brass life
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Jim Watson
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Usually.
What caliber, what gun?
What caliber, what gun?
Intune
Member
Jim's asking the right questions. It makes a big diff. I load .45acp & .44 mag. I don't load either really hot but I can tell you that nickle cases don't last nearly as long as brass before exibiting stress fractures. Your mark 1 eyeball will usually give you an indication that one particular lot is failing. Toss them all. Brass is cheap. Rifle brass may be a different animal, someone with more knowledge will prob step up to the plate on this thread.
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
I load for 45acp but nowhere near my loading for 38spl, 357 etc.
As an example - I'll expect at least 20 reloads from 38 spl target loads. 357's take a harder crimp and so maybe will do around 10, sometimes fewer.
45acp being taper crimp - the mouth hardening is not much of a problem. For plinking I'd reckon and hope for about same as with 38 spls ... maybe up to 20. Thing is I load from ''good'' to ''plinking'' ... meaning, I'll load higher spec ammo in new and once fired cases - plus a couple more, and then ''demote'' those cases to just regular plinking/practice loads. Non-critical stuff.
With rifle it's different - much more care needed on stretching and so trimming requirements etc.
Pistol ammo, certainly with std loads ... keep going until brass has problems.... small split in mouth etc. Surprising how long they can last, particularly good brass like Starline, Norma etc.
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Oh and yeah - as 1911 user mentions below ... don't over ''bell'' the case mouth - as it enhances the work-hardening process.
As an example - I'll expect at least 20 reloads from 38 spl target loads. 357's take a harder crimp and so maybe will do around 10, sometimes fewer.
45acp being taper crimp - the mouth hardening is not much of a problem. For plinking I'd reckon and hope for about same as with 38 spls ... maybe up to 20. Thing is I load from ''good'' to ''plinking'' ... meaning, I'll load higher spec ammo in new and once fired cases - plus a couple more, and then ''demote'' those cases to just regular plinking/practice loads. Non-critical stuff.
With rifle it's different - much more care needed on stretching and so trimming requirements etc.
Pistol ammo, certainly with std loads ... keep going until brass has problems.... small split in mouth etc. Surprising how long they can last, particularly good brass like Starline, Norma etc.
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Oh and yeah - as 1911 user mentions below ... don't over ''bell'' the case mouth - as it enhances the work-hardening process.
In my experience, you'll lose a piece of 45 auto brass before it is worn out. Unless you are loading +P pressure levels, the brass can be safely reloaded many times. This is true because standard 45ACP operates at a relatively low pressure and doesn't stress the brass as much.
40S&W, on the other hand, is a high pressure cartridge and probably should not be reloaded more than 4-5 times. I don't own a .40, but I'd track the brass if I did and trash it after 4-5 loadings. 40S&W typically operates at double the pressure of 45ACP.
To extend the reloading life of brass, only bell the case mouth just enough to seat the bullet without shaving the sides of the bullet. The more the case is opened then crimped (repeatedly), the faster the brass will "work harden" and eventually the mouth will split at which point I throw it away.
40S&W, on the other hand, is a high pressure cartridge and probably should not be reloaded more than 4-5 times. I don't own a .40, but I'd track the brass if I did and trash it after 4-5 loadings. 40S&W typically operates at double the pressure of 45ACP.
To extend the reloading life of brass, only bell the case mouth just enough to seat the bullet without shaving the sides of the bullet. The more the case is opened then crimped (repeatedly), the faster the brass will "work harden" and eventually the mouth will split at which point I throw it away.
How many?
I don't think that you can give an accurate number. I load until the brass physically can't be loaded anymore. After tumbling, I inspect each piece to see it's condition. Personally, I keep on hand anywhere from 500 - 1000 pieces of brass for each caliber. That way, each piece is not always constantly being used.
I don't think that you can give an accurate number. I load until the brass physically can't be loaded anymore. After tumbling, I inspect each piece to see it's condition. Personally, I keep on hand anywhere from 500 - 1000 pieces of brass for each caliber. That way, each piece is not always constantly being used.
The Bushmaster
Member
I agree with Bandit01. I can give some examples though. 9mm-until the head stamp is difficult to read: .45 ACP-until the head stamp is difficult to read: .38 special-when the first split case mouth shows up. Toss the whole batch: .357 mag-about 5 to 6 times or the same as .38 Spec. depending on how hot you load: .30-30-about 4 to 5 times or until you chicken out (which ever comes first): .30-06-about the same as .30-30.
Determining the number of times that you reload a case really depends on just how hot you load your cases and the care you take in the process. One should inspect each case closely for any signs of stress and when in doubt...Toss it.
Determining the number of times that you reload a case really depends on just how hot you load your cases and the care you take in the process. One should inspect each case closely for any signs of stress and when in doubt...Toss it.
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ojibweindian
Member
I've got .30-06 brass that are on their 8th reloading and show no signs of problems. I've also got .357 Mag brass that have been reloaded seemingly countless times, and they're still good.
Of course, I don't hot rod anything close to max loads as I'm much more into accuracy than fpe at whatever yards.
Of course, I don't hot rod anything close to max loads as I'm much more into accuracy than fpe at whatever yards.
Austin Charles
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Load the 40
I have loaded thousands of 40 and as long as you stay in the book you'll be fine.
Just use your head and check your brass, I have right now on 1000 cases ( 8 ) times fired in the 40 and i'm going untill I see some signs
I have fired max and powder puffs out of these 1000 cases. I have found (3) that have had small splits. So I tossed them. These came in the 3-4 reload, have not seen anymore over preasure signs yet.
Now get to reloading, spring is almost here
I have loaded thousands of 40 and as long as you stay in the book you'll be fine.
Just use your head and check your brass, I have right now on 1000 cases ( 8 ) times fired in the 40 and i'm going untill I see some signs
I have fired max and powder puffs out of these 1000 cases. I have found (3) that have had small splits. So I tossed them. These came in the 3-4 reload, have not seen anymore over preasure signs yet.
Now get to reloading, spring is almost here
I have 45 acp brass that has been loaded over 20 times that I still load and shoot, some of it was well used when I got it too so who knows how many loadings it has. Out of tens of thousands of loads I have had a couple 45 acp cases split, but none caused a problem in the gun. The head stamp on some of it is just mangled from the ejector and tumbler, I would guess that takes a lot more than 20 loadings. Primer pockets get loose after a couple dozen loadings, and I have thrown some out for that reason before. 45 acp brass seems to last forever, I shoot it until it splits or the primer pockets get loose.
My brass plan is 45's is shoot it till it splits or gets lost. I have some 45 brass that has been loaded so many times you can not read the headstamp. I used to load 38's the same way. But, I was shooting powder puff loads with 148 gr DEWC. 357 brass gets shot just the same.
308 brass in a M1A had a four reloads cycle and gets pictched. It starts life once fired brass.
308 brass in a bolt gun gets used for close to 10 reloads, the is really true with Lapus brass.
223 brass in an AR gets about 6 reloads easy.
223 brass in a bolt gun is used for an easy 10 reloads.
308 brass in a M1A had a four reloads cycle and gets pictched. It starts life once fired brass.
308 brass in a bolt gun gets used for close to 10 reloads, the is really true with Lapus brass.
223 brass in an AR gets about 6 reloads easy.
223 brass in a bolt gun is used for an easy 10 reloads.
The Bushmaster
Member
Bandxj...As you noticed, there is no hard and fast rule to just how long your brass will last. I will tell you this, though. Nickle plated brass will not last as long as plain brass. But you can't leave plain brass in your belt loops or in your revolver as long as nickle plated brass. Brass will corrode faster. Sooo...It pays to have both on hand just to take care of various needs such as going afield or working the range...
The Bushmaster
Member
I got to thinking about this while mending fences today (yup I can multy-task at my age). I listen to a lot of you say that you load .30-06 and .30-30 many times. Far and above myself. I mention that I load these two cartrages about 5 times and throw them away. Some say that they are loading them a whole lot more then me. When I get to about 5 to 6 reloadings I start to have chambering problems. The necks have had to much brass transfered to the them and are getting quite snug in the chamber. As I don't turn down the necks (I don't have the tool to do it) I chuck-em into the trash. Yes I know you can turn them down, but that extra metal had to come from somewhere and I would prefer not to find out just where or blow a chamber because of a too tight neck to bullet pull. Necks binding in the chamber will definitely cause high pressures. And I don't want to go there. Just a last and final thought on this subject.
Mikul
Member
.45 is a low-pressure load. As such, it will last a very long time. I know someone who has been reloading .45 for over 10 years. His brass has been reloaded 50x at least according to his records. He just shoots them until they split.
My first batch of 9mm gave me problems on the sixth reload. I threw them all out and switched to a slower powder and dropped the charge a couple of tenth off of max and I'm on my 8th reloading of this new batch.
My first batch of 9mm gave me problems on the sixth reload. I threw them all out and switched to a slower powder and dropped the charge a couple of tenth off of max and I'm on my 8th reloading of this new batch.
Black Snowman
Member
Back when I tracked it I got up to loading the same piece of .40 S&W brass in my Glock 15 times before I lost it with no signs of problems. No hot rodding. Heaviest bullets were 165 gr. Now that I have three or four thousand pieces I just inspect them after tumbling and after loading to make sure they're OK. Never had a problem with this method. YMMV and all that.
45 ACP loaded to std pressures seems nearly immortal. I loose the ACP long before it wears out and the straight walled revolver loads seem fine until they split, at which point I toss that one.
YMMV. This might not be enough margin for your warm fuzzies and if makes you feel better to toss old brass, toss it. If you can't trust your ammo there's no point in loading it.
45 ACP loaded to std pressures seems nearly immortal. I loose the ACP long before it wears out and the straight walled revolver loads seem fine until they split, at which point I toss that one.
YMMV. This might not be enough margin for your warm fuzzies and if makes you feel better to toss old brass, toss it. If you can't trust your ammo there's no point in loading it.
Certainly seems to be this way. "Mikul" mentioned someone who had over 50 loadings while he was keeping track. I have read msgs on the reloading email lists of people who have been loading the same 45ACP cases well over 100 times.Black Snowman said:
Some of the guys at the range say that they toss the 45ACP brass when it has been loaded so many times that they cannot read the headstamp. If they can still read it then they load it up one more time.
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