02 February 2002, 04:25
<GAHUNTER>Should I full length resize or just toss them?
I've got a bunch of 300 Winnie rounds that are on their 10th and 12th cycles. I've been partial resizing in a full length die for quite some time, but about half my rounds are getting very difficult to chamber and extract. The brass shows no obvious defects but I know that defects are not always obvious.
Should I just full-length resize this brass and continue using it, or toss it and start over? I don't shoot particularly hot loads (75 grains of H4831SC -- 2979 fps). Heck, I went elk and mule deer hunting this past season with reloads on this cycle. When I got there I had to segregate my ammo since about half of it was too difficult to chamber easily. Still got my elk and muley though.
02 February 2002, 05:12
<Mike M>In my opinion 10 or 12 loadings is alot. Especially with a belted cartridge. I wouldn't risk screwing up a $ 3,000 hunt with a separated case over $ 30 worth of brass.
02 February 2002, 05:19
Bob338Toss them. The best I've ever done with any belted case is 15 reloads before the seperated. The average is 13, depending.
Presumably you are checking the insides with a bent paper clip or dental pick to detect the ridge near the web. That is the first sign of seperation.
If you partially full size at about 5 reloads and set the shoulder back about .002", chambering will be easier. I also anneal at the same time to restore the necks for uniform neck tension. That also helps.
02 February 2002, 10:36
p dog shootertoss them you have yur money worth.
02 February 2002, 11:30
Jim in IdahoDitto the others' opinions.
That case is the only thing separating you from about 60,000 psi of hot gas. Why push things to get one more firing from a 25 cent piece of brass? I arbitrarily toss my cases after 11 or 12 firings. I figure they have given long and honorable service by then and have certainly given me my money's worth.
03 February 2002, 01:37
Oddballsounds like time for new cases.
04 February 2002, 08:58
<hd352802>Take a saw and cut one in two and you can see what shape they are in.Possibly the brass moved to the shoulder,so the case body became to long, don't know a cure for that.
Maybe someone knows one?
Hugh.
04 February 2002, 10:40
Major CaliberI only use some mild 30-06 loads for 10 reloads, everything else gets tossed after 6 times.