Just wondering if you track how many times used on brass. Do you buy a bulk amount and use to end life before starting new lot? With brass hard to come by for awhile, I bought 100, later got 100 more, etc. I figure if inspecting before each loading you don't need to track this one is 3 loadings and that one is five.
Tracking brass
- Thread starter longrange772
- Start date
For example, my 223 Ackley....I started with 100 and keep track of uses. I use all 100 prior to reloading them. I have lost a few pieces here and there which I just replace and lose them into that 100 round batch.
My 300 WINMAG, I started out with 50. That's what fits in my plastic reload box. Then I bought 500 pieces of brass and loaded them up, too. I'm still using those first 50, except for the occasional loss or damaged case that just gets a replacement inserted into that box and lost into it.
Everything is logged into a data book I keep for each rifle but for quick reference I use the labels that come with the plastic boxes and just mark through the number along the bottom.
My 300 WINMAG, I started out with 50. That's what fits in my plastic reload box. Then I bought 500 pieces of brass and loaded them up, too. I'm still using those first 50, except for the occasional loss or damaged case that just gets a replacement inserted into that box and lost into it.
Everything is logged into a data book I keep for each rifle but for quick reference I use the labels that come with the plastic boxes and just mark through the number along the bottom.
I track all my brass. I have buckets of “once fired” LC and new starline for my gas guns. I use a brass catcher and keep all brass sorted by gun & I tag and bag it marked with the number of times fired through that gun.
With higher volume calibers I start with 300 - 500 and run use them all. 300NM I only have 200 pieces and that works because I shoot it much less. And I use bins with labels to track the brass. And when the rounds are loaded I mark I label how many times before that brass was shot so I don't forget the count if the ammo sits in ammo boxes for awhile before being shot.
I made these tags for my Akro-bins and check off activities until the brass is ready to shoot. I usually have 2-to-3 generations of firings, and typically use the "least fired" brass for projects so that all my brass ages together and I'm never more than a firing or two out in front of my least-fired brass. It keeps me very organized.
I thought I was organized with my labeled Ziplock bags, but you guys are putting me to shame!
It's all a façade ... I'm the most organized crappy shooter you'll ever get bad advice from.
We track ours with something like this. Brass stays with the case.
www.runnings.com
Home Page - Runnings
www.runnings.com
I'm pretty OCD... But I tip my hat to you sir.It's all a façade ... I'm the most organized crappy shooter you'll ever get bad advice from.
Mike
Here's what I do for bolt action... And it helps if you buy Lapua, Peterson, or any other brand that comes in its own case... Otherwise I will buy an MTM (or similar) case for that brass
The brass always stays in it's box. If I only load part of the brass then the empties stay in the box with the loaded rounds... When I fire them I leave the spent primers in the brass. When the entire 50 or 100 get fired then I deprime them all at once and mark the number of firings on the card (Peterson includes one) in the box.
Then I prep all 50 pieces at once... Tumble, Anneal, Size, Trim, Chamfer/Deburr. Then I leave a note in the box that they are ready for priming/loading.
For gas guns/high volume... Good luck. I just do the best I can to keep track.
Mike
The brass always stays in it's box. If I only load part of the brass then the empties stay in the box with the loaded rounds... When I fire them I leave the spent primers in the brass. When the entire 50 or 100 get fired then I deprime them all at once and mark the number of firings on the card (Peterson includes one) in the box.
Then I prep all 50 pieces at once... Tumble, Anneal, Size, Trim, Chamfer/Deburr. Then I leave a note in the box that they are ready for priming/loading.
For gas guns/high volume... Good luck. I just do the best I can to keep track.
Mike
I stick one of these in every bin of brass with its # of firings as well as it’s stage of processing.
Yup I track all mine by firings. Not quite as anal as some in this thread but just write on a ziplock how many firings and after prepped and primed they go in a different bag with same info on them.
How I keep track depends on what it is. Pistol brass I don't worry about. Bulk 5.56 brass is about the same. However, my reloading process is a bit different than some.
Typically I will prime the brass and store it in a bucket. As I go through a 3 or 5 gallon bucket I toss the used brass in a caliber specific bucket. Generally I know how many primers I used so if it's a concern I just write down that number on the storage bucket. It's not exactly right every time but it gives a general idea.
For something more specific where I use Lapua or whatever brass I will just write it down each time I prime a lot of say 100 rounds. It takes almost no effort to put a sticker on the box and put a mark on it.
Another option is to segregate the primers for that specific gun/load. Then all you have to do is see how many primers are left.
I keep track but also keep it pretty simple.
I run 300 cases of the good stuff (Lapua and/or Alpha), all from the same lot, which IMO gives me enough cases for a 2-day match and then some if I need them, and generally enough cases going so I can load them in batches of 100 "here and there" at my leisure as I go while having enough rounds on-hand to practice with. If I get lazy and put things off, then worst-case I end up doing 300 at once (IMO right at the edge of being tolerable in one batch). If I lose some at matches or whatever, I then supplement them with Hornady cases when needed.
I like running 300 at a time better than 500 because IMO brass reaches its "peak ripeness" after ~3 firings, and having to put 1500rds on a barrel to get there seems almost shameful lol.
I know this batch of brass has ~14 firings on it since I put my current barrel's round count on each box and this is the second barrel I'm using this batch with, the first barrel went 2300rds (in my bench notes), so 2300 + 1900 = 4200/300 = 14.
For blaster 9mm/5.56 stuff: I don't care... it's all range pickup shit, and I'll just pick up more unknown shit anyways lol.
I run 300 cases of the good stuff (Lapua and/or Alpha), all from the same lot, which IMO gives me enough cases for a 2-day match and then some if I need them, and generally enough cases going so I can load them in batches of 100 "here and there" at my leisure as I go while having enough rounds on-hand to practice with. If I get lazy and put things off, then worst-case I end up doing 300 at once (IMO right at the edge of being tolerable in one batch). If I lose some at matches or whatever, I then supplement them with Hornady cases when needed.
I like running 300 at a time better than 500 because IMO brass reaches its "peak ripeness" after ~3 firings, and having to put 1500rds on a barrel to get there seems almost shameful lol.
I know this batch of brass has ~14 firings on it since I put my current barrel's round count on each box and this is the second barrel I'm using this batch with, the first barrel went 2300rds (in my bench notes), so 2300 + 1900 = 4200/300 = 14.
For blaster 9mm/5.56 stuff: I don't care... it's all range pickup shit, and I'll just pick up more unknown shit anyways lol.
We track ours with something like this. Brass stays with the case.
Home Page - Runnings
Eggzackley
All of my cases are individually numbered using an electric engraving pencil, and tracked with loading data.
Before you post saying this weakens the case and is dangerous blah blah blah . . .
1) If you want to say this is dangerous: I a priori know that you have ZERO personal experience with this and you are talking out your a$$.
2) I have marked every case, across many chamberings (from .221 Fireball to 6.5x300WWH), with many thousands of firings, over three DECADES - NO issues.
Before you post saying this weakens the case and is dangerous blah blah blah . . .
1) If you want to say this is dangerous: I a priori know that you have ZERO personal experience with this and you are talking out your a$$.
2) I have marked every case, across many chamberings (from .221 Fireball to 6.5x300WWH), with many thousands of firings, over three DECADES - NO issues.
The primer pockets tell me. If a primer goes in loose, I set those cases aside, then deprime, keep primers, toss brass. Pretty low drama stuff.
For buying brass I usually start with 500 pieces for match rifles as that lets me use some to get a load worked up and then about 200 per match. Keep track of firings as I mentioned above with my ziplock bags.
I generally buy my brass in larger quantities (500), and keep track of firings by separating in labeled bins.
I use a similar wet erase card. I don't have the times fired though. I like that and will incorporate that into my cards. Thanks!
