jaredr Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 for folks who reload for their AR and keep track of their own brass, keen to see how many times people are willing to reload the same cartridge? I've got some range pickup brass (i.e. already fired at least once when I got it) that i've run through my rifle once (so it has now been fired at least 2x). I'm using 25 gr SMP735 which produces about 3100fps from an 18" barrel. Wondering whether I give this batch a cleaning and run it through one more time or bin it for scrap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskapopo Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 (edited) for folks who reload for their AR and keep track of their own brass, keen to see how many times people are willing to reload the same cartridge? I've got some range pickup brass (i.e. already fired at least once when I got it) that i've run through my rifle once (so it has now been fired at least 2x). I'm using 25 gr SMP735 which produces about 3100fps from an 18" barrel. Wondering whether I give this batch a cleaning and run it through one more time or bin it for scrap. I load them until the brass splits or the case separates or the primer pocket will no longer hold a primer. For serious matches I use once fired brass. Pat Edited September 28, 2013 by Alaskapopo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outerlimits Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 What Pat said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retarmyaviator Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 Same here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMS42 Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 Even with picking up all the brass during practice, I usually lost the brass during matches before the cases wore out. Although I found that some Federal cases couldn't be reloaded more than once before the some of the primers would come out when fired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpeltier Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 Like Pat says "for serious matches I use once fired brass". My problem is I consider every match a serious match. I only load mine once and leave it for the scroungers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaredr Posted September 29, 2013 Author Share Posted September 29, 2013 concern is that i'm running the majority of this ammunition through suppressed rifles and i've seen rounds keyhole from cartridges that split their neck during firing. while I'd love to get some reassurance that I can reload these cartridges at max pressure 3, 4 times or more, I think the writing on the wall here is that if I care about how the round performs (and I certainly do if I am firing it through my own suppressors) then I should reload once and leave it for scrap. for circumstances where I'm not that concerned about ammunition performance (e.g. shooting unsuppressed, don't care about the occasional case head separation, keyhole, or inconsistent velocity due to brass failing while the round's going off) then maybe i'll try and get a few more cycles out of that brass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandof Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 Like most others I know, I load it till it fails or is lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskapopo Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Like Pat says "for serious matches I use once fired brass". My problem is I consider every match a serious match. I only load mine once and leave it for the scroungers. I wish I shot with you. lol Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
314shane Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 I've reloaded some Remington 223 brass 10 times and my velocities were around 3000fps with a 52grn bullet without any issues and the brass is still in my reloading area. I can't speek for other brands of brass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Hunter Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Primer pocket generally goes first. For matches I watch the brass that gets uses and use a hand primer. For practice through the 1050 - till it fails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mic2377 Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 I reload mine 3-4 times, and then turn them into 300 BLK cases that I use for subsonic rounds. Easily getting a total of 10 (even up to 15!) loadings from one set of brass. Mind you the subs develop only 1/3-1/2 the pressure of a decent 223 load. If I was keeping them for 223, I would load 5-6 times and then discard. Just not daring enough to find out just when that case head separation will be... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevyoneton Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 I load to failure, and usually detect it somewhere along the way from range-scrounging to final loading. I do not use rifle (or pistol/shotgun for that matter) reloads for "serious matches" as I only run factory for that. I will run reloaded pistol/rifle for less than serious matches. I do not reload shotgun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 69s and 77s get loaded in new or once fired LC then I use that brass for 50 or 55 NBTs. 55 grain FMJs get loaded in processed and inspected commercial brass. By the time I hit 3 or 4 loadings, it has been to a major with lost brass so I don't think I have ever gone to 5 loadings on a case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amlevin Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 I load LC brass until it fails by splitting or showing an impending case head separation. I anneal it regularly and 10X is about average for my "near max" loads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdinga Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 Like most other brass used in an auto-they are probably lost before being worn out. My compliments to the gentleman who gets ten reloads. Maybe I should mount one of those brass catcher thingers on my AR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raydee38 Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 Tactical brass catcher for me, I haven't lost a single 223 since I bought mine. Sent from my Galaxy S4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigedp51 Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 The amount of reloads from a cartridge case is based on chamber pressure meaning how hot you load and how much you bump your shoulders back during resizing. You will get "MANY" more reloads using a Hornady cartridge case headspace gauge and accurately measuring your fired cases and adjusting your dies for minimum shoulder bump. Below, I prefer the Hornady gauge over the Wilson and RCBS gauges because you only need to buy "ONE" gauge instead of one gauge for each caliber. I now use my Wilson gauges for pen holders and paper weights since I bought the Hornady case gauge. You can also get far more reloads from your cases by throwing your bent paper clip in the trash and get a RCBS case mastering gauge. With this gauge you can measure case stretching and thinning in the base area in thousandths. And again this is in relation to cartridge case headspace verses chamber headspace meaning shoulder bump. There are "NO" set numbers for how many times a cartridge case can be reloaded. And the number will vary depending on how you care for and treat your cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatland Shooter Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 Tactical brass catcher for me, I haven't lost a single 223 since I bought mine. Sent from my Galaxy S4 I can see one of these for practice, but does anyone use them during a match? Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mastiff Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 This looks nice, check out this demo: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AUqAhjkUkGI Dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raydee38 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 http://www.tacticalbrassrecovery.com/Default.asp Here is the one I use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now