9mm & 38 brass max reloads?

[brando77]

i am reloading 9mm and 38 and am using mild charges w/ 125 gr bullets,how many times can i reload the same brass before i need to use fresh brass? some say 6 and others say 20+ so this number varies greatly, I just need some accurate info.thanks in advance.

[res45]

Until they split or the primers don't fit snug in the primer pocket anymore.

[Shoney]

Until they split or the primers don't fit snug in the primer pocket anymore.

or you loose 'em.

[hornady]

As stated above, handgun ammo, I don’t count the times loaded. I have over a thousand rounds of each caliber I load. I rotate so as to not shoot the same brass over and over. I tumble and inspect before loading. light to mid-range loads will last for years.

[Sevens]

so this number varies greatly, I just need some accurate info

Variables that determine case life include (but are not limited to): The starting quality of your brass, the powder you choose, the pressure curve of the load you build, the amount of sizing your die does, the amount of flare you give the case mouth, the amount of crimp you give your loaded rounds, the dimensions of your chamber, the amount of stress that your pistol puts on brass that it feeds & ejects, the diameter of the bullets you load and likely anything else you can possibly think of.

Thus, you aren't likely to get any more "accurate" information than the estimations you've already gotten.

Given that .38 Special runs at half the pressure of 9mm, there's a good chance that your .38 brass will last longer. And you'll lose 9mm brass simply because it's small and will get launched and not found.

But an exact count of how many? Good luck in your search.

[dahermit]

i am reloading 9mm and 38 and am using mild charges w/ 125 gr bullets,how many times can i reload the same brass before i need to use fresh brass? some say 6 and others say 20+ so this number varies greatly, I just need some accurate info.thanks in advance.

38 Spl. cases are very thin and do not last long even with mild loads. I would expect 10 at the most for reloads on a .38 case.
9mm, on the other hand, will seem to last forever. However, if over expanded to accept a new bullet, then flare removed and crimped excessively, could case them to begin to show neck cracks.
There are just too many variables to give you the "accurate info." that you ask for.
I have never had to discard 9mm or .38 spl. because of primer pocket enlargement...that is usually a rifle problem...necks crack first in most pistol cases.