Information for the "How Many Reloads?" question

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Archie

Archie

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Hastings, Nebraska - the Heartland!
I shoot in a Wednesday night indoor gallery pistol league. I've been shooting pretty regularly once a week now for about three years.

I started with just over 400 once fired, nickled Federal cases for .45 ACP. I generally shoot 200 grain SWC lead bullets, but occasionally find a deal on 185s or something. These are not 'combat' loadings by any means, but have an abrupt burn and they do cycle the pistol.

Three years is 156 weeks, more or less. I don't get to every match, but most of them, so I'll call it 150 matches now. I shoot 90 rounds a week (a 900 point Centerfire Bullseye course). 90 rounds a week for 150 weeks is 13,500 rounds in that period of time. Cycling through 400 cases in turn gives me a usage of just under 34 times each.

The nickle is getting worn pretty bad and I've noticed some are splitting lately. Reckon I've got my money's worth out of them?
 
20-30 trips thru the dies before splits develop matches my experience over the years, depends on how much you bell and crimp and to a lesser extent the power of the load. A gun with an oversized chamber will shorten case life.

Currently where I shoot my brass lossage rate is about 3-6% so I rarely see splits any more, but usually shooters before me aren't as diligent about pickup as I am so I usually come out a bit ahead when I leave.

--wally.
 
"...some are splitting lately..." You're seeing work hardened brass telling you it's had enough of being hit on the behind and a hot fire lit inside it. Even the lightest target loaded brass will get work hardened over time.
Pitch 'em. You won't get enough money from a recycler to pay for the gas to get there. They pay by the pound and 400 cases doesn't weigh enough to make it worthwhile.
 
"Pitch 'em. You won't get enough money from a recycler to pay for the gas to get there. They pay by the pound and 400 cases doesn't weigh enough to make it worthwhile."
Click to expand...

Or, without spending more mental / physical energy on it than it's worth, give them to someone who collects scrap at your range (if there is such a person), or keep an ever-growing bucket for when you have more gathered, or the price shoots up enough to justify the gas, etc. They don't take up much volume :)

timothy
 
yeah, that seems about right. in my experience, the nickel plated cases don't last as long as the brass ones.
 
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