Once Shot Brass

Mr. Lobo

I have seen "once shot brass" in several ads. Is there any way you can measure to verify the number of times the brass has been shot? Or if it has been shot 4 to 5 times is it safe to reload until it starts to show signs of breaking down. I really don't want to have any cases crack within my firearms if possible. Thanks!

Jim

jonk

Well, first you have to actually BUY some...

That being done, there are a few things to check. See if the brass has streched beyond factory specs using calipers or whatnot. A little streching is common for once fired, a lot indicates perhaps it is more than once fired. Bend a paper clip or piece of wire and feel inside the base of the case wall, just above the head; if it is getting close to failure there will be a noticeable ridge that you can feel where the brass is streching and thinning, even if the case has been trimmed.

So long as the case looks OK and passes these tests, it is safe even if shot several times. I have fired some cases about 10 times now with no trouble; though I have trimmed them. I have heard that annealing the case after 8-10 firings will prolong life even longer. Also, neck sizing only increases case life.

Most reputable dealers or online merchants who advertise once fired brass are selling just that; but the point is if a few two or three times fired cases get in there, it shouldn't be a problem.

"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf

Iconoclast

Easiest check is visual. If the brass shows scratches or polishing down to an area rougly 3/16" above the base and, usually, a slight belt below that to the extractor or rim, it has been resized at least once. Once fired brass will typically have a surface that appears consistent from the base to the mouth. While this is not 100% accurate, it's a good rule of thumb. Sometimes, a seller will advertise the brass as being tumbled. You can do this yourself, and a good healthy tumbling can cover up light reloading marks. If the brass is listed as "once fired" and much / all of it shows these characteristics, likely the seller doesn't know or is trying to sell something he'd be unlikely to sell otherwise. Be particularly cautious w/ range salvage. That could be anything, including brass the previous shooter didn't bother to pick up because, by his standards, it was shot out. Jonk's test is good, but IMHO time-consuming. I wouldn't bother unless it is something fairly exotic, such as Norma metrics or the like. Otherwise, it's simpler, faster, and, in the long run, cheaper to pay a tad more to buy from a proven source or even pick up new brass in bulk. You didn't say what calibers you were seeking, but that is also an issue. Often you can find boxed empties in gun shops or at shows for nominal costs. If you start w/ known once-fired, you will be able to spot incipient problems before they show up in the firearm - enlongated cases, cracks in the case mouth, etc. If you load by batches, keeping the brass segregated by lot & manufacturer, you discard the batch when you see problems with some of the cases. By that time, you will have had your money's worth & then some.

Mr. Lobo

Thank you very much! Great answers for the newbe reloader who is just a little paranoid. I will be reloading 44, 45, 40, 38, 30-06 and 223.

Jim

nmyers

Just in case you weren't aware of this, military brass must have the primer pocket "swaged" before it can be reloaded the first time. This requires a special tool or die.

Neal