When do you stop reloading brass?

[wjm1000]

This is on magnum size cases holding 80 to 140 grains of powder.

I have a friend that calms that after three firings the brass is shot out and the accuracy is gone. I don't think that is the case, if they are structurally sound and show no signs of head separation or necks having any cracking and primer pockets still being tight, the necks being annealed every time before being resized. I have never done any testing to determine if my opinion is or isn't correct.

What is your opinion on this?

 

[WapitiBob]

It takes 2-3 firings to fully form my brass, I toss it when primers don't stay in. If I'm loading for a hunt I'll use 3x over 1x.
7 STW
81.3gr N570

 

[Slick8]

I agree with the above.

I anneal and inspect cases after every shot.

I've ran a few pieces adg 30 nosler to 10 shots in testing and while the primers were very easy to seat they held up and maintained the same level of accuracy. This was a stiff load of H1k running 230s at 2980.

 

[std7mag]

Running stiff loads of RL26 in my 7mm Rem Mag, I get about 5-6 reloads before the primer pockets start getting loose.

 

[victor3ranger]

This is on magnum size cases holding 80 to 140 grains of powder.

I have a friend that calms that after three firings the brass is shot out and the accuracy is gone. I don't think that is the case, if they are structurally sound and show no signs of head separation or necks having any cracking and primer pockets still being tight, the necks being annealed every time before being resized. I have never done any testing to determine if my opinion is or isn't correct.

What is your opinion on this?

Sounds like you need to gather up your buddies so called used up brass

 

[Mikecr]

Maybe high chamber clearances.
When we size, we add energy, changing brass character. He could be seeing excess in that.

 

[nso123]

I typically shoot it until the primer pockets loosen up. I do inspect it for other visible issues with each loading.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Shoot, inspect for excessive damage or cracks, anneal….repeat!

 

[ARlife4me]

I stop reloading brass when I can't find it! Other than that 1 still use my super-x brass from late 70's to mid 80's that's been used more than 10 x's. That brass is seclusivily for the pre64 it started with. Having 2 more 264wm 's I'm using Norma to start with (haven't loaded/used any yet) for 1 new build and 1 post64 ('15 or '16 model). BTW, all brass was fl sized from the start.

 

[memtb]

This is on magnum size cases holding 80 to 140 grains of powder.

I have a friend that calms that after three firings the brass is shot out and the accuracy is gone. I don't think that is the case, if they are structurally sound and show no signs of head separation or necks having any cracking and primer pockets still being tight, the necks being annealed every time before being resized. I have never done any testing to determine if my opinion is or isn't correct.

What is your opinion on this?

I toss mine after 10 firings! I had one fail at 10…..decided that was a good number to toss them! It separated just forward of the belt.

Since then, I do minimal sizing…..so I might get more use from them!

Oh and……they had never been annealed! memtb

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

I have a friend that has been Chuck hunting for 40 years and shoots a 22-250.
He waits until he sees light showing through holes the case neck.

Personally we use Lapua Brass unless it is not offered in the cartridges we shoot. We keep a record of the brass and firings. Might have 100 in a batch at a time before we switch over to a NEW batch of brass.
When the primer pockets start to get loose (or we see holes in the neck) we throw that batch away.

 

[QuietTexan]

I 100% agree that my brass isn't always formed by 3 firings, so there's no way it's bad by then. But if your buddy is oversizing following the book instructions for an FL die he very well could be killing them early.

 

[RichCoyle]

Right now I am poor enough to use brass even when it will no longer hold a primer. I just put the primer in place and brush on some fingernail polish. While it's still wet I slide it across the underside of the table to wipe of excess. Works for me until I can afford to get some more.

 

[Taylorbok]

I just keep a feel out for primer pockets. If it holds a primer and the neck isn't split it's good to go.
I know some benchrest guys usually make enough perfect brass to shoot a match and then chuck it after 3-4 firings but they are shooting tiny groups.