Tracking brass number of times fired

[6Creed73]

I'm finding that keeping track of and separating brass by how many times they've been fired is becoming a pain.

I was thinking about an easier way to do this and thought that I might take a small file and file lines in the rim to group them by. Then when I get back from the range, I can update the count in a log book by looking at the rim. So I grabbed my file and headed to the gun room to get started. I looked at the containers full with several hundred pieces of brass, turned around and decided my time was better used eating a sandwich and watching TV.

I started thinking, why am I even tracking this. I've never once retired brass based on how many firings it has. I can usually tell when it's time to scrap them by how loose the primer pocket gets.

Curious about everyone's thoughts on if it's worth the time tracking this. If so, what's your system?

 

[scpaul]

I used to put a small file cut on the rim every time they were reloaded. I had some that the rim got kinda crowded. Usually 7-08 that I never really loaded very hot. It was more of a kids training and hunting rifle. It's a tack driver and alot of the clubs kids got their first deer with it.

 

[Bill Norris]

I simply keep track of times fired by the separate rows in the box. Once I get my brass fire-formed the brass finds a home in a box and each piece of brass will live in that row forever according to weight. I keep a log in a file on my laptop of each rifle and the past load data of each row in that box. Each time the brass is fired I make a note on that rifles page.

SAMPLE

ROW 7 & 8 20 CT.
112 GR. BARTS FB/M HBN**COATED 1.585 O M 2.275 COL T/L B S .202 B C .281
POWDER H-4198 34.7 GR. PRIMER CCI BR-4 .323 BUSHING
SEATED @ 1.590 O M 2.280 COL .005 JAM 02/18/23

 

[Clancy]

I just keep it in boxes of 50 and put a sharpie mark inside the lid for every firing.

Or, I keep an eye on my primers used and count it that way, as I buy enough powder and primers for each barrel to certainly shoot it out- that way I don’t have to mess with retuning due to lot numbers.

 

[alf]

I just keep it in boxes of 50 and put a sharpie mark inside the lid for every firing.

That's what I do, in addition to all the pertinent loading info taped to the inside of the lid.

 

[Chiquita]

My .308 and 6.5 are total of 465 cases total in count.

I can keep track of the firings by just writing down on my reloading data sheet.

 

[Steve Blair]

I keep brass in these in 100 case batches. Erasable Sharpie on the lid to note what they are and how many firings. They come in various sizes. Some supermarkets carry their own, cheaper brand.

 

[quest450]

 

[JimSC]

I started thinking, why am I even tracking this. I've never once retired brass based on how many firings it has. I can usually tell when it's time to scrap them by how loose the primer pocket gets.

this

 

[nakneker]

Some I track and some I don’t. For the general purpose rifles I just shoot the brass and until the brass says it’s done. I do keep track of the long range stuff, mostly just trying to be more meticulous and keep things as uniform and organized as I can with that ammo. I don’t shoot competition, just enjoying long range shooting and accurate rifles. I mentor quite a few young people introducing them to the hobby we all love, a few those get taught reloading if there is enough interest when shooting. If I was a competitor I’d be much more record oriented I’m sure.

 

[6Creed73]

My .308 and 6.5 are total of 465 cases total in count.

I can keep track of the firings by just writing down on my reloading data sheet.

Right, I write it down as well. But let's say you are shooting one day and you have some 1x brass, some 2x, some 3x, etc...now you have to make sure they stay separate at the range, tumble them separately, etc. When I'm at the range I don't want to mess with keeping them all separate.

I'm really thinking the ends don't justify the means, and leaning towards not even doing it anymore.

 

[Jager]

Every batch of ammo I load gets recorded in my Handload Log - and a subset of that info also goes onto the back of a business card, which then gets placed into the box along with the loaded ammo. That card stays with the fired brass until it comes back to the bench for loading again, so there's no question as to its status or history.

"PF" stands for Previously Fired. The next time this batch of brass gets loaded, that number increments.

Pretty painless.

 

[TominSWNY]

I'm finding that keeping track of and separating brass by how many times they've been fired is becoming a pain.

I was thinking about an easier way to do this and thought that I might take a small file and file lines in the rim to group them by. Then when I get back from the range, I can update the count in a log book by looking at the rim. So I grabbed my file and headed to the gun room to get started. I looked at the containers full with several hundred pieces of brass, turned around and decided my time was better used eating a sandwich and watching TV.

I started thinking, why am I even tracking this. I've never once retired brass based on how many firings it has. I can usually tell when it's time to scrap them by how loose the primer pocket gets.

Curious about everyone's thoughts on if it's worth the time tracking this. If so, what's your system?

smartest thing II have seen on here.

 

[jepp2]

Curious about everyone's thoughts on if it's worth the time tracking this. If so, what's your system?

What you are suggesting would not work better for me. I get too many firings on brass to rely on small file marks on the case head (and it could cause potential extraction issues as well as others).

I basically keep my brass in "batches". Most are 50 rounds, some are in the thousands. I have 2 labels I print and use. One is the brass batch label, it stays with the brass. One is the load label, and it is used with that load. I also keep a record of all my batches in a MS Word file. Just helps me manage everything.

I used to anneal every 5 firings for my bulk batches. I almost never have loose primer posckets since I don't load above SAAMI limits. And by staying within, the pockets don't loosen.

But my shooting might be quite different from yours. I'm in MT currently prairie dog hunting. Previously I would come for a month and bring between 6-7K centerfire rounds with me. Somehow I don't see filing the case heads on that many rounds. Having a single label in the kitty litter container with 2.5K rounds is easier for me.

 

[X-Caveman]

I worry about it for the first 3-5 firings, then inevitably give up. Luckily, I can’t shoot the difference and don’t anneal. Ignorance is bliss.

Now different lots… that’s a different story. Almost can’t believe what I’ve seen on target on two occasions when using different brass lots in shoot offs because I run out of the normal stuff.

 

[scpaul]

I'm not that computer savvy and can't type, I hunt and peck, so no computer records. I assign a name to a particular load like "Fast 2". Put a label in the top of the ammo box and then start a paper file including targets with info. Then I use the notchs to identify which brass is which.

 

[kiwijohn]

A guy asked me one time how many firings I get on my 9 mm brass. I told him in all seriousness untill the headstamp wears off. Then once the necks split one more firing.

For rifle i used to diligently keep track of lots and firings, But once it goes past 10 I dont really bother. I try and cycle through the brass so that it has equal numbers of firings.
I keep a barrel count on my rifles though

 

[HardwoodPro]

Get enough to last the life of the barrel. Each time you barrel swap you know you are on the next firing

 

[jelenko]

I keep mine in 5 galleon plastic pails. One pail for fired [with a sticky on it that says how many times the brass has been fired - e.g., 6X], one pail for cleaned, one pail for resized and one for primed [ready for loading]. The pails all have brass from the same 'lot'. Typically, there's 4k to 6k pieces in a 'lot'.

While incipient case separations and split necks are culled during one of the process steps, I like to keep the brass together by the number of firings so when it's time to scrap them all, I'm not throwing away good with the bad.

 

[Chiquita]

Right, I write it down as well. But let's say you are shooting one day and you have some 1x brass, some 2x, some 3x, etc...now you have to make sure they stay separate at the range, tumble them separately, etc. When I'm at the range I don't want to mess with keeping them all separate.

I'm really thinking the ends don't justify the means, and leaning towards not even doing it anymore.

I don't have that many brass or different load combinations.

Say for example I load 200 6.5 and I only shoot 150. I will not get those loaded and shoot until the last 50 are shot. Then I will load all 200 at the same time.