308 Brass

[greenron15]

How many time can you shoot 308 Federal brass for precision shooting before it loses its quality
I have been told 5 or 6 times at most after that you begin to
accuracy

 

[fdshuster]

I don't believe there is any set number of times a case of any manufacturer can be loaded before you begin to have problems with it. A lot depends on your chamber dimensions, how much ( or how little) you are sizing, the quality of the brass, etc. Just as one example: Lake City & Winchester 223 brass, fired in my factory chambers will be good for 12 to 14 rounds fired before I get neck splits. Lapua formed into 6ppc, 6 BR, etc., with tight, fitted neck chambers is being loaded for well over 40 times and still perfectly fine. Old brass versus new as it relates to accuracy? Have no idea. Another factor is plain brass or nickel plated brass? Most I know do not use nickel plated.

 

[CJ6]

+1 what fdshuster said, to add high or low pressure loads .

 

[watercam]

For what it is worth, for the Federal 30-06 loads I use (close to maximum hunting loads) I am getting roughly 7-9 loadings before the primer pockets become a bit too loose for me. Can only assume the 308 brass would be similar.

 

[NHgunNut]

I have a .308 savage, and got over 25 loadings of a box of black hills cases. The cases only needed trimming 2x in their life. The primer pockets loosened up eventually. My barrel was very rough and tight, causing high pressures with even moderate loads. Now that I have lapped and 2500 rounds through my barrel the pressures are way down, with the same loads. I bet I will get over 30 reloads out of my hornady match cases. I use a lee collet die to keep the case from being over-worked.