When to retire brass?

[johncamino]

I'm using 30-06 Winchester brass, which I neck turned when new. I've gotten 7 reloads so far out of the lot of brass that I'm using. Using a paper clip on the inside and I can't detect any impending case head separations, and everything else looks good. The primers are easy to seat now, but still seem to have good tension.

When do you all retire brass even if it looks okay during case prep/inspection?

thanks for your inputs...

 

[Jeffvn]

Re: When to retire brass?

Personally I would anneal it and then use it until you see impending case head sweparation or the primer pockets get loose.

I anneal my 7WSM brass every 2 or 3 firings, and use them until the show impending separation, which is usually about 10 or 12 firings. Never had a neck split nor have I lost any to primer pockets getting loose, but I only run my 180 Bergers to about 2,950 fps.

JeffVN

 

[johncamino]

Re: When to retire brass?

I'm running 180 accubonds to 2760 fps.
What do you consider the primer pocket getting too loose?
I hand prime them, but I don't know what too loose is yet and was wondering what the warning sign would be.

 

[kwak]

Re: When to retire brass?

There are many little fixes that might give you a few extra loads, but I prefer to load them in batches and when one or two start to show signs of failure I scrap the whole batch. Not as critical in a bolt but a AR is a whole different game.