Brass longevity

F

FlySubCompact

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I reload 9mm. When I started doing this I had a notion that you might get to recycle brass for shooting maybe 3-4 times.

I have a few Win brass that I know I've cycled nine times reloading. These few survivors I've kept close observation on using a black magic marker so I can track them at the range and tumble them separately. No signs of damage or over pressure. Don't get me wrong, I have culled a lot of brass, but these few troopers look great.

Most of my loadings are for medium pressure for plinking at the range, but I had no idea you could get that much life out of reloaded shells. Especially a round that is considered "high pressure" like 9mm.

What kind of life could be possible out of 45ACP's (low pressure)? Any of you ever track certain shells like this?
 
No, I do not track. I shoot in fields and wood out back and not a range.

I do not recall wearing out brass, but I do tend to loose some as the major form of attrition. :(

I will also admit to damaging some brass here and there typically small brass like .32 ACP. I also give reloads away to family members from time to time.
 
I shoot at indoor ranges...with concrete floors...so cases bounce all over and I don't necessarily get only my cases back....( and I pick up a lot of range brass)...

but in .45 acp especially, the case is very strong...and I have no doubt you'll get dozens of reloads from one case before it will ever split -- and like you - I have dozens of reloads out of 9mm cases as well.

About the only cases I'm seeing splits on ...are .357 Mag and .44 Mag...or
on .40S&W - but even those seem to go at least 10+ reloads per case.../but I don't really keep track of how many times I reload a case.
 
Pistol brass shoot till it fails and toss it.
It is that simple.
I have brass that is older than my kids and they have kids now so just keep shooting.
:D
 
I think the endurance champ is 38 Special. If you load them light and put a taper crimp on them (like what is common with semi-auto cartridges), you can get countless loadings out of them.

I have 38 Spl brass from 1983.

Both 9mm and 45ACP are usually good for lotza loadings too. Some will suggest flairing minimally as to reduce stress on the case mouth. Me, I don't subscribe to this notion. I flair so I can set the bullet in the mouth with ease and have no chance of shaving. I flair the mouth more than most and it doesn't seem to be an issue. It is my belief that being overly aggressive with the crimp (especially a roll crimp, common with revolvers) is what fatigues the case mouth, not flairing.
 
I have 308 brass that has 20 firings through my AR-308. I anneal the necks every 5 or so firings though. Bolt guns don't beat up the rim or dent the case, so I'd imagine they last a whole lot longer than if run through a semi. With pistol brass I imagine you lose them at the range before you need to toss them.
 
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Like I a couple of the others I usually loose mine before I use it all up. I have had necks split on several revolver calibers but I was also loading them pretty toasty too. Between the loads and the crimps I was using they would still last around 8-10 loads.

With my auto's, I loose it well before I can use it up.
 
I load pistol brass until it either gets lost or the neck splits, and 99% of the time in 45 it gets lost long before it splits. The only pistol brass I bother to keep track of anymore is brass for my 10mm and 44, both of which get loaded to much higher pressures. But even with those calibers I typically load brass hot 3-4 times and then relegate it to plinking loads until it's lost or it splits.
 
At least 50 loads if I don't lose them. If there is split neck or insufficient bullet grip, I will anneal the whole batch.

I usually bring home more than I have brought to the range, except a few calibers. 30 Mauser is notorious, with 4 to 5% attrition rate. They cost almost 30 cents each, so I spend more time looking through grass then actual shooting.

-TL
 
No arguing that brass life data here. I load a ton of rifle, and Win brass is excellent, RP brass is also excellent , LC NATO is tough brass, an honarable mention for great brass newcomer should be Wolf brass, and lastly FC brass is absolute garbage... VERY soft brass and the FC primer pockets are loose after about 2-3 firings.
 
Taper crimp stuff last longer then roll crimp. You'll lose 9mm long before you ever wear them out. I've got some .38s that started splitting after a dozen or so loads. I have some WW Super .44 mag that did the same. I have PMC .44 with more and still going strong. I have some Freedom Arms .454 Casull brass that I truly believe is indestructible.
 
I have some 41 cases that I have been loading since the mid 80's, and some 38 cases that my pop loaded starting back in the late 60's or early 70's. Like mentioned I also load until they split or until I loose them while out hunting. Auto loaders, well I loose the brass for them WAY before they get tired.
 
I don't track any of my brass, pistol of rifle. I just keep using it until it splits, or other bad signs, or I just end up losing it. I think too much decent brass get tossed because it has "X" amounts of reloads. I don't think people should use questionable brass but no reason to not use it for the usable life of it.
 
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