How Many Reloads For a Case - Factory Chamber?

[Phil3]

Could I expect any difference in how many reloads might get out of a quality case (Lapua) vs something more ordinary (Winchester)? I have both in 223 Remington and just wondered if the Lapua might last longer, helping offset its much higher cost. Also, when it comes to factory chambers, how many uses can one typically get with modest loads before the case is done? A few calculations.

Winchester Brass:
$0.26/Case
10 Reloads = $0.026/Shot

Lapua Brass:
$0.60/Case
10 Reloads = $0.060/Shot

If I shot 100 rounds, the Lapua costs me $3.40 more than the Winchester. Not so much...to me, given the potential for reduced brass prep and superior accuracy. But, if the Lapua lasts through 15 reloads.

Lapua Brass:
$0.60/Case
15 Reloads = $0.040/Shot

If I shot 100 rounds, the Lapua costs me $1.40 more than the Winchester. Pretty minimal. But actual savings depends on how long the Lapua lives vs the Winchester when used in a factory gun. Any experiences? The rifle the brass to be used in is a factory Howa in 223 Remington.

Phil

 

[Gadget]

Hi
22BR hot loads on there 37th loading, Lapua Brass wins hands down, cost just dose not come into it.
Gadget

 

[Martin52]

Phil,

I think your reloading technique will have a big impact on the number of reloads you are able to obtain, possibly more so than whether its Lapua or Winchester.

Taking a factory .308 chamber for example, fired cases may measure 0.343 at the neck. Now, if you're resizing unturned lapua brass this brass might be sized back to 0.334/0.335 (assume for the moment a bushing die).

If you're using Winchester cases, that same 0.343 neck will have to be reduced further, maybe to 0.331/0.332 because the neck walls are thinner (assuming the same neck tension is achieved as the Lapua when reloaded).

The Winchester case is going to be worked harder and is at higher risk of case neck splits than the Lapua, being less "worked".

This is where the technique comes in, if you size down the Winchester cases in 2 stages this should be easier on the brass. You might use a 0.337 bushing first then a 0.331 bushing.

On the other hand, if you use a standard FLS die, the Lapua brass may be worked just as hard as the Win as the necks are first squeezed down to say 0.330 before being expanded.

This is just one example of why, in my opinion, your reloading technique is going to determine the number of (safe) reloads you get, more so than the "brand. having said that however, if your technique is well developed, I agree with Gadet's post, you can expect more reloads from Lapua.

Martin

PS I use .308 as an example, i don't shoot .223 however the reloading approach would be the same.

 

[6BRinNZ]

The guys I know that use Winchester brass in their .284s have a much higher discard rate with the Winchester vs Lapua - so if comparing one brand to another against cost this needs to be factored in.

The other aspect is cheap reloading components are often opposed to accuracy/consistency requirements so depending on what is acceptable, cheaper components (includes bullets) may have a much higher preparation time in order to achieve the same level of accuracy/consistency.

IMO ultimately the dollar and time cost is in direct relation to the accuracy/consistency requirements/needs.

Chance are as others have said - with mild loads and good reloading techniques even in a factory chamber you will get more than satisfactory case life on any particular brand. But once you start going for groups on paper you might find that cost; be it dollars or time, is no longer your main driver

YMMV.

Good luck

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Could I expect any difference in how many reloads might get out of a quality case (Lapua) vs something more ordinary (Winchester)? .......

Phil.
I think you are asking the wrong question. Surely accuracy is what you are after and not just the ability to send lead down range? I started out with Remington brass for my 260 Rem and it's very variable compared to the Nosler and Lapua brass I now have available. I'm still using the Remington brass on its tenth firing, but it requires more care and attention than the better brass. The Remington case weights vary and the necks vary. With the Nosler brass, I just work with the boxful and don't worry about these details.
Regards JCS

 

[jonbearman]

If you cant afford alot of lapua you might try getting some lake city brass,it is a bit tougher than remington and lasts a decent amount of reloadings.In fact most military brass is a better bet over remington brass.In my ar's I have shot and reloaded some norinco brass from china over 20 times.I wish I had more of the stuff as it shoots accurate.

 

[fdshuster]

Phil3: As Martin said, the amount of "working" the brass is subjected to will have a large effect on the number of reloads before the neck splits.

For my sloppy factory chambers, I do use less costly brass, and after 12 to 14 loads, they are thrown in the salvage can. Lapua is kept for my tight, fitted neck chambers. Lapua 6BR and 220 Russian( 22 & 6ppc ) have been loaded 45+ times, primer pockets are still tight as when new, and I've never thrown a single one away, so over the long term they are less costly than the "cheaper" brass, and higher quality also.

The Lapua brass is approximately .0015" to .002" thicker than most other, so yes, I would expect it to last longer than Winchester, but not long enough in a factory chamber to make it worthwhile. Lake City has been an excellent choice for me in the 223's.

 

[CatShooter]

Could I expect any difference in how many reloads might get out of a quality case (Lapua) vs something more ordinary (Winchester)? I have both in 223 Remington and just wondered if the Lapua might last longer, helping offset its much higher cost. Also, when it comes to factory chambers, how many uses can one typically get with modest loads before the case is done? A few calculations.

Phil

The original price of brass is inconsequential to the overall cost of shooting. 10 firings is nothing for brass. I recently threw out several hundred Winchester 22-250 cases that had burned out 5 stainless barrels, and had been loaded approximately 45 times each.

It is not the brand of brass that makes it's life, it is how you manage their lifespan.

Given the choice of Lapua and another case, I would buy Lapua every time - not because it will last longer (it might not) but because it is a better case.

If Lapua was not available, I would buy what was available, and do the finishing work myself.

 

[FroggyOne2]

When it comes to .223 brass, I don't believe I will ever buy Lapua brass again. I am getting excelent performance out of LC brass.

 

[WyleWD]

Phil3: As Martin said, the amount of "working" the brass is subjected to will have a large effect on the number of reloads before the neck splits.

For my sloppy factory chambers, I do use less costly brass, and after 12 to 14 loads, they are thrown in the salvage can. Lapua is kept for my tight, fitted neck chambers. Lapua 6BR and 220 Russian( 22 & 6ppc ) have been loaded 45+ times, primer pockets are still tight as when new, and I've never thrown a single one away, so over the long term they are less costly than the "cheaper" brass, and higher quality also.

+1 on this post. Agree totally. WD

 

[Shynloco]

Phil.
In a pure practical sense, you get what you pay for. Buying Winchester brass and comparing it to Lapua is like comparing a Yugo to a Cadillac. I bought a box of Lapua .223 brass 3 years ago and am still on the original 50 pcs I prepped back then and I've shot and reloaded that batch about 30 times and no signs of deterioration. Previously, I used Winchester and my best guess of a ratio of burn out is probably in the neighborhood of 4:1 in favor of Lapua. Accuracy and consistency is my thing so Lapua wins hands down. As for my 6mmbr, I got 33+ reloads before any of the original Lapua showed any signs of neck cracking. I now use that original batch of Lapua brass as foulers.

Alex

P.S. As FroggyOne2 stated, Lake City brass to your best alternative to Lapua.

 

[mshelton]

I got 4 on some Laupa brass in a Rem 700 .308 before the cases started splitting at the base. The chamber was big and sloppy, could never full size the brass or the whole cartridge would drop in the camber past where the bolt could extract it.

Rem QA at it's finest.

 

[243winxb]

At 18 loadings, 243win. FL bushing die, Win brass, neck turned, factory Rem. rifle. Over working the brass using an expander will cause neck splits.

 

[Phil3]

Thanks all, for the many helpful replies.

I wanted to clear up some possible confusion. My goal is best accuracy at the lowest possible cost. I fully recognize improved accuracy will cost additional money and am willing to do that, but obviously don’t want to spend more than necessary. I just wondered how much more superior Lapua brass might cost, which speaks to how many reloads I could get out of a case, and whether Lapua would last much longer than Winchester. I had no idea one could get 10, 20+ uses out of a case. 20+ uses means the cost per shot in brass, whether it be Lapua or Winchester is very small.

Winchester Brass:
$0.26/Case
20 Reloads = $0.013/Shot

Lapua Brass:
$0.60/Case
20 Reloads = $0.030/Shot

Lapua Brass: Additional Cost/Shot Over Winchester = $0.017 (1.7 cents)

For a person after accuracy, using the Lapua brass is an obvious decision. If I can’t afford 1.7 cents a shot, using a bolt action on the weekends, I have bigger financial troubles.

I fully understand on how sizing approach can affect brass life. Sounds like I need to fire a few out of the Howa and see how loose the chamber is. Then, neck size to obtain adequate neck tension. I just hope the differential between fired neck diameter and sized diameter is not excessive and so rough on the brass. We’ll see. Thankfully, the Lapua brass appears to have thicker necks, helping minimize the working of the brass.

Phil