Once fired brass

[DAB]

I have a batch of 44mag, they needed trimming after about 10 reloads.

[6spdC6]

Been a hand loader since about 1972 and I appreciate the cost of brass.

Working as a range officer and /or instructor at my large gun club I accumulated everything I could find or was given. I reloaded the many calibers I have and used the other brass for trading stock. Of course I also recovered as much of my own brass as I could.

I had a Belgium Browning lever in .358 and that ammo is not the most popular of calibers so its expensive to buy new and brass when available is also expensive.
My easy solution was to use easy to get commercial .308 brass and simply expand it to .358 size. A simple and not time consuming job and well worth it!

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

I can't figure out why my once fired condom business hasn't taken off.

You also have to open up an EBDBbnb to sell them at.

The League - EBDB BnB (Jon Lajoie) - YouTube

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

I can't figure out why my once fired condom business hasn't taken off.

That actually got an "out loud" chuckle from me.

[markids77]

Originally Posted by chinaski

I have never trimmed pistol brass. Never. I don't even measure it. I've read that Magnum calibers need to be trimmed on occasion, but regular straight walled pistol cases actually shrink in many cases. More than likely, you will wear the case out before it would ever need to be trimmed.

Reloading is economical. Hell I can reload 38special with wadcutters and a few grains of Unique and it's cheaper than shooting .22LR

You may be doing your guns a disservice, and perhaps (in the case of short cases) be producing excess pressures in some instances. Most auto pistol brass headspaces on the case mouth making case length somewhat critical for safe, accurate and reliable function. A 9mm case which is a couple thou short of trim length with a near maximum powder charge MIGHT produce pressures above the maximum recommended. OK, 2.5 grains of Unique under a lead 148 grain full wadcutter won't care about case length at all... but your 9mm+P 124 grain defensive loads (if you build them) damned sure could.

[DAB]

i've had a few hand loads of 9mm get seated back during chambering, so another reason to stick to factory for me. they get the crimp just perfect.

[allthrottleandsomebottle]

My buddy just found out how much $$$ it cost to start reloading .375 Win........he had nothing but the 20 rounds he bought from me to start

[StaticCling]

Originally Posted by markids77

You may be doing your guns a disservice, and perhaps (in the case of short cases) be producing excess pressures in some instances. Most auto pistol brass headspaces on the case mouth making case length somewhat critical for safe, accurate and reliable function. A 9mm case which is a couple thou short of trim length with a near maximum powder charge MIGHT produce pressures above the maximum recommended. OK, 2.5 grains of Unique under a lead 148 grain full wadcutter won't care about case length at all... but your 9mm+P 124 grain defensive loads (if you build them) damned sure could.

The only new factory Handgun Ammo I will buy is Defensive Loads. For my handguns, my reloads are simply range fodder...and I never load them anywhere near maximum, ever. I have never trimmed any of my pistol brass and nobody I know that reloads does either (including my father who has been reloading for over 40 years).

As you mentioned, if you are hot rodding stuff or shooting Magnum Calibers (I don't), it's probably a good idea, but for simple plinking loads, it isn't necessary. As a matter of fact, in my experience, the cases actually SHRINK.

Rifle is a different matter, you always trim...

[markids77]

I trim also as part of the uniforming process I go through before I load a batch. I sort the brass by manufacturer, and trim each case after resizing. If you get a chance, mic a bag of new factory cases... you will be amazed at the range of lengths! I am a bit retentive about my ammo but I also have never had a failure to feed, fire or eject in all the thousands of rounds I have made. And my pet 1911 went from a 3 inch gun at 25 yards to a 2.25 inch gun once I hit on the magic load; no other changes.