.45 acp brass - The Firearms Forum

downfall · 03-31-2011, 07:49 PM

How many times can .45 acp brass be safely reloaded? what should I look for as signs the brass has reached end of life?

Thanks..

JLA · 03-31-2011, 08:10 PM

reload it til it splits at the mouth.... I have some winchester .45ACP brass that has been cycled 50 times or more and its still goin...

TheGunClinger · 03-31-2011, 08:45 PM

Yup, till it splits!

bayhawk2 · 03-31-2011, 08:47 PM

JLA-Have you ever had to trim the cases after so many re-loads?
I have a case trimmer I bought when I first got back
into re-loading thinking handgun loads would be
no different than rifle re-loading.I have yet to see any
need to trim after several firings on my .45 Colt,.45
ACP,or .44 Mag cases.Is that the norm?

JLA · 03-31-2011, 08:55 PM

nope. I usually trim once fired brass just so its all consistent, after that I dont bother even checking the length on more than a random handful out of the pile. The dont grow, and in fact I find most auto brass tends to shrink a couple thousandths.

JLA · 03-31-2011, 08:56 PM

most of the brass in the batch that has been cycled so many times is barely legible in the headstamp. The lettering has been peened out so to speak...

woolleyworm · 03-31-2011, 09:42 PM

pretty much as long as your shoulder doesn't wear out; just keep pullin the handle and load'em up ! A good inspection each and every time and most straight wall cases will last for a great while. Like JLA said, an initial trim to keep them consistent on the crimp. I measure about 5% and inspect 100% of my 45acp brass every reload session. If any of them are too short or look off in any way, they get tossed into scrap. I don't shoot very many hot loads, so I've only had to toss a few ( maybe 4-5) since I started reloading in '06.

bayhawk2 · 04-01-2011, 03:45 AM

Good stuff guys..thanks

X Ring · 04-01-2011, 05:21 PM

I have had some 38SPL brass that will not retain a primer, loaded many many times it never split but the primer just will not stay in the pocket. Most of my auto brass splits first however.

JLA · 04-01-2011, 06:37 PM

Thats another sign to toss them X ring. usually you get splits before the primer pocket loosens up tho...

03-31-2011, 07:49 PM	#1
downfall Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sacramento, DPRK Posts: 16	.45 acp brass How many times can .45 acp brass be safely reloaded? what should I look for as signs the brass has reached end of life? Thanks.. -->

03-31-2011, 08:10 PM	#2
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: .45 acp brass reload it til it splits at the mouth.... I have some winchester .45ACP brass that has been cycled 50 times or more and its still goin... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

03-31-2011, 08:45 PM	#3
TheGunClinger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SW Florida Contributor Posts: 2,382	Re: .45 acp brass Yup, till it splits! __________________ New England Patriots Rule Next year.

03-31-2011, 08:47 PM	#4
bayhawk2 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 102	Re: .45 acp brass JLA-Have you ever had to trim the cases after so many re-loads? I have a case trimmer I bought when I first got back into re-loading thinking handgun loads would be no different than rifle re-loading.I have yet to see any need to trim after several firings on my .45 Colt,.45 ACP,or .44 Mag cases.Is that the norm?

03-31-2011, 08:55 PM	#5
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: .45 acp brass nope. I usually trim once fired brass just so its all consistent, after that I dont bother even checking the length on more than a random handful out of the pile. The dont grow, and in fact I find most auto brass tends to shrink a couple thousandths. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

03-31-2011, 08:56 PM	#6
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: .45 acp brass most of the brass in the batch that has been cycled so many times is barely legible in the headstamp. The lettering has been peened out so to speak... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

03-31-2011, 09:42 PM	#7
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,883	Re: .45 acp brass pretty much as long as your shoulder doesn't wear out; just keep pullin the handle and load'em up ! A good inspection each and every time and most straight wall cases will last for a great while. Like JLA said, an initial trim to keep them consistent on the crimp. I measure about 5% and inspect 100% of my 45acp brass every reload session. If any of them are too short or look off in any way, they get tossed into scrap. I don't shoot very many hot loads, so I've only had to toss a few ( maybe 4-5) since I started reloading in '06. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

04-01-2011, 03:45 AM	#8
bayhawk2 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 102	Re: .45 acp brass Good stuff guys..thanks

04-01-2011, 05:21 PM	#9
X Ring V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 188	Re: .45 acp brass I have had some 38SPL brass that will not retain a primer, loaded many many times it never split but the primer just will not stay in the pocket. Most of my auto brass splits first however. __________________ Load More = Shoot More http://s1096.photobucket.com/albums/g327/Wynn3/

04-01-2011, 06:37 PM	#10
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: .45 acp brass Thats another sign to toss them X ring. usually you get splits before the primer pocket loosens up tho... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!