300 win mag case life?

ghilliedogger

ghilliedogger

New member
I am reloading for my 300 win mag and was wondering how many firings I should be getting out of my brass.

I have a bunch of brass that I had from many years ago that I used to load but I haven't kept track of how many times they have been fired.

I also have some once fired brass mixed in. Is there a way to tell when brass is done? Or do I need to wait till it splits to know?

I don't want to start over with new brass but maybe I would be better off starting fresh and keeping track.

What are your opinions on this.

thanks advanced
 
Originally Posted By: ghilliedoggerI am reloading for my 300 win mag and was wondering how many firings I should be getting out of my brass.

I have a bunch of brass that I had from many years ago that I used to load but I haven't kept track of how many times they have been fired.

I also have some once fired brass mixed in. Is there a way to tell when brass is done? Or do I need to wait till it splits to know?

I don't want to start over with new brass but maybe I would be better off starting fresh and keeping track.

What are your opinions on this.

thanks advanced

IMHO start over with new brass and keep track of the firings.
For my 300 I toss the brass after 4 loadings that is not saying that I couldn't get more loadings But I aint so poor that I can't buy another 500 pieces of brass
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Heck I am still working on my first 1000 pieces of brass.
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DAB
 
I get a numer out of mine but they are Lapua which probably makes a difference. I anneal after four and toss them at seven or sooner if the pockets get loose. I'm not running at max. There was a guy on 6BR.com that took a prize for some long distance event that won the shoot on 300WM that had ten loadings.
 
Originally Posted By: ghilliedoggerI am reloading for my 300 win mag and was wondering how many firings I should be getting out of my brass.

That depends alot on the chamber in your particular rifle. The WM head spaces on the belt and often times the reamer used to cut the chamber can be very "generous" forward of the belt. This can allow the case to stretch in the web area, which leads to case head separation after a few reloadings. How you resize the case can have an impact on this also.

Originally Posted By: ghilliedoggerI have a bunch of brass that I had from many years ago that I used to load but I haven't kept track of how many times they have been fired.

The best way I have used to keep track of the number of reloadings is to make one single scratch (using a sharp small screwdriver) from the primer outward. This is done each time the case is fired. I use a wood block with different size holes drilled to hold the case when I mark them. The case in the photo has been fired three times.
MVC-case.jpg


Originally Posted By: ghilliedoggerI also have some once fired brass mixed in. Is there a way to tell when brass is done? Or do I need to wait till it splits to know?

I would make a tool to check the cases for thining at the web. It takes some practice but you can feel a ring on the inside of the case at the top of the web that will tell you it is about to let go. I use a small screw driver with the tip bent at a 90 degree angle, but others use paper clips etc.

Originally Posted By: ghilliedoggerI don't want to start over with new brass but maybe I would be better off starting fresh and keeping track.

Unless you are shooting a lot, I wouldn't mess with them. Start over with new stuff, neck size if you can to help extend case life, and keep track of the number of times the cases have been fired and reloaded.

Jim
 
i would buy new brass and keep track from there, i have been doing 4 loadings, i probely dont shoot my wm but about 50 times a year just to make sure it is sighted in, it a hunting rifle not a target so a hundred cases (i bought 250)would last a long time
 


That depends alot on the chamber in your particular rifle. The WM head spaces on the belt and often times the reamer used to cut the chamber can be very "generous" forward of the belt. This can allow the case to stretch in the web area, which leads to case head separation after a few reloadings. How you resize the case can have an impact on this also.


+1

I keep older brass sorted by brand. Watch the web and the necks for splitting.

With the cost of components today, for hunting purposes, I don't throw anything away.

Good luck!
 
Thanks, that is great advice.

I didn't know you could check brass from the inside. I will have to try it.

I used to have a browning 300 and then I got a Ruger 300.

I recently had a shillen barrel put on it and I can tell it has a lot tighter chamber.

I think I will buy some new brass so I have some consistency and go from there.

Thanks for the advice
 
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