Keeping Track of Times Loaded?

[mdi]

I do not count times reloaded for most of my brass, just inspect (IMO inspection of brass is the number one important step in reloading).

For me, Rule number 1; Very first action taken place when dealing with brass, look at them. About 90% of the time I glance at the brass I pick up at the range, even my own. Some get discarded there (steel, alum., "bad" headstamps). Next operation is I look at them when I load the tumbler (another quick glance looking for obvious defects). After cleaning they are looked at again, looking for split mouths, odd looking primer marks/blowouts. As I'm reloading I look at them between steps and the only "gauge" I use is the gun's barrel. Defects rarely get passed the second inspection.

I count reloadings for my Garand and my Ruger bolt 308, and I have a box of Remington .44 Magnum brass I've been using for my T-Rex killer loads that I'm counting loads. Everything else is just look, load, shoot...

 

[Slamfire]

This guy had way too much time on his hands to fire one 45 ACP case fifty four times!!!

How many times can you reload a .45 ACP case?

http://www.massreloading.com/loading45ACP.html

I don't bother segregating 45 ACP or 9mm cases. I dump them all into a bucket after tumbling and pull them out at random. I tried keeping track of the number of times I fired various other pistol rounds, due to my Obsessive Compulsive behaviors, but it is a bother and I have not found any trend for pistol ammunition.

I do keep track of the number of reloads for rifle ammunition. I think it makes a difference, but, I could be delusional.

Reload to your psychological level of happiness.

 

[mdi]

Slamfire. Thanks for that link. I noticed the shortening of the cases is at the case head. I've read about shortening cases, but I haven't measured a case in many years. I guess it's from the case head being pushed/slammed against the bolt face and peening/forming the brass down. From the pics of the side by side cases and the fact that the primer pocket got shallower it's obvious how the shortening takes place...

Thanks...

 

[Robert101]

Yes, very good article and information. I too only throw away pistol brass that has a visual or loose primer condition. I am more careful with my 44 mag and 10MM brass, but others no so much.
My 308 rifle brass is loosely monitored and at about 13-16 reloadings I notice loose primers. So as not to get breech face damage, I toss them.