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how many reloads?

In early '06, I started with 20 new Norma cases and 80 new Lapua cases. After two cycles, I had a neck split on a Norma and last year, I stuck a Lapua case in a kinetic puller and had to wrench it out, ruining it.

My 80 Lapua cases have between 11-13 cycles on them and are still going strong, with most of the primer pockets being firm, but a few are loosening up a bit. The remaining Norma cases have between 8-9 cycles on them.

Chris
 
My round count out of the rifle now is 2300

All Lapua brass – ranging from a few yet at 8 and 10 but the majority at 11 reloads
Ran hard – Hot
Full length sized, with tight neck tension
Annealed every reload
Always ran 300 grain Scenars
Always ran H1000

I do have some primer pockets getting loose do to being on the edge and age.

The key is good brass and annealing to keep the necks from getting brittle and consistency in neck tension for repeatable long range accuracy


Cheers
oneshot.onehit
 
I always anneal after resizing. If you do it before, you're just work hardening the metal again when you size it. I use a little butane torch from the hardware store and a socket chucked in a drill (13mm for .308 win) spin it and place the neck in the flame till it just starts to turn a bluish hue.