How many times? How do you determine when to throw it away?
- Thread starter jeffm
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Re: How may times do you load your brass?
with winchester or lapua brass, I load twice then anneal, only throw away when the neck split or primer pocket is too loose, if no annealing machine, i load four times for match then it is practice brass until neck splits and primer pocket is loose.
hope this helps
with winchester or lapua brass, I load twice then anneal, only throw away when the neck split or primer pocket is too loose, if no annealing machine, i load four times for match then it is practice brass until neck splits and primer pocket is loose.
hope this helps
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
I shoot mostly bolt gun...easy on brass. Since its mostly bolt gun, I take full advantage of neck sizing...extremely easy on brass. I don't load hot, I load for accuracy...easy on brass. I'm not into annealing...accuracy speaks for itself. My practice has been FL size, then NS 3 times, FL size, then NS 3 times. Primer pockets are a little loose after that, then I toss for recycle. Never had any splits. I have gotten over 10 loads before, but not often because I use inexpensive Win brass. Semi-auto....whole different story.
I shoot mostly bolt gun...easy on brass. Since its mostly bolt gun, I take full advantage of neck sizing...extremely easy on brass. I don't load hot, I load for accuracy...easy on brass. I'm not into annealing...accuracy speaks for itself. My practice has been FL size, then NS 3 times, FL size, then NS 3 times. Primer pockets are a little loose after that, then I toss for recycle. Never had any splits. I have gotten over 10 loads before, but not often because I use inexpensive Win brass. Semi-auto....whole different story.
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
I'm on my 6th loading for .223 Remington in an AR right now. The primer pockets don't seem to be getting any looser and the brass doesn't show any issues, so I'm gonna keep using it. I plan to toss the brass when I get loose primer pockets.
I have noticed that accuracy goes to crap after the fourth firing if you don't anneal. Now I'm probably gonna anneal after every other firing.
I'm on my 6th loading for .223 Remington in an AR right now. The primer pockets don't seem to be getting any looser and the brass doesn't show any issues, so I'm gonna keep using it. I plan to toss the brass when I get loose primer pockets.
I have noticed that accuracy goes to crap after the fourth firing if you don't anneal. Now I'm probably gonna anneal after every other firing.
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
I use both Winchester and Lapua brass. I can get 11 loadings on Winchester and up to 9 or so on Lapua before the necks split. If you try to get any more loadings than that, the cost savings are negligible and I don't want to run the risk of flame cuting the boltface. I anneal every 3 firings.
I use both Winchester and Lapua brass. I can get 11 loadings on Winchester and up to 9 or so on Lapua before the necks split. If you try to get any more loadings than that, the cost savings are negligible and I don't want to run the risk of flame cuting the boltface. I anneal every 3 firings.
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
I've lost track. Only time I toss brass is when primers don't seat with some force or a neck splits.
I keep plenty of "spare brass" around with over 10k .223 and 3k of .308 waiting its turn.
I've lost track. Only time I toss brass is when primers don't seat with some force or a neck splits.
I keep plenty of "spare brass" around with over 10k .223 and 3k of .308 waiting its turn.
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
To all that anneal....question....are you FL sizing only? Just asking because I haven't noticed any issues whatsoever since I went to N sizing. But I only NS for my bolt guns. Just wandering.
To all that anneal....question....are you FL sizing only? Just asking because I haven't noticed any issues whatsoever since I went to N sizing. But I only NS for my bolt guns. Just wandering.
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: in2deep</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Lapua brass.... never annealed....22 reloads and still looks/shoots great. </div></div>
What caliber and load??? 22loads that's amazing I'm lucky to get 10 in my 308
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: in2deep</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Lapua brass.... never annealed....22 reloads and still looks/shoots great. </div></div>
What caliber and load??? 22loads that's amazing I'm lucky to get 10 in my 308
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
I buy all new brass each Winter. Previous year's brass gets cleaned, resized, decapped, then goes into storage. Never know when you'll need brass you don't mind leaving were it lies. I never wear out my brass, so counting loading cycles is not a priority.
Greg
I buy all new brass each Winter. Previous year's brass gets cleaned, resized, decapped, then goes into storage. Never know when you'll need brass you don't mind leaving were it lies. I never wear out my brass, so counting loading cycles is not a priority.
Greg
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
Greg
I buy brass frequently, but not every year (more like every 3 or 4 years). I anneal frequently, and use mine until its dead or I abandon the cartridge in favor of a new flavor of the month. Have you noticed significant case capacity swings or quality in the brass for the cartridges that you shoot?
Jeffvn
Greg
I buy brass frequently, but not every year (more like every 3 or 4 years). I anneal frequently, and use mine until its dead or I abandon the cartridge in favor of a new flavor of the month. Have you noticed significant case capacity swings or quality in the brass for the cartridges that you shoot?
Jeffvn
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
I toss them when the pockets are too lose or when the necks split. In my bolts the brass lasts a long time. I just started reloading for an AR-15 and it looks like I won't be getting nearly as many reloads.
I toss them when the pockets are too lose or when the necks split. In my bolts the brass lasts a long time. I just started reloading for an AR-15 and it looks like I won't be getting nearly as many reloads.
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
+1 for what greg said
+1 for what greg said
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
I don't think so. The loads continue to work as long as I maintain the same component makers. I expect powders to be less consistent than brass.
I don't anneal, I don't own a trimmer, and I stay well shy of max loads.
I will use up a couple of pounds of powder per year per chambering. I currently load for .30BR (Savage Custom FV250 rifle), .223 (Stag Super Varminter FV250 F T/R), and 7.62x39 (Savage Scout near-match/trainer for my Granddaughter).
I also load .260 and .30-'06 (Garand) on a much smaller scale.
Greg
I don't think so. The loads continue to work as long as I maintain the same component makers. I expect powders to be less consistent than brass.
I don't anneal, I don't own a trimmer, and I stay well shy of max loads.
I will use up a couple of pounds of powder per year per chambering. I currently load for .30BR (Savage Custom FV250 rifle), .223 (Stag Super Varminter FV250 F T/R), and 7.62x39 (Savage Scout near-match/trainer for my Granddaughter).
I also load .260 and .30-'06 (Garand) on a much smaller scale.
Greg
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
Eleventy times. Just kidding. Until my primer pockets get loose or start hearing the "crunchy" sound while seating. Then I anneal. Lapua is more expensive but the chances of blowing your self up are 30% less and they last 10-14 reloads if you dont hot dog it.
Eleventy times. Just kidding. Until my primer pockets get loose or start hearing the "crunchy" sound while seating. Then I anneal. Lapua is more expensive but the chances of blowing your self up are 30% less and they last 10-14 reloads if you dont hot dog it.
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
Part of the answer depends on what type of shooting you do. For Match I am very particular, and use the brass no more than twice, assuming no defects.
It then goes into the carbine bin.
I have only ever had a primer pocket go bad once, but I don't do heavy loads in any event.
Cracks are an automatic reject. Come to think of it, any other defects are a automatic reject. I tend to check the bases of the brass as well as the necks.
Part of the answer depends on what type of shooting you do. For Match I am very particular, and use the brass no more than twice, assuming no defects.
It then goes into the carbine bin.
I have only ever had a primer pocket go bad once, but I don't do heavy loads in any event.
Cracks are an automatic reject. Come to think of it, any other defects are a automatic reject. I tend to check the bases of the brass as well as the necks.
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
Welcome to the hide reheat
Welcome to the hide reheat
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
As wwb says...mostly every time I shoot it.
As wwb says...mostly every time I shoot it.
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
Im on #24 for my 308 RP brass, had only one out of 100 neck split. I anneal after every 8 or so reloads, full length size. I just purchased some Lapua, so I'm gonna rotate out the RP and put them in storage.
Im on #24 for my 308 RP brass, had only one out of 100 neck split. I anneal after every 8 or so reloads, full length size. I just purchased some Lapua, so I'm gonna rotate out the RP and put them in storage.
Re: How may times do you load your brass?
I shoot my brass until it fails in some manner. Most of the time it is case head separation or split necks. I really do not have a problem with primer pockets coming loose. My quickest way of getting rid of brass is loss.
I shoot my brass until it fails in some manner. Most of the time it is case head separation or split necks. I really do not have a problem with primer pockets coming loose. My quickest way of getting rid of brass is loss.
