A Quick Question on Brass

[TuckerNielson]

Hello all,

Just a couple quick questions about used brass. I shoot reloads almost exclusively. I don't reload, I just buy them at the gun shows and have had excellent success. My range buddy asked me how many times the brass had been used - I had no idea. Which got me thinking, how many times can you reload a piece of brass? How many times under ideal circumstances? How do you reloaders know when the brass is overly worn? Do people track how many times a particular batch of brass has been fired?

Thanks in advance,

Tucker

 

[rfwobbly]

Some people track it, especially if they are using high-end loads, or are doing something that involves a great deal of accuracy.

On the other hand, most plinkers and weekend pistol competition shooters shoot such mild loads that it doesn't matter. They simply shoot brass until the primer pocket gets too loose to hold a primer, or until the case splits. Remember, if you're shooting an auto pistol it can be really hard to recover all your brass. Pretty soon you've got 50 boxes of cases that only have 35 to 40 pieces of brass each.

 

[918v]

I did a test where I reloaded a single FC 9mm case 30 times in one sitting. I just sized/deprimed, primed, charged, and seated the 147gr XTP without belling the case mouth or crimping. It took two hours, the case survived, I survived, and the case is still useable with a tight primer pocket. The load was a 147gr XTP @ 1.115" OAL on top of 3.6grs of 231.

I conclude that good quality brass is very durable. If you think this was a fluke, I reloaded another one 26 times before I observed gas leakage from the crimp ring.

 

[Grumulkin]

How many times you can reload brass depends on various factors including chamber dimensions, how hot the loads are, brass brands, cartridge design, etc.

I would advise against using loose primer pockets or case splits as end points. In some cartridges, the end point is a case head separation which you would be better off without. To check for incipient head separation, run a bent wire down the inside of the case to check for the groove that starts above the web before a separation occurs.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

I'd hate to tell how many times i've reloaded my .223's.

 

[cfullgraf]

Handgun brass I don't track. I shoot them until I lose them or they fail.

Brass used for my service rifle match rifle, I track the number of reloadings.

Most other rifle rounds i don't bother. I inspect the brass during the resizing and trimming process looking for problems.

 

[Walkalong]

I don't track pistol calibers either. Scrap it if it splits.

I do like to keep track of rifle brass, and check them for internal signs of case head separation before loading.