case life

dbldown · June 1, 2012, 01:35 PM

How many reloads can I expect from a 9mm case? Reloads are going to be to the low-mid range of the recommended loads.

Misssissippi Dave · June 1, 2012, 01:45 PM

In mid range 9 mm loads I have been getting about 20 loads using Federal Champion. I don't know how many loads above that I will get from Winchester yet. Different manufacture's cases will give you different results. Loading them hot or near top end will reduce the number of reloads you get quite a bit.

I have had a couple of cases crack under 20 loads. There were very few of those. I have even had a cracked case with the Winchester and S&B case. Keep the expansion of the mouth to a minimum and you might find the cases last longer too.

Scimmia · June 1, 2012, 02:45 PM

A lot also depends on the gun you're shooting them in. A gun with a looser chamber will wear out brass much faster than a gun with a tight chamber.

jepp2 · June 1, 2012, 04:59 PM

You might find this study interesting: 9mm case life study.

Look about half way down the page.

Gerry · June 1, 2012, 05:27 PM

Since I don't keep my own brass always separate from everyone else's I pick up, I've never been able to keep accurate track of how many times specific lots of 9mm cases have been reloaded. Since it's IPSC I do and usually everyone there reloads, I'd hate to even imagine how many times the brass I load has been previously used. I'm sure it ranges between once (for those lucky times I get the brass that young mall ninjas leave behind) to dozens of times, including brass previously loaded to major PF.

In my experience when brass goes bad, either the case mouth is cracked (pretty rare) or the primer pocket becomes loose sometimes causing the primer to fall out after loading to make those darn "tricklers". Usually you can feel the squishy sensation of a properly seated primer, and those cases that offer absolutely no resistance when seated I mark and end up leaving behind the next time at the range. I don't have to mark many.

beex215 · June 1, 2012, 05:40 PM

im at about <10. i dont really know for sure but thats a fair guess and im pretty happy that i do not find split necks. i usually manage to crush them myself on the press or something.

WESHOOT2 · June 2, 2012, 06:38 AM

From my Nowlin barrel I expect over 50 uses.

June 1, 2012, 01:35 PM	#1
dbldown Junior Member Join Date: May 31, 2011 Posts: 5	case life How many reloads can I expect from a 9mm case? Reloads are going to be to the low-mid range of the recommended loads.

June 1, 2012, 05:27 PM	#5
Gerry Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 382	Since I don't keep my own brass always separate from everyone else's I pick up, I've never been able to keep accurate track of how many times specific lots of 9mm cases have been reloaded. Since it's IPSC I do and usually everyone there reloads, I'd hate to even imagine how many times the brass I load has been previously used. I'm sure it ranges between once (for those lucky times I get the brass that young mall ninjas leave behind) to dozens of times, including brass previously loaded to major PF. In my experience when brass goes bad, either the case mouth is cracked (pretty rare) or the primer pocket becomes loose sometimes causing the primer to fall out after loading to make those darn "tricklers". Usually you can feel the squishy sensation of a properly seated primer, and those cases that offer absolutely no resistance when seated I mark and end up leaving behind the next time at the range. I don't have to mark many. Last edited by Gerry; June 1, 2012 at 06:46 PM.

June 1, 2012, 05:40 PM	#6
beex215 Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2010 Posts: 317	im at about <10. i dont really know for sure but thats a fair guess and im pretty happy that i do not find split necks. i usually manage to crush them myself on the press or something. __________________ my youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/beehasagun1?feature=mhee

June 2, 2012, 06:38 AM	#7
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	From my Nowlin barrel I expect over 50 uses. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

June 1, 2012, 01:45 PM	#2
Misssissippi Dave Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Posts: 1,411	In mid range 9 mm loads I have been getting about 20 loads using Federal Champion. I don't know how many loads above that I will get from Winchester yet. Different manufacture's cases will give you different results. Loading them hot or near top end will reduce the number of reloads you get quite a bit. I have had a couple of cases crack under 20 loads. There were very few of those. I have even had a cracked case with the Winchester and S&B case. Keep the expansion of the mouth to a minimum and you might find the cases last longer too.

June 1, 2012, 02:45 PM	#3
Scimmia Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2011 Location: Eastern IA Posts: 428	A lot also depends on the gun you're shooting them in. A gun with a looser chamber will wear out brass much faster than a gun with a tight chamber.

June 1, 2012, 04:59 PM	#4
jepp2 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,476	You might find this study interesting: 9mm case life study. Look about half way down the page.