Tracking how many times you've reloaded brass

[cwuwildcat]

How do you keep track of how many times you've reloaded cases?  Say you've got a hundred cases. You only load 10-20 to see if you want that load, and then fire them.  Do you isolate those from the others, reload them again, store in their own box, and then fire them without mixing with others?

[Ray]

You can log them by lot number of the brass.

[carpsniperg2]

i keep my labels # on how many times they have been fired, most the time i have enough brass to weight to load them right back up and that way they stay all the same. or keep them in bags by # fired.

[Skycruiser]

I find it easier to keep track of them in lots of twenty. I put a label on each box with the number of times they've been reloaded and number of reloads since last trimming.

[Jamieb]

I use the plastic cartridge box's, some hold 20, some 50 some 100. I lable each box with masking tape, write on the tape how many fireings on the brass.
I mostly use the box's that hold 50 and keep that brass together on the same reload.

[woodswalker]

You can log them by lot number of the brass.

That assumes you have the box still Ray.  I have a batch that i have kept together for over 25 years, all REM-UMC .38 Spl brass....started with 500 rounds...now down to 314 with 61 loadings on the lot.  Casualties have mostly been splits to where they were not safe to shoot with target loads.  Crinkled a few setting up dies...maybe 6 or so.  All are empty..so its about to hit loading number 62!  Load is 3.4 Gr Unique under a 148 grain WC.  STINKINGLY accurate in my Pre-War M&P Target.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Belted Magnum Rifle stuff I keep to small lots. Unknown reload count but I inspect every case before/during reloading. I shoot every bit of my brass until it's not worthy any more.

For Magnum Pistol loads I keep the heavy loads separated from the practice/lead loads. Again, inspecting the most abused cases with fine scrutiny.

My target loads for 45acp... 38spl... Man.. I've got tens or maybe even hundreds of reloads on some cases. I certainly don't keep track.

There is no magic number for the amount of reloads any one cartridge can handle. I've got some belted bottle neck brass that's only been neck sized -ever. Lasting quite well.

-Steve

[cwuwildcat]

Do those high number of times you are getting on reloading the same brass unique to pistol, or does it also count for rifle?  I'd read to expect 5-10 reloads on rifle brass.

I've got about 150 cases from my .06, that has only been fired in it once.  I wasn't into reloading at the time, so didn't know to keep track of the boxes.  I tossed the boxes so I don't have the lot info, but at least kept the brass.  It's mixed brands, as I was trying to find what worked the best in this rifle.  

[JackOfAllTrades]

The high numbers I have are for pistol brass that's loaded to low pressure 'subsonic velocities'. 45acp cases actually shrink. Not stretch. Which, in and of itself can lead to other issues.

The high numbers are not 'unique' to pistol brass, as it's quite possible to split cases of just about any cartridge even if strict rules of reloading are adheared to.

You can get more reloads out of bottle neck cases that are only neck sized, (again, I advised you/all new reloaders to do it all by the book, which means full length resizing). You'll get more reloads out of low pressure bottle neck cases (think 30-30), than you will magnum loads (300wm).

Don't worry about your mixed lot brass, especially if it was fired from the same rifle. Do separate by brand though.

'Lots' of brass, separating brass by case weight, wall thickness, water volume, mid and neck concentricity, is reserved for competition shooters attempting to get the absolute most consistency for the absolute most accurate loadings. These things don't necessarily determine case 'life'.

-Steve

[shoot-em-dead]

I have 21 rounds of 22-250 that has only been reloaded twice and I can see faint signs of cracks so I set them aside. I am new to reloading but I think you have to look at how much pressure each caliber produces to guess how many reloads a case will take. And just take that as a guess. Every time you reload each case should be inspected after it has been tumbled and washed. It will only take 1 bad case to wreck your gun or worse- the shooter.

[high country]

you can also buy time by anealing the necks, but by then you are needing to trim and ream/turn the necks. kinda like you would expect, the more  horsepower, the higher the maintainence

[JackOfAllTrades]

22-250 that has only been reloaded twice and I can see faint signs of cracks so I set them aside

Any bottle neck cartridge that will push a projectile more than 3,000fps is something that needs particular attention and will have shortened case life. The 22-250 will surpass 4,000fps with lighter bullets. Larger pressures (53,000cup in this case), are developed to get those starting velocities. Start a bucket of scrap brass and take those cracked cases to the metal recycler. All bottle neck cases can crack at the neck. Warm loadings or incorrectly head spaced cartridges/chambers can crack brass at the shoulder or neck. Belted magnum bottle neck cases can and do crack there normally but can also crack just forward of the belt even if properly head spaced. Worn out or hot loaded pistol cartridges will usually crack at the neck.

-Steve

[woodswalker]

there is a batch of 43 32 Winchester special cases that has been loaded 28 times...were 50 about 25 years ago...and some military Match 30-06 cases that are on the 18th trip around and still have 41/50.

[mazama]

For my hunting loads fireformed and then loaded and set aside for hunting.Pistol new brass for special loads,target i don't cout firings,wait till large coffee can is full then reload again.Rifle trim after first firing then reload till they won't fit gun.