How many

[shane8168]

Times can you reload a winchester/remington/hornady, etc... 9mm piece of brass before it is no good anymore?

 

[Steve2md]

until it splits or the primers won't stay in it. Load 'em till they're done, then toss them in a bucket. when the bucket is full, recycle the brass, and use the cash to buy new components! win-win

 

[ArchAngelCD]

In all reality, I think you will lose the brass well before it fails. But, I use all brass until it fails and that failure is usually in the form of a split neck. I can't remember ever having a loose primer pocket in a 9mm case or any semi-auto case for that matter.

 

[LiveLife]

Using W231/HP-38 and mid-to-high range load data, I have done tests where I reloaded the same batch of cases over 50 times. If you are loading near max/max loads, case life will probably be less.

This is one of many benefits of using heavier 124/125 gr 9mm bullets over 115 gr as I typically need to push the 115 gr FMJ loads to near max load data to reliably cycle the slide of my Glocks but I can get reliable cycling of slide with 124/125 gr 9mm bullets using mid range load data with lower chamber pressures.

 

[Ehtereon11B]

Most reloading manuals will say to keep using brass until it splits or has some other structural failure. If I recall my Lee manual might say 5 or 6 times of max pressure loads but don't quote me on that. So keep using it until it fails.

 

[Walkalong]

At normal pressures it will last for many, many, loadings. 20+ loadings is realistic, if you don't lose the case.

If you are trying to figure the cost of the case, it is negligible for 9MM.

 

[Sam1911]

I'd agree with Walkalong. I've never actually purchased 9mm brass -- it just appears by the bucketfull, especially after large matches -- and I've never owned a piece long enough for it to wear out. I've found some that cracked, or were too loose for the primer and they get recycled.

 

[Certaindeaf]

It really depends on how/what you load.

If you load lead, you must flare and then iron that out. That about halves the life compared to using jacketed (lots of guys don't flare at all using jacketed). If you load hot, that certainly reduces case/primer pocket life. Some brass/loads will be shot in as little as three loadings and some others get pretty high. I figure a good average for me is like 5-8.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'd agree with Walkalong. I've never actually purchased 9mm brass -- it just appears by the bucketfull, especially after large matches -- and I've never owned a piece long enough for it to wear out. I've found some that cracked, or were too loose for the primer and they get recycled.

I don't even shoot matches and i have all the 9mm brass I'll ever need. Even at the public outdoor range there is plenty of 9mm brass on the ground.

Now, finding .38 Special or .357 Magnum brass just doesn't happen but 9mm is easy followed by 40 S&W. (but hardly any 45 Auto)

 

[BYJO4]

You can reload a case until you find splits in the case or around the case mouth. I will begin to find one or two out of a hundred after 15 reloads. I decided a long time ago to dump my brass after 20 loadings as I get all the once fired factory brass that I need from non reloaders at the range.

 

[BADUNAME37]

All depends

on how powerful your load is. You may have loose primers before anything else happens to go!

 

[Blue68f100]

Normally you get 15+ if your not load near max. I have had some brands split with as little as 3. I use them till they split or primers fall out. But in general you may loose them before that.

 

[Ret.CWO]

Until the brass splits or will no longer hold a primer.

 

[FROGO207]

Well they are correct about it being a long time. I am still trying to wear out some of the first 5 gallon bucket of brass that I started reloading with 30 years ago. I sell the extra for scrap as it never seems to wear out in my firearms and I shoot a ton of lead through mine. I will process a gallon bucket full at a time and find at best 10-15 bad brass in it by the time it is loaded each time. It is a non issue for me. As also stated there is a metric buttload of 9MM brass around for free at most ranges.