Thread: brass life

how many reloads should i expect to get out of my lapua .260 brass, most are getting up around 6x is there anything i need to start checking from now on? i run a mild load and i full length and trim each time as neck sizing only is very tight to chamber in my rifle.

Full length resizing after every firing will give the shortest brass life, its cold working and stretching the case excessively each time making the neck and web thinner and more brittle. Neck sizing should be fine as long as the cases are going back in the same rifle.
They will never be as easy loading as a new factory round though.

If using your neck die, get a Redding body die and just bump the shoulders back very slightly when the cases start to get harder to chamber.

I'm still on my original batch of Lapua .308 cases some of which have had eight pretty warm loads through them with plenty of life yet left in them. Using a Redding type S bushing neck die with no expander which helps by not oversizing the neck and also gives less run-out.

Originally Posted by tonyd

how many reloads should i expect to get out of my lapua .260 brass, most are getting up around 6x is there anything i need to start checking from now on? i run a mild load and i full length and trim each time as neck sizing only is very tight to chamber in my rifle.

Check for split necks. Probably ok if you anneal.
And case head separation. A bright ring above the base.
I full length as well. I've had 12-13 loads no worries.

Consider annealing....