Recycling Brass

[Craigwood]

Now I know I dont reload any long neck rounds like for example Win 30-30, where you may want to trim the casings after shooting and before reloading. And stressing such as cracks and spliting could come into play. Just a general common sence view. But when it comes to pistol reloading for example, 357 mag, 9mm and 45 ACP. How many times can you reload....

357 mag

38 spl

9mm

45 ACP

Before it becomes to the end of their life. And depending upon the load powder charges that were used. For example a 9mm, for a 115 gr jackted round nose, I use Bullseye 4 grs start to 4.5 grs max.
124/125 gr lead round nose.start 3.8 grs Bullseye. 4.3 max.
I have been told that 9mm do not need to be trimed. And I have never had a problem. Where 357 mag may need to be trimmed more frequently. And I might add I only like to use the 357 mag nickel plated casings for reloading.

[joelogic]

There is no magic number on how many times you can reload brass.

[Chief-7700]

Until they split or I lose them. Don't keep tract of how many times .45ACP and 9mm has been reloaded. It also depends on how hot you reload them.

[Malthusian]

My experience with .357 is around 4 to 6 times but I load them hot. Another OP told me he gets closer to 10

Nickel brass splits sooner as the plating makes them brittle

.45's you will usually lose the brass before they split, but nowadays the cheaper brass has thinner walls and splits sooner. I just had a case splice on my second reload on a Seller and Bellot case

[Craigwood]

Now thats interesting on the .357 nickel plated vs. brass. Where as the nickel would be more brittle. And the none plated be more flexible. It makes sence. So I guess it was a a mistake to toss out my .357 non plated thinking that just save the nickel and reload those. I still got some .357 I havent shot yet.

[ireload]

You can stretch the life the of nickel plated brass by loading it to minimum charge.

[Craigwood]

You can stretch the life the of nickel plated brass by loading it to minimum charge.

Intended for .357 magnum or .38's

[NRAhighpowershooter]

I've got over 25yrs and 30+ reloads on my 45acp brass....

[CodeDog]

If you anneal your brass after 3-5 loads you can reload about 100 times.

Get a propane torch, hold the case by the head with your bare fingers and put the neck in the direct flame and slowly rotate it back and forth for even heating.
When you start to feel heat in your fingers take the case out of the flame and let air cool.
(only takes a few seconds)

If you use hot loads anneal more often.

You will want to inspect cases for head separation when you get to large numbers of reloads per case.