38 special brass life?
- Thread starter Lucky6547
- Start date
TBH, so many I can’t count the number of reloads to even get an average. Certainly more than 10.
Longtrain
Gold $$ Contributor
Way back in my LEO days, we shot 148 gr wadcutters for practice. How many reloads...lots with mild loads. Eventually primer pockets loosened a bit and we got vertical cracks down from the case mouth, then they got tossed. We resized them with carbide sizers, little to no lube needed.
+! they last a LONG time. I can remember when I didn't even have a way to clean it. It looked like shit but kept working. As stated above till there is something notably wrong w/it. Gary
jepp2
Gold $$ Contributor
Why are you roll crimping? This will fatigue the neck and cause splits prematurely ending the case life.
If you use a Lyman type "M" expander they will last longer. The case mouth is only expanded approximately .002 larger than bullet diameter. After brass spring back a short section that was bumped onto step "B" is .001 larger than bullet diameter. And the bullets are started straight by hand before final seating.
I just bump the case mouth onto the second step "B" and not bell the mouth. This prevents overworking the case mouth and the cases last longer before the case mouth splits. And with light loads you can just use a taper crimp.
Below an example of a .223 type "M" expander with .003 bullet grip. The second step will spring back to just slightly over bullet diameter allowing the bullet to be started straight with just your fingers. Meaning no bullet tilt during seating.
I just bump the case mouth onto the second step "B" and not bell the mouth. This prevents overworking the case mouth and the cases last longer before the case mouth splits. And with light loads you can just use a taper crimp.
Below an example of a .223 type "M" expander with .003 bullet grip. The second step will spring back to just slightly over bullet diameter allowing the bullet to be started straight with just your fingers. Meaning no bullet tilt during seating.
I have some WCC 71 military .38 Special brass that I have been reloading since ~1980. They certainly have more than fifty reloads. All were fired with 2.8 g. Bullseye and Speer 148 g. HBWC. No roll crimp, just enough taper to straighten a slight flare.
Lucky6547
Silver $$ Contributor
It’s entirely possible that I am mistaken, but I’ve read that with the soft lead bullets, they need the roll crimp to get to consistent pressures for good accuracy...
My S&W Model 19 full target disagrees.
They will last until you lose them.
Lucky6547
Silver $$ Contributor
Good to know!
I reloaded them hundreds of times, when range officer for the PD, we shot thousands of rounds, 38 and 357, for practice, but they were wad cutter bullets with light bullseye powder loads.
Shot full factory loads for qualifying and duty. But those case's were reloaded several times and used for practice afterwards.
I only very lightly crimped or just leveled it off in seating the bullet.
Shot full factory loads for qualifying and duty. But those case's were reloaded several times and used for practice afterwards.
I only very lightly crimped or just leveled it off in seating the bullet.
I need a roll crimp for proper function in my 52.
jepp2
Gold $$ Contributor
If you size the case neck properly and use a Lyman M die to expand them, a taper crimp is all you need for the light loads of easy to light off powders. Heavy jacketed bullets with loads of H110/W296 need a firm roll crimp to ignite the powder properly.
You do, because the chambering action can shift the bullet forward (just like an inertia bullet puller).
I'm still shooting brass that's 35 years old.
When it splits, it gets tossed.
When it splits, it gets tossed.
Personally, I never fed any goose with grease. But to each their own, I guess.
30+ with a taper crimp which I prefer for wadcutters. About the same with a roll crimp if you don't over do it.
For example, I'm shooting 125 XTP's in a 38 case w/ a book load of 231 for this bullet. I use a moderate roll crimp and I'm getting about 25 to 30 reloads before any splits in the case mouth occur.
For example, I'm shooting 125 XTP's in a 38 case w/ a book load of 231 for this bullet. I use a moderate roll crimp and I'm getting about 25 to 30 reloads before any splits in the case mouth occur.
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