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Discussion: How many times can I reload a single casing?Reported This is a featured thread

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AvtomatKalashnikova
AvtomatKalashnikova
How many times can I reload a single casing?
Oct 2 2010, 11:23 AM EDT | Post edited: Oct 2 2010, 11:23 AM EDT
I was wondering....so Do you find this valuable?    
AlexHigginbotham
AlexHigginbotham
1. RE: How many times can I reload a single casing?
Oct 2 2010, 12:14 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 2 2010, 12:14 PM EDT
I think you can reload brass up to 3 times and any other material cant be reloaded. 0  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
Filadog
Filadog
2. RE: How many times can I reload a single casing?
Oct 2 2010, 1:03 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 2 2010, 1:03 PM EDT
There is no set amount, best answear probably is till it splits or primer pocket expands to much.
This varies with case to case as well as cartridge to cartridge...generally speaking Pistol cartridge cases s last longer then rifle ones. Also milder loads will make the case last longer.

I think with most rifle cases you should be able to get 10 to 20 reloads, pistol cases probably double that.. Some like the old straight walled cases if loaded with Blackpowder could probably be reloaded indefinitely, maybe the same with brass shotgun shells Do you find this valuable?    
Sharpie41
Sharpie41
3. RE: How many times can I reload a single casing?
Oct 6 2010, 4:01 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 6 2010, 4:01 PM EDT
"I was wondering....so"
depends on the pressures of your handloads, full pressure handguns cartridges maybe 5-10 but more if you load then with lower pressures Do you find this valuable?    
OutlawJames
OutlawJames
4. RE: How many times can I reload a single casing?
Oct 6 2010, 6:43 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 6 2010, 6:43 PM EDT
Gonna try again first wouldnt post.
Filagog pretty much is right.
I have .38 spec. cases from the 1920's my grandad bought that we have only used for target shooting. Huge amount of reloads on them.

What you want to do is wash decap and inspect your shells after each firing.

Watch for , Bulging, particularly around case heads, (impending head seperation)
Primer pocket enlargement
Work hardening of the mouths, this can cause neck splits and moutn or neck seperation.( you can cure this by annealing the case mouths evrey 6-10 reloadings.)

Things to avoid doing to increase case life:

If the cases are to be used in the same firearm, dont full length resize. This overworks the brass an contributes to hardening.

Avoid heavy crimps on rimmed pistol and any rifle cases, only enough to retain bullet. ( you dont crimp rimless autopistol cases as they headspace on the case rim.)

Keep your loadings to 75-90 percent of maximum. You probably dont need the extra power you gain from going full on, and it overworks an stretches cases.
As my Grandad always said; " If you need to go full on with your loadings, you ain't using a powerful enough cartrdge to start with!"

This is a real good sight for checking loads and pressures
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Because of their lower operating pressures shotshells can generally be loaded untill you start to get cracking of the crimp plastic or flattening of the rim ( this will start to enlarge the rim dia. so its good to check them) 2  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?    

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