[jack76590]

Do you track how many times you reload a given piece of brass? I have tried and after about the second reload my system breaks down. So much nicer to use mixed range brass. What do you do and if use mixed range brass do you inspect the brass and what do you look for?

I have reloaded a lot for 1911s, Sigs and revolvers but never paid much notice to number of reloads. But with glock I wonder if I should pay attention to number of reloads. I use jacketed or plated bullets, so that eliminates one problem with glocks.

Especially concerned about 40 cal reloads and number of times brass used.

[Blitzo]

I personally do not keep exact track. I usually use mixed brass and visually check them for defects.

[Randy from Kansas]

I gave up trying to keep track of pistol rounds just to hard to keep track of. I have left brass at a range and other times have came home with more then I brought and have no idea which was someone elses. All of my pistol brass for my auto pistols are mixed now.

[ron59]

I tumble my brass, and then visually inspect each piece before I reload it. I'm looking for:

1) Any brass with some "junk" crammed in there, maybe media that got stuck or something else. Don't want to reduce the case capacity and increase pressures
2) Junk brass. Some brass just doesn't load well in my 550B. Any brass with crimped primers (WCC, S&B?, etc)... and of course the brass listed on the sticky as being junk.
3) Damaged brass. If it's split, I spot it then.

I sit in front of the TV, grab a piece, shine my LED flashlight inside, roll it and check outside, then check headstamp. Depending what's on TV, I can slow up or down, but it doesn't seen an inconvenience, and it's one of my QA procedures I don't see ever eliminating. I hate sitting at the press and going "Oh! That won't prime cause it's WCC!". When I sit at the press, pretty much every piece goes through.

[robin303]

I did at one time and it was almost impossible to even track. Heck I had reloads 5+ then shoot 200 factory then mix them all up in the tumbler then duh. Now if the cases or split or the primers don't seat easy I just toss.

[fredj338]

Only my high power rifle brass. It gets cleaned & loaded, shot, then returned to it's plastic box. I then mark the box w/ the numbe rof times it's been fired. Handgun stuff all gets thrown in the tumbler & loaded as is, don't even sort headstamps anymore.

[shotgunred]

I sort by caliber not headstamp. When I get ready to run a bunch through the polisher I sort by caliber and do a primary inspection. Anything that I don't like goes into the trash. After polishing I take another look before I throw it in a 5 gallon bucket. As I load I pick each piece up turn it upside down to make sure there isn't anything inside. give it one last look before I run it through the press. Lastly I inspect all the finished rounds before I throw them into a cardboard box for use.

[gwalchmai]

Would it hurt that much to make a very small notch with a nail file on the outer rim every time you load a case? I wouldn't think the outer rim would be under that much pressure.

[ron59]

Originally Posted by gwalchmai

Would it hurt that much to make a very small notch with a nail file on the outer rim every time you load a case? I wouldn't think the outer rim would be under that much pressure.

Seriously? I shoot 2000 rounds a month.... no way I'm doing that. I have a hard enough time keeping up with all the other QA procedures I do, to worry about filing a notch, or looking for existing notches in order to add more.

Unless you're shooting PPC / Bullesye or something where supreme accuracy is necessary... just reload it until it splits, then reload it one more time. I shoot IDPA, GSSF, work on accuracy stuff quite a bit... no problems.

[gwalchmai]

Originally Posted by ron59

Seriously?

Seriously. Would it hurt? Personally, I shoot low-pressure rounds and I don't keep track of how many times they've been loaded. However, some folks do keep up with it and use schemes like marking with a pen, etc. A little notch would not be erased in the tumbler.

[IndyGunFreak]

Send pictures to Jack's butler.. he then lets me know if it's ok or not...

I tumble all my brass, then inspect it, before I toss it in a bucket to be reloaded at a later date.

[Patrick Graham]

I get pretty anal 30-06 grass for my Garands. I go so far as to do the paperclip test.

[ron59]

Originally Posted by gwalchmai

Seriously. Would it hurt?

I'm just thinking how TEDIOUS it would be. Filing a notch so it would be noticeable? 500+ rounds a week? I'll just pitch it when it splits, thanks.

[gwalchmai]

Originally Posted by ron59

I'm just thinking how TEDIOUS it would be. Filing a notch so it would be noticeable? 500+ rounds a week? I'll just pitch it when it splits, thanks.

Yeah, but think how much fun it is to design a little aftermarket jig to notch the brass!

[ron59]

Originally Posted by gwalchmai

Yeah, but think how much fun it is to design a little aftermarket jig to notch the brass!

Rock on, little rabbit dude !

[FlyfishermanMike]

Originally Posted by Patrick Graham

I go so far as to do the paperclip test.

Explain the paperclip test to me.

[BillR]

Originally Posted by IndyGunFreak

I tumble all my brass, then inspect it, before I toss it in a bucket to be reloaded at a later date.

Exactly my procedure also...

[Patrick Graham]

Originally Posted by FlyfishermanMike

Explain the paperclip test to me.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=case+head+separation+paper+clip

[dla]

I don't over-load anything to where the primer is loose after a couple loadings. And I don't load any rifles with funky chambers that work towards case head separation. So both my pistol and rifle brass eventually will split at the case mouth from old age. The highest pressure cartridge I load is the 270W, and the brass lasts at least 10 loadings. I'm still using brass from the 70's.

[ron59]

edited

[Colorado4Wheel]

Originally Posted by gwalchmai

Would it hurt that much to make a very small notch with a nail file on the outer rim every time you load a case? I wouldn't think the outer rim would be under that much pressure.

So you want to invite extraction issues to the party rather then just keep loading till it splits. Just don't over due the reloads pressure wise. Then .40 and 9mm have pretty much the same pressure anyway. I and others I shoot with have split plenty of brass. It's just not a concern. Rifle is a different story. But for pisol when it finally splits it's got the bullet 1/2 down the tube. You won't even know it's split till you pick it up and see it.


Edit. Another option is to just load in batch's. Keep your brass marked with a color and then every year toss that batch. Or pick what ever time frame works for you. My friend loading .38 Super Comp at Major PF does that. You still can split a case but even at his 40Kcup you never would know it.

[gwalchmai]

Originally Posted by Colorado4Wheel

So you want to invite extraction issues to the party ...

How would making a small notch on the back of the rim invite extraction issues? All my extractors grip the inside of the rim. What do you use?

[gwalchmai]

Originally Posted by Colorado4Wheel

But for pisol when it finally splits it's got the bullet 1/2 down the tube. You won't even know it's split till you pick it up and see it.

Most of my splits have been in .44 Mag and .45 Colt, and a couple .357. They split about 1/4 from the mouth going to 1/8 from the base. Pretty obvious fatigue.

Yeah, I agree the splits at the mouth aren't a problem, and I really don't monitor how many loadings a case has. It's just an intellectual exercise.

[Gunnut 45/454]

I check for obvious defects, other then that reload as usual!!

[gwalchmai]

Originally Posted by Gunnut 45/454

I check for obvious defects

Like notches on the back of the rim?