used brass?

[rawcut]

is there a maximum amount of times you can reuse brass or does it depend on the visual condition? can you reuse those aluminum-looking cci shells?

[StraightShooter]

It all depends on what caliber you are loading. Some last longer than others. I get about 6-7 out of my .243 winchester brass. And no, you cant reload the aluminum cases. They would be hard on your dies and are too brittle to reload.

[rawcut]

im new to reloading(duh) but i already ordered a press and will be using 9, 40, 45, 223, 762x39 and 762x54 cases. thanks for the info.

[jandmtv]

wow, thats a lot of calibers!

I hope you got a turret press and a few extra turret wheels, or get a press for each caliber. thats the only way reloading all those calibers is going to be somewhat doable.

[rawcut]

i have a lee classic turret on backorder, which i believe should be ok. i go shooting 1-4 times a month, but i dont bring all of them at the same time.

[jandmtv]

having to readjust dies everytime you change calivers is a pain!, get extra turret wheels so you can leave all of your dies adjusted, and just swap out the wheel.

[rawcut]

thats an excellent idea. but for the time being, i cant spend too much on equipt right now. i must keep a low pro on the monthly statement so the wife dont get to suspicious. she knows nothing so far...

[Waldog]

Steel and aluminum cases are 99% BERDAN primed and they can not be reloaded. Rifle cases can be loaded 5-10 times depending on caliber, case shape and chamber pressure. Pistol cases usually get lost before they are not re-loadable. Low pressure pistol cases like 45 ACP can be reloaded dozens of times. High pressure cases like 40 S&W can probably reloaded up to 10 times IF IT IS FIRED IN THE SAME GUN EACH TIME. Loading high pressure pistol cases that are fired in different guns have a MUCH shorter life.

Also, RIFLE cases STRETCH after they are fired and need to be trimmed after 2-4 reloads. If they are not trimmed and are TOO LONG for the chamber, pressures RISE dramatically!!

[Blacktail 8541]

Your straight wall cases will last for a very long time, I have 45 acp cases with over 30 loadings on them and I got them used with an unknown amount of fireings. Your bottle neck cases will go an average of 5 loadings or so. Some will go many more than that. It just depends on how hot your loads and a few other factors.

[sargenv]

Actually, Berdan cases CAN be reloaded, but it is simply not worth it unless you have some rare caliber that is cost prohibitive to not reload. Lately with ammo prices the way they are, it's almost worth it.

RCBS makes a berdan de-priming tool and I've read about a process where you use water pressure to decap berdan primers, I think I read about Norma doing it this way. For us though, it's just easy enough to recycle your berdan brass cases and make a few bucks on it (save it up, a 5 gallon bucket of brass can weigh as much as 60-80 pounds, not bad for $1.25-$1.50 a pound).

The aluminum CCI cases were made to be fired once only. There are issues about case stretch and failure rate on firing them again, IF you could decap them and buy the right primers for them.

Keeping with a single stage press isn't so bad for small batches. I use a Dillon 650 in pistol calibers and have the setup for 223 rem. Otherwise I do small batches on my RCBS Rock Chucker. It is slow, but it works.

[ar15barrels]

having to readjust dies everytime you change calivers is a pain!,
get extra turret wheels so you can leave all of your dies adjusted, and just swap out the wheel.

Did you miss the part about the setscrews on the sides of die lock rings being used to hold the adjustment?

[jandmtv]

no, but not all dies have that. my redding dies do, but my lee dies dont, and i belive he is buying a lee press with lee dies.

[CSACANNONEER]

Uh, you can buy new ones to put on your Lee dies.

[ar15barrels]

Uh, you can buy new ones to put on your Lee dies.

Or just buy better dies.

[Linus]

Just buy some NORMA brass and reload those for ever.