Brass life

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10-03-2017, 12:56 PM
kiwijames

Brass life

Home sick today so decided to load a few rounds of 7mm Rem Mag. 72g Retumbo (AR2225) with 162 A-Max on top in Norma brass. Fairly bog standard load runs at just over 3K.
I tag my brass each load (rather than each firing) to make it easy to keep count.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...535c65e87d.jpg

I did the first body bump (FL size) this cycle, just because I can, and at 5 firings there was no resistance at all so I'm assuming the brass is still in spec.
Brass was about 0.010" - 0.015" over length of 2.500" which my Nosler book says is SAAMI size so it was all trimmed in the Forster.
Neck bushing die with Type S Redding die to something like 0.0025" tension.
Primer seating was still firm which I am happy with.
This load normally seats like butter but it was a touch firm with the first few rounds. I graphite dipped the proceeding cases and it was considerably better. Pretty sure I annealed this batch a few months ago.
Im thinking I should have more than a few more firings out of this brass.
How many firings do most of us get from their brass?
10-03-2017, 01:04 PM
R93

I anneal every time. After about 8 or 9 goes it is way too easy to seat a primer for my liking so I bin the brass then.
Of all the calibers I have run I reckon that's about the average in case life.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
10-03-2017, 01:52 PM
outdoorlad

What do you use to nick the case head? File?
10-03-2017, 01:59 PM
kiwijames

Quote:

Originally Posted by outdoorlad

What do you use to nick the case head? File?

Yes, just a triangle file from a set of needle files I have. I see some cases that look like they've been hit by an angle grinder!
10-03-2017, 02:26 PM
Danger Mouse

I like that way of marking the case, never thought of that before. I think case life is more than just the round being fired. chamber dimensions also come into play. 303 is meant to be hard on brass. Im at 9 reloads and counting and the brass is fine.
10-03-2017, 02:35 PM
bully

I thought as far as 7mm REM mag goes, the brass always starts getting the case head separation line.
Not because the die is set up wrong for head space, but just because it's factory head space length is so short the first firing gives it such a big stretch. It's where it starts thinning first. Being soft Norma might help your cause. I usually see the line at about 6 firings with hornady REM mag.
10-03-2017, 02:38 PM
Echo

What chamber dimensions should you aim for to increase life?

Neck 4 thou over is a No neck turn

Body is normally 10 thou oversize for SAAMI dimensions

Could the body be tightened up? Could there be extraction issues if so?
10-03-2017, 03:51 PM
tikka

Only full length size 270win, 300BLK and 7mm-08 as my mates can use my ammo any time they run out on a trip. Get 7-8 reloads from the 270 and 15 so far from the 300BLK and 6-7 time out of the 7mm-08. Neck size 308win and 223 and they last 8-9 times before the primer pockets are loose.
10-03-2017, 04:34 PM
kiwijames

Quote:

Originally Posted by bully

I thought as far as 7mm REM mag goes, the brass always starts getting the case head separation line.
Not because the die is set up wrong for head space, but just because it's factory head space length is so short the first firing gives it such a big stretch. It's where it starts thinning first. Being soft Norma might help your cause. I usually see the line at about 6 firings with hornady REM mag.

Nah, I think thats an old wives tale. My brass has flowed enough for me to need to trim after 5 reloads and this is from a book value, not from a known datum. Even then, Ive only removed 0.010 - 0.015" or fuck all. This means my brass is probably not thinning at the web. I would bet, that most issues are due to brass being overworked and there are people who agree with me Interesting read.
10-03-2017, 05:53 PM
P38

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwijames

Home sick today so decided to load a few rounds of 7mm Rem Mag. 72g Retumbo (AR2225) with 162 A-Max on top in Norma brass. Fairly bog standard load runs at just over 3K.
I tag my brass each load (rather than each firing) to make it easy to keep count.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...535c65e87d.jpg

I did the first body bump (FL size) this cycle, just because I can, and at 5 firings there was no resistance at all so I'm assuming the brass is still in spec.
Brass was about 0.010" - 0.015" over length of 2.500" which my Nosler book says is SAAMI size so it was all trimmed in the Forster.
Neck bushing die with Type S Redding die to something like 0.0025" tension.
Primer seating was still firm which I am happy with.
This load normally seats like butter but it was a touch firm with the first few rounds. I graphite dipped the proceeding cases and it was considerably better. Pretty sure I annealed this batch a few months ago.
Im thinking I should have more than a few more firings out of this brass.
How many firings do most of us get from their brass?

The healing powers of Dr Reloading Bench are quite remarkable @kiwijames

Unlike pulling a sickie on a Friday which is pretty predictable ;)

Hope your feeling better

Cheers
Pete
10-03-2017, 06:00 PM
P38

7grs of W296 pushing a 70gr lead gas checked projectile at 1680fps out of a 107 year old Winchester 1892 in 25-20wcf.

Cases are as rare as day old purple spotted rocking horse shit so I'm looking after them.

The first 50 cases have now survived 20 reloads with an anneal every 5 reloads, just because I can. :)

Cheers
Pete
10-03-2017, 07:21 PM
bully

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwijames

Nah, I think thats an old wives tale. My brass has flowed enough for me to need to trim after 5 reloads and this is from a book value, not from a known datum. Even then, Ive only removed 0.010 - 0.015" or fuck all. This means my brass is probably not thinning at the web. I would bet, that most issues are due to brass being overworked and there are people who agree with me Interesting read.

Whatever your doing is working.
All my rifles are full length sized. I measure head space off a fired case and basically load it with the same measurment. Less than a thou bump. (Datum on the shoulder)
I see the line at about 6 firings on REM mag. I can at least double the amount of use on other calibres. And then stop for no apparent reason, just because maybe I should.
I recently asked the same question about when is my brass buggered on another calibre as there was no apparent signs after 13 firings.
So I just figured as I use the same method for all my calibres, it's REM mag brass for you, it's the initial stretch iv heard of that ruins case life. Maybe I'm wrong but I have no other explanation when it's compared to my other calibres.
As I say, whatever your doing is working
10-03-2017, 07:26 PM
MSL

Quote:

Originally Posted by P38

7grs of W296 pushing a 70gr lead gas checked projectile at 1680fps out of a 107 year old Winchester 1892 in 25-20wcf.

Cases are as rare as day old purple spotted rocking horse shit so I'm looking after them.

The first 50 cases have now survived 20 reloads with an anneal every 5 reloads, just because I can. :)

Cheers
Pete

Can you neck down 32-20 as I have some?
10-03-2017, 08:31 PM
kiwijames

Quote:

Originally Posted by bully

Whatever your doing is working.
All my rifles are full length sized. I measure head space off a fired case and basically load it with the same measurment. Less than a thou bump. (Datum on the shoulder)
I see the line at about 6 firings on REM mag. I can at least double the amount of use on other calibres. And then stop for no apparent reason, just because maybe I should.
I recently asked the same question about when is my brass buggered on another calibre as there was no apparent signs after 13 firings.
So I just figured as I use the same method for all my calibres, it's REM mag brass for you, it's the initial stretch iv heard of that ruins case life. Maybe I'm wrong but I have no other explanation when it's compared to my other calibres.
As I say, whatever your doing is working

My rifle may have a close spec chamber so the initial firing has minimal stretch? Ive only just FL sized this brass today and only because I could, no because I needed to. Would have been good to check with comparator before I bumped it to see. I will have original dimension in my reloading book I guess. Ive never had may troubles with the Blasers as far as fiddling with dies etc to get things to work.
10-03-2017, 08:33 PM
kiwijames

Quote:

Originally Posted by bully

Whatever your doing is working.
All my rifles are full length sized. I measure head space off a fired case and basically load it with the same measurment. Less than a thou bump. (Datum on the shoulder)
I see the line at about 6 firings on REM mag. I can at least double the amount of use on other calibres. And then stop for no apparent reason, just because maybe I should.
I recently asked the same question about when is my brass buggered on another calibre as there was no apparent signs after 13 firings.
So I just figured as I use the same method for all my calibres, it's REM mag brass for you, it's the initial stretch iv heard of that ruins case life. Maybe I'm wrong but I have no other explanation when it's compared to my other calibres.
As I say, whatever your doing is working

Have you checked it is the start of separation? Maybe just a bit of a polished spot?
10-03-2017, 08:37 PM
Gibo

One shot, blow the primer out, get new brass
10-03-2017, 10:09 PM
bully

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwijames

Have you checked it is the start of separation? Maybe just a bit of a polished spot?

Yeah iv cut cases open.
And yes, maybe mine is a large spec chamber.
With the comparator, off the top of my head the measurement is 1.215 if you have the Hornady comparator it might mean something if the bushings are close to the same.
10-03-2017, 10:33 PM
P38

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSL

Can you neck down 32-20 as I have some?

Yes you can neck down the 32-20

Cheers
Pete
10-03-2017, 10:46 PM
bully

Quote:

Originally Posted by bully

Yeah iv cut cases open.
And yes, maybe mine is a large spec chamber.
With the comparator, off the top of my head the measurement is 1.215 if you have the Hornady comparator it might mean something if the bushings are close to the same.

That's not right, it's something . 1215
10-03-2017, 10:56 PM
kiwijames

Quote:

Originally Posted by bully

That's not right, it's something . 1215

LOL. I'lll take a nose at mine as I have the Hornady too.
11-03-2017, 08:38 AM
Bagheera

It must be a rainy day to judge by the number of replies so quick.
I hope you start to feel better soon James.

I've had about 15 loads so far out of my Norma 7mm08 brass. I Full Length size every time (too lazy to get neck dies) and I size them down by 0.003" (shoulder datum) so that's minimal working. I'm starting to get a couple of split necks in each batch of 50 but have never had a case head separation. I haven't annealed, just because I can't. For me its primer packets loosening. After just 3 or 4 loadings some start to loosen up and a few more go each time so now the 15 reload batches have about half quite loose pockets. They still seem to shoot just fine so I keep using them. I mark the loose pocket bases with felt pen. I wonder if its because I always clean the pocket with the cutting tool.

From the .303 I got about 8 or 10 loads before heads separated. Had to pluck the case out with a we saw blade I carried around for velvet. I marked those cases with big felt pen rings around the body - who know what that did to the sizing ! This was with a hammer-in lee loader. Interesting, all those pockets feel real nice to seat into compared to the 7mm08 now. The separation problem hasn't come back since I got a new bolt head which Din built up with some weld to fix the headspace. Good action the old SMLE.
11-03-2017, 10:10 AM
kiwijames

Cheers for the sympathy, I'm feeling better today, was just a passing cold. Better to stay home and keep the rest of the crew from catching it.
Im using some ex army Lapua 308 in my 7-08. God knows how many times I've loaded these. Tough brass. I always clean pockets too. Wondering if Im sometimes too aggressive with a little bit of brass shed each time, but it all works so I guess its OK.
11-03-2017, 12:55 PM
P38

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwijames

Cheers for the sympathy, I'm feeling better today, was just a passing cold. Better to stay home and keep the rest of the crew from catching it.

Bloody Fridayitis more like it :P
@Bagheera
I bet he was feeling pretty darn good when he pulled up the chair to the loading bench.;)

Cheers
Pete
12-03-2017, 12:38 PM
Pongo12

I get 4 firings with norma brass in my 300wm then the primers wont stay in so biff it and start again