how many times can a brass be reloaded?

[modenar1]

since i am thinking about reloading, i am doing a little calculation to see how much it will cost. and i was wondering how many times can a .308 winchester brass be reloaded?. thank you.

[redneckshootist]

I don't reload for the .308winchester yet but on the standard rifle calibers I usally get 6 reloads out of them magnuim calibers I only get 3 reloads and most hand guns I will reload them 8 times

[vega]

...on the standard rifle calibers I usally get 6 reloads out of them
Do you maintain the powder loads or lower them after using the brass a number of times.

[thmpr]

With any caliber you reload the brass life will be dependant on the load: Max, avg or min. Min, which no one utilize will probably give you 7 reloads.. I have 3 reloads with near max loads on my 308 brass which will be the last load I will use.. I would do 5 reloads with average loads.

Just my two cents.

[bu-bye]

I just inspect the brass before I resize and after I resize. If all looks good I reload it. I don't even count any more.

[tankerman]

I just inspect the brass before I resize and after I resize. If all looks good I reload it. I don't even count any more.
Exactly...There is no predetermined number

[Fjold]

I've reloaded cases over 20 times with no problems.

[TonyM]

Not all brass is created equal.

Thinner brass won't last as long, better stuff will seem to keep on taking the abuse.

As above, I agree to just inspect carefully everytime you load.

[CSACANNONEER]

I know guys that load 50BMG 16-20 times and others that only get 6-10 rounds out of each piece of brass. I load calibers like .38 and .45acp without counting or worrying about how used it is. I even have a light load for cast bullets for 30-30 that doesn't work the brass much so, I've been able to use the same brass over 30 times. I've also seen brass fail on it's first reload. One reason this happens is that the brass was over worked by being shot out of a gun with to much headspace (very common when using brass fired from a M2 or 1919). It is always important to inspect your brass every time you load it.

[Wulf]

It also depends on the gun. A glock with a roomy chamber deeply cut ramp will work the brass harder with each firing than a match grade chamber with full web support. A 308 bolt gun will be comparatively easy on the brass, even at high load levels, than the action of an M1A that yanks the brass out of the chamber whether or not its cooled and contracted and ready to come out.

[Gunsrruss]

Bolt .308 I run until it splits, then I recyle it. Anything out of a simi auto is reloaded five times then it goes into the recyle bin. I full length size everytime. I shoot competively and don't need any foulups. I also always use RCBS small base dies. For .308-30.06-.223. Anything that comes out of a gas gun:cool:

[mousegun]

Brass will last as long as it's safe to use. The trick is to determine when it's no longer safe.

To prolong case life you should:

1. Not oversize. For rifle cases, use a case headspace gauge (Wilson or equiv.) to set correct shoulder/base dimension (headspace). This keeps stretching to a minimum. Neck sizing is best, but full length sizing is mandatory with semi-autos, so size to the rifle's chamber within SAAMI limits.

2. Check case length on each loading and trim as needed. This will keep you aware how much your loads are stretching the brass. Trim after resizing since the expander ball will "drag" the length out even more.

3. Use moderate charges. Nothing kills brass like pressure. If you need to hotrod your iron, you need bigger iron.

4. Reload cases in smallish lots, 10, 25 or 50. This allows you to keep track of failing brass without having to throw out a whole bunch, keeping failure troubles within the lot.

To check for dangerous brass you should:

1. Check fired cases for cracked necks, mouths and shoulders. If found, toss the lot.

2. Check each case for insipient head separation. This is especially true if the lot has any cases with bright bands just above the head area. To make a case probe to check for insipient head separations, take a paper clip. Straighten it out. Bend a short right angle on the end and make it sharp. Take fired cases and probe inside the walls of the case around the head area for "gutters" or cracks. If you find one, toss the lot.

3. Look for cases that allow you to seat primers with little or no effort compared with fresh cases. If you find one, toss the lot.

Care of handgun cases are similar with the exception that straight walled cases seldom suffer from head separations unless really abusive charges are used, and headspacing is on the rim or mouth. Most failures are from split or cracked case mouths.

[swift]

I typically reload my .308 brass 4-5X using the lower end of the powder charge. I inspect each case prior to loading and I discard any that just look funny. I keep the brass separated into self-made lots and if I find myself discarding 15% or more of the brass from that batch, I'll discard the lot regardless of how many times I've reloaded it. (I may be overly cautious.)I've gotten as little as three reloads as I remember.

since i am thinking about reloading, i am doing a little calculation to see how much it will cost. and i was wondering how many times can a .308 winchester brass be reloaded?. thank you.

[5968]

Depends on the Brass! Just make sure you inspect it before youreload it.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

I've been using the same 45acp brass for the last 20yrs now.. as for my M1A match rifle.. I'm on my 4th reload with out any signs of head seperation... I'm starting to get neck cracks on my AR brass :( after only 3 reloads and that was virgin LC brass.. but I will admit.. I have only lost 8 cases out of 2K from neck cracks so far....