How many times can 10mm brass be reloaded?

[EddieCoyle]

On another forum, I've been involved in a lively discussion over how many times 10mm brass can be reloaded.

One of the posters "retires" his Starline brass after 3 loadings (8grs of Power Pistol behind a 180gr JHP).

I offered to take his retired brass off his hands. Half of the subsequent posters told me I was nuts, the other half offered to take whatever I didn't need.

I apologize if this has been covered in previous threads, but I'm interested in this particular brand of brass with this loading.

What are your opinions?

 

[caz223]

With that load, 9mm NATO is hotter, and I've loaded that lots of times.
It depends what barrel/gun he shoots it out of.
If he shoots that starline through a stock G20 3 times, I wouldn't touch it.
If it's through a bar-sto, KKM, etc. barrel you could easily get more life out of it.

Power pistol is pretty fast burning, faster than blue dot, for instance, but that's not even a max. load.....
It also depends what gun you're going to shoot it though, again, a stock G20 being worst case scenario.

 

[EddieCoyle]

It depends what barrel/gun he shoots it out of.

Good point. The "From" gun is a stock Delta Elite, the "To" gun would be a S&W 1076.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Take his brass! With the "to and From" guns, that brass should be good for quite a few more loadings, especially with the powder puff loads he's using. I like Blue Dot and HS-7 (the old Win. 571) for my 10mm loads, especially with the 180 to 200 grain bullets. Accurate #9 is also a pretty good powder for the heavier bullets in 10mm.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[loadedround]

I own and reload for a Colt Delta Elite in 10mm. Using mixed Win,Rem and Fed brass I have reloaded them 3 to 4 times with out any problems. for SD I load only once fired factory brass over a 180 ge Sierra. Love this cartridge!

 

[caz223]

I loaded a stock G20 with a way over book max load of blue dot and a 200 grain XTP bullet with a magnum primer (Got the load from glock talk.), and had minimal pressure signs, but definately flattened primers, and the glock bulge, and loaded them 3 times (With lighter loads.) in the G20 before I ran out of courage.
You could prolly load that retired starline 3 more times before you'd have to inspect and evaluate it.
You could then inspect and relegate this brass for light loads, and load it 3 more times before it needs to see the scrap bin.
Be absolutely SURE that you know what you're inspecting for. If you don't, then ask.
Remember 10mm brass is MUCH stronger than .45 acp, and you can load .45 until you lose it with no problems, so it depends on YOUR loads, YOUR barrel, and YOUR sanity.
I personally would use NEW brass for hunting loads, and if you want more velocity, get a longer barrel, or bigger caliber.
Don't worry, I upgraded to a 6" KKM barrel for my G20, and upgraded to match grade barrels in most of my 10mm guns, to get better accuracy, and increase case life. I have KKM barrels, storm lake barrels, bar-sto barrels, and nowlin barrels, and they all are improvements over stock.
I can't comment on my 1076, as it still has the stock barrel in it, and it pretty much just sits in the safe.
I shoot light loads in 10mm guns with stock barrels, as shooting max loads in stock barrels will shorten brass life quite a bit.
I'm no expert, so please don't take anything I say and bet your life on it. Safety is #1.

 

[model 649]

14 times was my max using 8.0 HS-7's under a 180 HP. (1076) After that I started seeing cracked necks when resizing or expanding. Three times? what a waste.
Josh