pistol brass, loaded how many times?

ammohoarder · 11-21-2012, 07:01 PM

How many times can you reload pistol brass and be safe?

gdmoody · 11-21-2012, 07:30 PM

Until it cracks. There is no set number of time you can load a piece of brass. You just have to inspect them each time to make sure that are still safe to load.

I have some brass that I have been using for 30 years, I won't sit here and say that I have reloaded them dozens of times cause that wouldn't be true, but there is no telling how many times I have loaded them cause I don't keep records.

aa1911 · 11-21-2012, 08:13 PM

most are pretty low pressure and will last many many reloads.

I also load them until they crack/split or show any signs of splits. .45 ACP seems to last forever... Been loading the same 5000 cases of 45 for 15+ years with very few case failures.

armoredman · 11-21-2012, 10:26 PM

I usually lose them before I break them. I have had some crack at the case mouth, and they get scrapped, but very tiny cracks. I'm just particular - life is too short to shoot bad brass.

Throckmorton · 11-29-2012, 11:26 AM

so many times that u will lose interest in trying to track it.lol I know I did.
Brass is the one component that ends up costing u nothing over time.

howlnmad · 11-29-2012, 11:35 AM

Like said above, until you start to see splits in the case mouth but odds are good that you'll lose them before that happens unless you're shooting a wheel gun.

ozo · 11-29-2012, 12:18 PM

Average or light charge....
many,many times....

Heavy loads with more stress,
still lots of times.

Several factors will determine the life.
Even additives to tumbling media can
shorten the brass' life.

Tumble them, inspect them....
No stress or cracks, load em up.

acelungger · 11-29-2012, 12:26 PM

I don't think this has been mention but if it has, never mind! Don't expand the neck's anymore than you have to!
Greg

soundguy · 11-29-2012, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armoredman

I usually lose them before I break them. I have had some crack at the case mouth, and they get scrapped, but very tiny cracks. I'm just particular - life is too short to shoot bad brass.

i go over my brass, especially rifle... with a fine tooth comb. That gun chamber is way too close to my face for any chance of having bad brass.

I went thru my 222 cache the other day and bet i tossed ? 50-60 cartridges out of a maybee 300 or so. some had marks at the neck or mouth i wasn't happy with.. some actually had a seperation or tear in resizing.. or the start of a fissue could be seen forming. the ones with the minor marks I might got another laod out of.. but as you said.. just no reason to load questionable cases. I got plenty of brass to try to chance it on an iffy one. I must have tossed 15 alone that had case dents I didn't like..

The Count · 11-29-2012, 04:35 PM

As long as you keep the loads from light to middle of the road you can reload them dozens of times easily. Some old timers told me they have brass then have been reloading for 20 years...Of course, the question is how often they were shot in those 20 years.

312shooter · 11-30-2012, 03:10 PM

+1 to all the above posts, however if it is nickle plated about 3 times before splits occur.

mikld · 12-02-2012, 12:12 PM

FWIW; I bought 1k .38 Special once fired cases back in '87, and have no idea how many times some have been reloaded (I would guess a minimum of 15 times and prolly a lot more). I have some nickle plated brass that I've reloaded so many times the brass is showing through the nickle plating...

ejkoechling · 12-02-2012, 12:20 PM

lower pressure seem to last a long time

JLA · 12-02-2012, 12:58 PM

load em til they fail.

woolleyworm · 12-02-2012, 05:16 PM

pistol brass, loaded how many times? My question exactly; 99% of all my loads are right about middle of the load data and I can't even remember the last time I had a case failure in pistol calibers. I have tossed a couple cases before loading, mostly in .38/357 with small mouth cracks.
I've had some nickel cases that I've had to have reloaded at least a dozen times. Nickel plated cases will definitely give out quicker at higher charge levels. I've shot a ton of .327Federal nickel cases, since the 85gn HydraShoks were about the only thing available for awhile. I bought 200 rounds and then used those for my reloads. Glad they have the AE available now, I've got approx 240 nickel cases and 400 brass now. I have yet to scrap a .327 case due to failure, only due to my own boo-boos.

soundguy · 12-03-2012, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLA

load em til they fail.

hard to beat that advice.

I very carefully look over and inspect all my brass after cleaning.. anything questinable goes into my recycle box.

occasionally i will get one that i will decide to only relaoding one last time then discard.. sometiems due to wear in the rebated rim so i don't get ejection problems.. on thos i'll take magic marger tot he bases to id them as 'retire' etc... next time I pick up a batch.. etc..

11-21-2012, 07:01 PM	#1
ammohoarder Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 4	pistol brass, loaded how many times? How many times can you reload pistol brass and be safe? -->

11-21-2012, 07:30 PM	#2
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,306	Re: pistol brass, loaded how many times? Until it cracks. There is no set number of time you can load a piece of brass. You just have to inspect them each time to make sure that are still safe to load. I have some brass that I have been using for 30 years, I won't sit here and say that I have reloaded them dozens of times cause that wouldn't be true, but there is no telling how many times I have loaded them cause I don't keep records. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

11-21-2012, 08:13 PM	#3
aa1911 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 3,110	Re: pistol brass, loaded how many times? most are pretty low pressure and will last many many reloads. I also load them until they crack/split or show any signs of splits. .45 ACP seems to last forever... Been loading the same 5000 cases of 45 for 15+ years with very few case failures. __________________ "Loud noises don't end gunfights.... well placed shots do."

11-21-2012, 10:26 PM	#4
armoredman Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Proud to be in Arizona Posts: 1,367	Re: pistol brass, loaded how many times? I usually lose them before I break them. I have had some crack at the case mouth, and they get scrapped, but very tiny cracks. I'm just particular - life is too short to shoot bad brass.

11-29-2012, 11:26 AM	#5
Throckmorton Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 20	Re: pistol brass, loaded how many times? so many times that u will lose interest in trying to track it.lol I know I did. Brass is the one component that ends up costing u nothing over time.

11-29-2012, 11:35 AM	#6
howlnmad Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Harriman, Tn Contributor Posts: 2,560	Re: pistol brass, loaded how many times? Like said above, until you start to see splits in the case mouth but odds are good that you'll lose them before that happens unless you're shooting a wheel gun. __________________

11-29-2012, 12:18 PM	#7
ozo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 2,770	Re: pistol brass, loaded how many times? Average or light charge.... many,many times.... Heavy loads with more stress, still lots of times. Several factors will determine the life. Even additives to tumbling media can shorten the brass' life. Tumble them, inspect them.... No stress or cracks, load em up. __________________ http://www.nranews.com/#/nranews, "ozo. you're off your rocker sir." -johnlives4christ http://www.prisonplanet.com/ -America,Bless GOD- Last edited by ozo; 11-29-2012 at 12:19 PM..

11-29-2012, 12:26 PM	#8
acelungger Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 15	Re: pistol brass, loaded how many times? I don't think this has been mention but if it has, never mind! Don't expand the neck's anymore than you have to! Greg

11-29-2012, 04:35 PM	#10
The Count V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 264	Re: pistol brass, loaded how many times? As long as you keep the loads from light to middle of the road you can reload them dozens of times easily. Some old timers told me they have brass then have been reloading for 20 years...Of course, the question is how often they were shot in those 20 years.

11-30-2012, 03:10 PM	#11
312shooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 1,148	Re: pistol brass, loaded how many times? +1 to all the above posts, however if it is nickle plated about 3 times before splits occur. __________________ "Democracy is based on citizenship- perhaps the greatest gift the United States has given to the world- Power is vested in the people themselves, and government flows from the people" James M Henslin

12-02-2012, 12:12 PM	#12
mikld Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 573	Re: pistol brass, loaded how many times? FWIW; I bought 1k .38 Special once fired cases back in '87, and have no idea how many times some have been reloaded (I would guess a minimum of 15 times and prolly a lot more). I have some nickle plated brass that I've reloaded so many times the brass is showing through the nickle plating... __________________ My Anchor is holding fast.

12-02-2012, 12:20 PM	#13
ejkoechling Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 543	Re: pistol brass, loaded how many times? lower pressure seem to last a long time

12-02-2012, 12:58 PM	#14
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,280	Re: pistol brass, loaded how many times? load em til they fail. __________________ 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!

12-02-2012, 05:16 PM	#15
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,882	Re: pistol brass, loaded how many times? pistol brass, loaded how many times? My question exactly; 99% of all my loads are right about middle of the load data and I can't even remember the last time I had a case failure in pistol calibers. I have tossed a couple cases before loading, mostly in .38/357 with small mouth cracks. I've had some nickel cases that I've had to have reloaded at least a dozen times. Nickel plated cases will definitely give out quicker at higher charge levels. I've shot a ton of .327Federal nickel cases, since the 85gn HydraShoks were about the only thing available for awhile. I bought 200 rounds and then used those for my reloads. Glad they have the AE available now, I've got approx 240 nickel cases and 400 brass now. I have yet to scrap a .327 case due to failure, only due to my own boo-boos. __________________ . 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." .