How do you/Do you keep handgun brass record

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apollo11

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I am new to reloading, and load for the 9mm and 45 ACP. I am wondering if you guys keep track of how many firings the handgun brass has on it, or just measure and toss them after a while.

I am loading to 775-850 f/s on the 45, and 1100-1150 on the 9mm. Not sure if this matters on brass life or not.


Thanks!
 
I have some brass that I bought new and have tracked pretty well, and some that I acquired that was most likely shot just once.

Either way, with straight-walled handgun brass, I figure I'll shoot it until it shows signs of being worn out, which will likely be a mouth split upon flaring.
 
Shoot/reload "or the other way around" till it splits, if ever. I've got 45 ACP cases that you can hardly read the headstamp.

Oh, another thing as to when to toss, when the primer pocket becomes lose.
 
Pretty much what they said for pistol brass.
Rifle brass on the other hand is a little bit more details needed. At least, To what I have read considering you have to trim them unlike pistol brass.
 
I don't keep track, I load it until I lose it, or it splits. If the primer is loose going in, I mark the case with a magic marker, and when I shoot that piece, I junk it.
 
Handgun brass I shoot till I lose it or it splits. I don't bother tracking number of loadings.

Some rifle brass i keep track of number of reloadings.

AR-15 blasting ammo I don't.
 
Handgun brass? No way. I couldn't imagine even TRYING to keep track of my pile that I've collected over the years. :)

Rifle brass that's not 223? You betcha! I know exactly what generation each one is on and what rifle it's been shot in, if I have more than one of the same caliber. Since I either bought all virgin brass, or shot the original factory ammo myself, I know with exactness. I never "pick up" rifle brass (on the rare occasion someone leaves a casing or two behind).

223? I keep factory 223 and milsurp 5.56 separated.

One oddity, I keep S&B factory ammo separate from other factory ammo until it's been deprimed, cleaned, and reamed.
 
I don't try to keep track of the number of loadings on handgun ammo. Like others have said, if the primer goes in too easy it gets marked and tossed after firing, and if they split they get tossed.
 
For straight-wall pistol brass, keep loading them until they split (usually at the mouth), OR the primer hole starts to loosen up.
Your 9mm loads are hotter than my light loads. Light loads (124/125 gr at 1050-40'/sec) can be reloaded many many times.

I don't "track" my cases, but I do "rotate" mine. I store cases in coffee containers that are labelled. As I empty one, I start refilling it but it goes to the back of my stock. This just prevents loading the same ones over and over until failure. I have LOTS of coffee containers of cleaned brass, so it'll be a while before any given case fails due to repeated loadings.

Edited to add: I also paint the bases black for those with 'loose primer holes' so I don't reload them again. They go in the salvage yard can.
 
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Handgun brass? No way. I couldn't imagine even TRYING to keep track of my pile that I've collected over the years.
Click to expand...

^^^ This. Even though I've only been at it a couple of years. Most of my brass is pickups so I don't even know how many times it was fired before I got it. I suspect in most cases it was once. If the shooter was reloading the brass wouldn't be there. ;)
 
Trent said:
Handgun brass? No way. I couldn't imagine even TRYING to keep track of my pile that I've collected over the years. :)

Rifle brass that's not 223? You betcha! I know exactly what generation each one is on and what rifle it's been shot in, if I have more than one of the same caliber. Since I either bought all virgin brass, or shot the original factory ammo myself, I know with exactness. I never "pick up" rifle brass (on the rare occasion someone leaves a casing or two behind).

223? I keep factory 223 and milsurp 5.56 separated.

One oddity, I keep S&B factory ammo separate from other factory ammo until it's been deprimed, cleaned, and reamed.
Click to expand...
Why the difference between 223 and other rifle calibers?
 
Why the difference between 223 and other rifle calibers?
Click to expand...

.223 and 5.56 have different interior volumes. If you load hot for .223, you will be overpressured for 5.56 and the velocity will be higher so even if you don't harm the gun, your point of impact might be off.

Secondly, for blasting purposes, .223 is so common, you usually shoot it till you lose it or you see split cases or the primers get loose. You do need to measure it and make sure it doesn't get too long also. Most shooters take better care of the less common rifle cases.
 
I only keep track of bottle necked brass and then only to be able to anneal every four reloads, other than that I reload them till I find a problem and just toss them.
 
I keep track of handgun brass only for bullseye but when i get 20 loadings in 9mm and 35 loadings in .45 acp(all cases in perfect visual conditions but with less neck tension) i just let them in my big bucket for IPSC loads since most of them get lost in no time and you get them mixed with other brands ... (i buy an exclusive brand of ammo to keep my brass the same brand most of the time and it´s a brand that produces really good brass)

For rifle the same ...
 
Oh, one other oddity I remembered about my sorting. I also keep nickle and brass cases separate for handguns.

There's no practical reason for me doing so, except sheer vanity. It looks frigging cool.
 
I also do not count the reloads for any handgun brass. I do, however keep all brass trimmed and mark any loose primers (black on the entire base) so those get left where I shot them.

I have had brass that has been loaded over 20 times, in fact, so much that I actually lost count, it just keeps on going and going and going and going!

Occasionally, I will see a bit of a crack at the mouth that comes right out when I trim it.
 
I toss mine when the mouth starts to go bad or they are getting a mark that is a head separation getting close to happening.
With light loads cases last a long time.
Have fun
 
Like others, no tracking of handgun brass, just toss them when they split or have loose primer pockets. Revolver brass is always accounted for, auto brass always comes up short since I lose a few here and there no matter how careful I am at the range.

Rifle brass definitely. I use a method where I mark the base of the case with an automatic center punch after each firing:

2495839310053667879S600x600Q85.jpg


Otherwise it is too easy to lose track.

Dan
 
I shoot both 45 acp and 9 mm brass until it splits. I use no counting method for number on times fired. I get my brass from the floor of the range so I would have no idea if a piece had been fired once or ten times.
 
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