Tracking Number of Loadings on Brass
- Thread starter Lee Q. Loader
- Start date
PWC
Member
Only on rifle
When I was shooting /reloading, I used a small swiss file to cut a small v in the case head rim. Keep track in my reloading journal with that lot of brass. Depending on caliber, when I reached a specified number of reloadings (you deternine) I'd crimp the mouth and put it in the scrap bucket.
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Said the man who tested .45 ACP primer pockets to death.
CQB45ACP
Member
True enough but that was one and done. (If I’m in fact done)Said the man who tested .45 ACP primer pockets to death.
nettlle
Contributing Member
I kind of agree. Call it wrong or lazy but I am going to continue to inspect my brass after each firing. I have already gotten better life out of my 308 M1A brass than I was expecting. I did order a case extractor yesterday. Just in case.
AJC1
Member
You stole my thoughtSaid the man who tested .45 ACP primer pockets to death.
nettlle
Contributing Member
Rough crowd tonight.
I don't really keep track for pistol cartridges (9mm, 38 SP, 357 Mag) or for 30-30 cases. I load almost exclusively cast 30-30 now and the pressures are somewhere in the range of a 38 Special +P (14,000 to 18,000 psi). However, I do keep track for 308 and 223. I only take one batch to the range at a time. Right now, all I have are once fired range brass and twice fired/once reloaded brass. I have a jug for cases I've reloaded twice, but I haven't used any of those yet. Hunting season just ended so I have a fresh stash of 30-30 and 308 range brass. Seems like 223 is just lying there for the taking. I have a big bag I collected from someone's bolt gun session. It's too clean to have come from an AR or other semiauto.
I do have a jug of 223 brass that has a factor loading and my loading fired from it. I'm saving it for my 55 grain practice loads. They're only pushing a 55 grain FMJ to 2500 fps, so they should last a while. Once cases are relegated to practice loads, I probably won't count the number of loadings on them either.
I do have a jug of 223 brass that has a factor loading and my loading fired from it. I'm saving it for my 55 grain practice loads. They're only pushing a 55 grain FMJ to 2500 fps, so they should last a while. Once cases are relegated to practice loads, I probably won't count the number of loadings on them either.
Me either, just kind of keep a mental track of how old a batch is and watch for signs the batch may be getting long in the tooth.
I'm not sure you can wear out .38 Spl or .45 ACP.
nettlle
Contributing Member
OK, devil's advocate. What happens when the round count on your brass reaches a certain number? Do you toss it or wait for flaws?
I hope you're right. I have a good supply of 38 Special brass now, but it was hard earned. There is hardly any range brass in revolver cartridges where I shoot. I keep flaring to a minimum, but still don't really track the number of reloads.
bluetopper
Member
For what purpose? Shoot them till the neck splits.
LV Gun
Member
I just load , shoot, tumble , inspect them as I reload , if the primer goes in to easy or the case is starting to split they get scrapped, if I feel I can get one more load out of them I mark the head with a black marker after it is loaded and then shoot and scrap that is all I do it has worked fine for me.
CQB45ACP
Member
We will find out!
Hooda Thunkit
Member
Do you intend to track the number of firings?
CQB45ACP
Member
Shame on you!!! You obviously haven't been following my saga since last May/June.Do you intend to track the number of firings?
The answer is yes. While not a perfect experiment, I do know we're at 18ish since the beginning but no clue how many before that. But that's enough on this thread.
RetiredUSNChief
Member
Whenever I finally get into reloading, I'd track by batches, not individual cases.
Individual cases would be too tedious outside of specialized reloading purposes, such as competition long range shooting or the like where literally every little thing is tracked with high precision.
So I'd likely pick a number, like 100 or 500, and say "this is a batch". I'd then keep that brass together for shooting and reloading purposes.
Individual cases would be too tedious outside of specialized reloading purposes, such as competition long range shooting or the like where literally every little thing is tracked with high precision.
So I'd likely pick a number, like 100 or 500, and say "this is a batch". I'd then keep that brass together for shooting and reloading purposes.
CQB45ACP
Member
That smallish batch method is what I started doing last May. Sorted by headstamp and picked an arbitrary number like 100 or 200 hundred. It's morphed since then but still...
Hooda Thunkit
Member
I apparently missed that thread. Got a link?Shame on you!!! You obviously haven't been following my saga since last May/June.
The answer is yes. While not a perfect experiment, I do know we're at 18ish since the beginning but no clue how many before that. But that's enough on this thread.
AJC1
Member
A batch is usually dictated by the use. In lever Silhouette a batch is 50, 40 for score and 10 sighters. Varmint Silhouette gets weird because you need 50 for score plus fowlers and sightseers. Do you keep a weird number like a box of 70 in a 100 round box or shoot a bunch of unnecessary rounds through a short life barrel. I used to fill it up and shoot the remainder for off week practice to stay frosty....
CQB45ACP
Member
Two most recent updates in reverse chrono order. Temper your excitement this isn't rocket science.
45acp Case Longevity Test Update
Test Background: Non-scientific test of longevity of Winchester 45acp cases. Began in late May with batch of 150-200 just to see how long it would take to wear out/break these specific cases. To "see for myself" and not rely on anecdotes of others, however interesting. Have shot 100 rounds...
www.thehighroad.org
45ACP Case Longevity Update (Updated Again)
Bottom line upfront: Other than remarkable case shortening discussed below, absolutely no signs of case damage or imminent failure after likely far more than a dozen loadings each. After starting this project in May/June with several hundred Winchester cases, I later reduced the batch to only...
www.thehighroad.org
CQB45ACP
Member
With an auto pistol at an indoor public range my approach is surprisingly frustrating...a loss rate of just 5 or 10 percent really screws things up quickly. After a few weeks the 50 batch conceivably could be only 30 but if you replace the lost ones, how do you count firings accurately? It complicates things beyond my willingness to carry on.
(A first world problem I'm absolutely privileged and blessed to have however.)
Soonerpesek
Member
Sounds like a challenge by one, and challenge accepted by another........................game on................................
CQB45ACP
Member
Well it's all in good fun and I am going to carry on as best I can. BUT, I'm hearing renewed rumblings that NRA is getting closer to moving to TX and with that obviously their range will close. So yet again, I'll have to find a range that isn't priced for the wealthy data center Maserati driving crowd and isn't an hour away through gridlock traffic.Sounds like a challenge by one, and challenge accepted by another........................game on................................
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