Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: HoofsandWings on August 21, 2011, 02:30:50 PM

Title: When do you change brass??
Post by: HoofsandWings on August 21, 2011, 02:30:50 PM: I have been thinking of tossing some of my older brass in my 270.
How often should I recycle? The brass still looks fine, even though I have a few cartridges that I have been reloading since the 1960's. I tumble them and they clean up nice.

Thanks
Title: Re: When do you change brass??
Post by: MtnMuley on August 21, 2011, 02:41:11 PM: As long as there isn't any visible signs of cracking or excessive wear, I'd keep reloading them. :twocents:
Title: Re: When do you change brass??
Post by: Trailstrider on August 21, 2011, 02:42:39 PM: :dunno: Not that I know anything here but it would certainly depend on how hot you are loading. I load my brass no more than three times due to the load. What you have to be careful of is thinning. I would say if you have to trim your case after every shot then three times would be max, but I do know some handloaders that load five times........ If you do find yourself with a base boke off aftre a shot and th case still in the chamber you can take a small rat tail file from the bolt end, insert to the case, give a quarter trist, clamp on vise grips and give it a tap and the case will come out without damage to your firearm,,,,, and save $25 in the process....................
Title: Re: When do you change brass??
Post by: MtnMuley on August 21, 2011, 02:52:43 PM: I've got RUM brass that's going on 15+ reloads. Running 92-100 grains of powder. Still works perfect.
Title: Re: When do you change brass??
Post by: HoofsandWings on August 21, 2011, 02:59:38 PM: Quote from: Trailstrider on August 21, 2011, 02:42:39 PM
:dunno: Not that I know anything here but it would certainly depend on how hot you are loading. I load my brass no more than three times due to the load. What you have to be careful of is thinning. I would say if you have to trim your case after every shot then three times would be max, but I do know some handloaders that load five times........ If you do find yourself with a base boke off aftre a shot and th case still in the chamber you can take a small rat tail file from the bolt end, insert to the case, give a quarter trist, clamp on vise grips and give it a tap and the case will come out without damage to your firearm,,,,, and save $25 in the process....................
3 to 5 times?? I reload at the max. Thinning could be an issue. Some of the brass has been reloaded over 50 times.
No signs of cracking or wear.
For many years, I reloaded over the max, due to a missprint in the manual. Also, the OAL was wrong in the manual.
I sure was surprised when I bought a new reloading manual. My original manual was printed in the early 60's and I did not look at a new one until the 90's. (The new manual suggested I load 2.5 grains less for maximum.)
Title: Re: When do you change brass??
Post by: dad98684 on August 21, 2011, 05:32:07 PM: Quote from: Trailstrider on August 21, 2011, 02:42:39 PM
If you do find yourself with a base boke off aftre a shot and th case still in the chamber you can take a small rat tail file from the bolt end, insert to the case, give a quarter trist, clamp on vise grips and give it a tap and the case will come out without damage to your firearm,,,,, and save $25 in the process....................

a brass cleaning brush pushed just thru the case from the bolt end and pulled back out is all i have ever needed :twocents:
Title: Re: When do you change brass??
Post by: Huntbear on August 21, 2011, 05:53:51 PM: Belted Magnum cases 5-7 times, then toss..

My 300 Savage brass is probably 1970 vintage and probably reloaded 20 times.