I was wondering if after about 6 to 8 reloadings with only standard reloading practices (ie size/debur/trim/clean...etc) basically no annealing, if accuracy would drop off? Or at what general round about point does it?
Case Life Question?
- Thread starter STI_1911_Guy
- Start date
Re: Case Life Question?
It matters a ton which caliber you are shooting, not so much about accuracy, but safety (case head separation, split necks, etc)
It matters a ton which caliber you are shooting, not so much about accuracy, but safety (case head separation, split necks, etc)
Re: Case Life Question?
Also depends on how hot you are loading. Sedate 308 loads work well for 8-9 loads before they need to be thrown out for me. Also depends on the brand of brass.
Also depends on how hot you are loading. Sedate 308 loads work well for 8-9 loads before they need to be thrown out for me. Also depends on the brand of brass.
Re: Case Life Question?
Take a press to the range and do an experiment. See how many times you can reload your load for your rifle before failure. Then you'll have your true answer.
Take a press to the range and do an experiment. See how many times you can reload your load for your rifle before failure. Then you'll have your true answer.
Re: Case Life Question?
I would have to imagine that to some degree accuracy must degrade with (x) amount of reloads or why do some like to anneal there cases?
I would have to imagine that to some degree accuracy must degrade with (x) amount of reloads or why do some like to anneal there cases?
Re: Case Life Question?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: STI_1911_Guy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would have to imagine that to some degree accuracy must degrade with (x) amount of reloads or why do some like to anneal there cases? </div></div>
Annealing effects neck tension so there is a potential for a change in accuracy. I shoot in the 1/2-3/4 moa range and haven't seen it in my .308, but I am not shooting at extreme distances (600+) where these things become more pronounced.
The most obvious purpose for annealing is to prevent neck splits which often times with moderate loads end the usable life of brass before incipent case head speration or loose primer pockets. The arrival of any of the three mentioned conditions is when that piece of brass has expired.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: STI_1911_Guy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would have to imagine that to some degree accuracy must degrade with (x) amount of reloads or why do some like to anneal there cases? </div></div>
Annealing effects neck tension so there is a potential for a change in accuracy. I shoot in the 1/2-3/4 moa range and haven't seen it in my .308, but I am not shooting at extreme distances (600+) where these things become more pronounced.
The most obvious purpose for annealing is to prevent neck splits which often times with moderate loads end the usable life of brass before incipent case head speration or loose primer pockets. The arrival of any of the three mentioned conditions is when that piece of brass has expired.
Re: Case Life Question?
benchrest guys are using their cases well over 20 times - 5 times in 1 day, but that is with minimum sized chambers and light loads
that would be interesting to shoot 1 case to failure and track the POI/accuracy
benchrest guys are using their cases well over 20 times - 5 times in 1 day, but that is with minimum sized chambers and light loads
that would be interesting to shoot 1 case to failure and track the POI/accuracy
Re: Case Life Question?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: George63</div><div class="ubbcode-body">benchrest guys are using their cases well over 20 times - 5 times in 1 day, but that is with minimum sized chambers and light loads
that would be interesting to shoot 1 case to failure and track the POI/accuracy </div></div>
And some even as many as 40 loads, depending on brass mfr.
I threw away my first .308 case for the year last week. Had well over 20 loads on it. I anneal every 5 times for GP brass and after each loading for anything I want to be super accurate.
All my loads are around the 90% of max range so I'm not really stretching my cases all that much. Also, I never F/L size. A Forster Neck Size/Shoulder bump die takes care of all the sizing needed. I also expand as a separate op with a Sinclair Expander (oversize) so each prepped case measures exactly .306" ID in the neck. By only sizing the case a minimal amount, not undersizing the case neck by .010" or more than pulling an expander ball to make the neck the correct size, the cases last longer. Annealing gives me a fairly consistent metal performance so the cases are about as accurate as can be. The rest is up to the operator, rifle, and conditions.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: George63</div><div class="ubbcode-body">benchrest guys are using their cases well over 20 times - 5 times in 1 day, but that is with minimum sized chambers and light loads
that would be interesting to shoot 1 case to failure and track the POI/accuracy </div></div>
And some even as many as 40 loads, depending on brass mfr.
I threw away my first .308 case for the year last week. Had well over 20 loads on it. I anneal every 5 times for GP brass and after each loading for anything I want to be super accurate.
All my loads are around the 90% of max range so I'm not really stretching my cases all that much. Also, I never F/L size. A Forster Neck Size/Shoulder bump die takes care of all the sizing needed. I also expand as a separate op with a Sinclair Expander (oversize) so each prepped case measures exactly .306" ID in the neck. By only sizing the case a minimal amount, not undersizing the case neck by .010" or more than pulling an expander ball to make the neck the correct size, the cases last longer. Annealing gives me a fairly consistent metal performance so the cases are about as accurate as can be. The rest is up to the operator, rifle, and conditions.
