45 auto brass

Deadboyreloads · June 15, 2013, 01:35 PM

On average how many loads do you get out of 45 auto brass

steveno · June 15, 2013, 02:30 PM

I don't bother counting the loads on cases but I had some Federal nickel 45 acp cases that I'm sure had over 30 loads on them. I also have some Starline and plain Federal cases that must be getting close to that. I had some Winchester cases that I wore the caliber and name off of them and they still worked fine also. you will probably lose more cases before you wear them out.

arch308 · June 15, 2013, 02:32 PM

Use 'em til you lose 'em. I do inspect them but very seldom have them wear out.

Misssissippi Dave · June 15, 2013, 02:48 PM

I worry more about not loosing them instead of wearing them out too. The answer is a lot. The few I have had problems with I believe were Remington. You could still see part of the name on the head stamp. It may take a few more years to see if I can wear out another brand.

Shootest · June 15, 2013, 06:13 PM

The 45ACP is a low pressure round and the brass will last a long long time. The only caliber that I think will last longer is 38spl and that’s because it’s harder to lose revolver brass.

dickttx · June 15, 2013, 07:14 PM

I have some 38 Super Starline that I used to work up loads and some have been reloaded 26 times. Much higher pressure round than 45 ACP.

tmorone · June 15, 2013, 07:53 PM

I've loaded some until the headstamp was nearly worn off. Many, many, many reloads to a single case.

salvadore · June 15, 2013, 08:10 PM

I still have some military brass that I have been reloading since the late seventies.

rodfac · June 16, 2013, 10:57 AM

I can honestly say that I've never worn out, or cracked a .45 ACP piece of brass....like the other responders here have said, I lose 'em first. Some of my brass, I'd estimate, has been loaded 25 time. However, if I want first rate accuracy, I do have some brass, kept separate and loaded an identical number of times, that I use for accuracy loads. HTH's Rod

BigJimP · June 16, 2013, 12:23 PM

I don't keep track of how many times....but I shoot at indoor ranges, concrete floors ...where brass bounces all over ...and I sweep up whatever is in my area ( out of my guns / other guns )....and I can't say I've ever worn a case out.

I clean them ...and if I can't read the headstamp, they've been used so much, I toss them out.

But like others said, its a thick case ...low pressure round especially in 230gr ...and I'm not sure you can wear one out ! But I'd say 30+ at least....

m&p45acp10+1 · June 16, 2013, 12:44 PM

I have had exactly 8 cases that split at the case mouth in the past 4 years. I quit counting how many times that they have been reloaded. I always come home with more brass than I left the house with.

The ones that wear out will split at the case mouth when you are expanding them. If that happens. Skip seating a bullet. Just run it into the seater die to remove the flare. Then decap the primer in the sizing die, and then reseat it into a newer case. Toss the split one into a scrap can.

Constrictor · June 16, 2013, 10:44 PM

I never see split 45 cases, however someone here mentioned 38 special lasting a long time, I'm not sure why but I loose more 38 special cases to splits than any other caliber.

WESHOOT2 · June 17, 2013, 05:40 AM

Chamber size contributes greatly to case life.

June 15, 2013, 01:35 PM	#1
Deadboyreloads Junior Member Join Date: March 31, 2013 Posts: 4	45 auto brass On average how many loads do you get out of 45 auto brass

June 15, 2013, 06:13 PM	#5
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	The 45ACP is a low pressure round and the brass will last a long long time. The only caliber that I think will last longer is 38spl and that’s because it’s harder to lose revolver brass. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

June 15, 2013, 07:14 PM	#6
dickttx Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2011 Location: Fort Worth Posts: 500	I have some 38 Super Starline that I used to work up loads and some have been reloaded 26 times. Much higher pressure round than 45 ACP. __________________ Education teaches you the rules, experience teaches you the exceptions (Plagiarized from Claude Clay)

June 16, 2013, 10:57 AM	#9
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	I can honestly say that I've never worn out, or cracked a .45 ACP piece of brass....like the other responders here have said, I lose 'em first. Some of my brass, I'd estimate, has been loaded 25 time. However, if I want first rate accuracy, I do have some brass, kept separate and loaded an identical number of times, that I use for accuracy loads. HTH's Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

June 16, 2013, 12:44 PM	#11
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	I have had exactly 8 cases that split at the case mouth in the past 4 years. I quit counting how many times that they have been reloaded. I always come home with more brass than I left the house with. The ones that wear out will split at the case mouth when you are expanding them. If that happens. Skip seating a bullet. Just run it into the seater die to remove the flare. Then decap the primer in the sizing die, and then reseat it into a newer case. Toss the split one into a scrap can. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

June 15, 2013, 02:30 PM	#2
steveno Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Minden , Nebraska Posts: 1,407	I don't bother counting the loads on cases but I had some Federal nickel 45 acp cases that I'm sure had over 30 loads on them. I also have some Starline and plain Federal cases that must be getting close to that. I had some Winchester cases that I wore the caliber and name off of them and they still worked fine also. you will probably lose more cases before you wear them out.

June 15, 2013, 02:32 PM	#3
arch308 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2011 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 876	Use 'em til you lose 'em. I do inspect them but very seldom have them wear out.

June 15, 2013, 02:48 PM	#4
Misssissippi Dave Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Posts: 1,411	I worry more about not loosing them instead of wearing them out too. The answer is a lot. The few I have had problems with I believe were Remington. You could still see part of the name on the head stamp. It may take a few more years to see if I can wear out another brand.

June 15, 2013, 07:53 PM	#7
tmorone Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 221	I've loaded some until the headstamp was nearly worn off. Many, many, many reloads to a single case.

June 15, 2013, 08:10 PM	#8
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	I still have some military brass that I have been reloading since the late seventies.

June 16, 2013, 12:23 PM	#10
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I don't keep track of how many times....but I shoot at indoor ranges, concrete floors ...where brass bounces all over ...and I sweep up whatever is in my area ( out of my guns / other guns )....and I can't say I've ever worn a case out. I clean them ...and if I can't read the headstamp, they've been used so much, I toss them out. But like others said, its a thick case ...low pressure round especially in 230gr ...and I'm not sure you can wear one out ! But I'd say 30+ at least....

June 16, 2013, 10:44 PM	#12
Constrictor Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Posts: 49	I never see split 45 cases, however someone here mentioned 38 special lasting a long time, I'm not sure why but I loose more 38 special cases to splits than any other caliber.

June 17, 2013, 05:40 AM	#13
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Chamber size contributes greatly to case life. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"