count split mouths on one hand. Most could be attributed to a certain foreign headstamp that sometimes split on once fired brass. This stamp is now universally culletd when found.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I'm impressed you were able to find all the cases through 39 firings!

I usually count on entropy to rotate my 9mm brass collection. I had a few Unique headstamps in the mix. Some military with a date code in the early 90s, some odd manufacturers and old "Reminton flat, large font" stamps. Those have long since been lost on the range.

Through a WAG of 30K 9mm loaded and fired, I can count split mouths on one hand. Most could be attributed to a certain foreign headstamp that sometimes split on once fired brass. This stamp is now universally culletd when found.

Indoor range and often shooting alone so recovery is simple as long as they stay behind the line.

 

[IowaBob]

Monday AM was 39th firing for this test that began in June 2023.

Originally 200 Winchester cases only. Middling Sport Pistol load although some recently were also BE-86. All 1.135" & 115gr RN. All pockets uniformed once, flash hole deburred once, and mouth lightly chamfered once.

Get comfortable, you may be here a while. I've been reloading the same batch of Winchester 9mm brass ("WIN" headstamp) since the mid-1980's, going on forty years now. I probably cycle through the entire batch two or three times a year, so I'm at somewhere around 100 reloads. I occasionally lose a case, and I've discarded a few that split, the headstamps are pretty beat up, and some of the rims are dinged up, but they're hanging in there. Over the years I've used AA #7, HP38, Bullseye and back to AA #7. Mostly 124g cast lead bullets. I don't load 'em really hot, just enough to reliably cycle a couple of different autoloaders, and I avoid over expanding the case mouths, to avoid splits there.

Non-magnum straight wall pistol brass seems to last forever, as long as you don't work it too hard sizing and expanding it, and avoid hot loads.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Get comfortable, you may be here a while. I've been reloading the same batch of Winchester 9mm brass ("WIN" headstamp) since the mid-1980's, going on forty years now. I probably cycle through the entire batch two or three times a year, so I'm at somewhere around 100 reloads. I occasionally lose a case, and I've discarded a few that split, the headstamps are pretty beat up, and some of the rims are dinged up, but they're hanging in there. Over the years I've used AA #7, HP38, Bullseye and back to AA #7. Mostly 124g cast lead bullets. I don't load 'em really hot, just enough to reliably cycle a couple of different autoloaders, and I avoid over expanding the case mouths, to avoid splits there.

Non-magnum straight wall pistol brass seems to last forever, as long as you don't work it too hard sizing and expanding it, and avoid hot loads.

Since the mid-80’s probably means these have been sized with steel dies. All the older steel dies I had for 9mm were tapered, not straight wall. I kinda think it made a difference but I can’t really prove it. I consider 9mm a no-recovery case since I have more than I can shoot.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Get comfortable, you may be here a while. I've been reloading the same batch of Winchester 9mm brass ("WIN" headstamp) since the mid-1980's, going on forty years now. I probably cycle through the entire batch two or three times a year, so I'm at somewhere around 100 reloads. I occasionally lose a case, and I've discarded a few that split, the headstamps are pretty beat up, and some of the rims are dinged up, but they're hanging in there. Over the years I've used AA #7, HP38, Bullseye and back to AA #7. Mostly 124g cast lead bullets. I don't load 'em really hot, just enough to reliably cycle a couple of different autoloaders, and I avoid over expanding the case mouths, to avoid splits there.

Non-magnum straight wall pistol brass seems to last forever, as long as you don't work it too hard sizing and expanding it, and avoid hot loads.

Thanks. Interesting.

Have you ever measured case length to see how short they get?

 

[lordpaxman]

Now I’m going to be measuring case lengths after every firing. Oh boy.

As long as you’ve got the tools out, I wonder about those primer pockets……….

 

[CQB45ACP]

As long as you’ve got the tools out, I wonder about those primer pockets……….

Sorry, they're all primed or loaded. I did uniform them a year or more ago, but haven't checked since. Primers (always SyA) still seat okay but might not be as deep as they once were. I'll check next time.

 

[argonn]

Don't try 38 Special brass, the stuff will outlive you!! I have some 38 Special nickel cases that have been sized so much, the plating is mostly gone. Use light loads, buy good brass, and then shoot to infinity and beyond!

You took the words right out of my mouth. I, many years ago, decided to do a similar test on 38 Special, I finally gave up, it is like the EverReady Bunny. I have 45 ACP cases that are head stamped in the 60’s, still going strong. 4.6 gr BE under a 200 gr CSWC.

 

[CQB45ACP]

You took the words right out of my mouth. I, many years ago, decided to do a similar test on 38 Special, I finally gave up, it is like the EverReady Bunny. I have 45 ACP cases that are head stamped in the 60’s, still going strong. 4.6 gr BE under a 200 gr CSWC.

Did you count/keep track of number of firings? That's what I'm doing so I can tell my grandkids definitively--33 for 45acp and 39 so far in 9mm.

 

[argonn]

Did you count/keep track of number of firings? That's what I'm doing so I can tell my grandkids definitively--33 for 45acp and 39 so far in 9mm.

The 38 was 150, I stopped, they were Federal Match cases, the old red box. The 45’s, no idea, I just keep loading them. I find brass holds up better than nickel, but probably my fault. I flair them, slightly, and the neck, every so often, will crack. Toss ‘em, and keep going.

 

[CQB45ACP]

The 38 was 150, I stopped, they were Federal Match cases, the old red box. The 45’s, no idea, I just keep loading them. I find brass holds up better than nickel, but probably my fault. I flair them, slightly, and the neck, every so often, will crack. Toss ‘em, and keep going.

Wow! I don't shoot .38

By 33 mine were way short and primer pockets shot. This guy had same problem but kept at it till 54. I've never had a split nor did Florida reloading guy.

How many times can I reload 45 ACP brass? – Florida Reloading

www.floridareloading.com

 

[IowaBob]

Since the mid-80’s probably means these have been sized with steel dies. All the older steel dies I had for 9mm were tapered, not straight wall. I kinda think it made a difference but I can’t really prove it. I consider 9mm a no-recovery case since I have more than I can shoot.

I'm using Lee carbide dies, no lube used. I think, but I'm not sure, that the dies are tapered.

 

[IowaBob]

Thanks. Interesting.

Have you ever measured case length to see how short they get?

Yes, I measured a bunch of them a few years ago with the idea that they might need to be trimmed after many reloadings. What I found was they were almost all at or slightly under the recommended trim length. I don't remember the span of lengths, none were what I considered to be alarming short or long, so I haven't worried about it, or bothered measuring again. I don't think there was any ongoing trend of getting shorter and shorter.