Once Fired Brass

[mike22250]

I have a question, I was talking to a gun builder the other day and he told me that he would not recommend using once fired Brass. He mentioned that you will lose accuracy with the cases and that he feels it not worth the trouble. He was saying that you do not know what the case have been exposed too, which I would agree, and that it will not line up with your barrel. I did not quite understand that statement, “Not line up with your barrel”. Do any of you feel the same or have a better explanation of what he is meaning by lining up with your barrel? I could see if you were taking a Neck Turn chamber and trying to run brass that has not been turned, but this is a hunting rifle.
Also, have any of you experimented with accuracy and Once fired brass (Full length sized) that was compared to shooting Virgin brass?

 

[Lapua40X]

IMO, your "gun builder" may have a screw lose.
Then, again, I guess it depends on how you define "once fired" brass.
If it's from an unknown source I'm sceptical.
If it's range finds - I'm more than sceptical.
If it's military - I won't use it.
If it's once fired factor in a chamber that's probably larger than my tight fit chamber, I won't use it.
If it's my own, or from a fellow shooter with whom I am closely associated, I have no problem with it.

 

[Big Mc]

Look for a new guy !

 

[spclark]

Once-fired is a pretty generic description. Without explanation as to what the brass was first fired in, I'd agree with your gun-plumber.

Military brass fired in machine guns is notorious for being stressed, sometimes beyond any hope of decent use in firearms chambered to accept it even after re-sizing. Pistol brass can be overloaded and/or fired in chambers with varying degrees of unsupported chambers, leading to bulges that can be difficult to re-size for re-use.

Range pick-ups? There's no way to know whether they're safe for re-use.

If you're buying new brass and firing it yourself, then there's no problem re-using it as long as it lasts.

Yes, brass that's been used before typically produces more consistent, accurate results. Aside from the economics of it, that's why competitive shooters reload...

What's your hunting rifle chambered for, BTW?

 

[bigedp51]

If you ever visited a competitive pistol forum the competitors are picking up what ever brass they find laying on the ground. This is mixed brass with all sorts of head stamps and it is reloaded and used in the next competition. Meaning short range shooting on a course where you will never find all of "YOUR" brass anyway.

I use once fired brass in my AR15 rifles, a small base die is used to bring it back to minimum dimensions and it is practice blasting ammo at 100 yards or less. This once fired brass is sorted by head stamp and they can vary a great deal in uniformity. The cheaper .223/5.56 ammo you see in stores is loaded with brass of a lower quality level and can vary greatly in case wall and neck thickness.

Hunting here in Pennsylvania the average deer is shot at 40 yards or less in the woods and many times they are running full blast and Lupua brass isn't going to help.

I use new brass in my scoped rifles when trying to get the best accuracy, and your question depends on the type rifle and what you are trying to do. After spending time sorting and prepping once fired brass and then buying some Nosler Custom brass the Nosler brass was the hands down winner and time saver. My problem is when I see a once fired case at the range it gets picked up because I have brass OCD.

Bottom line, uniform brass from the same lot should produce the most uniform groups for accuracy meaning smaller groups. BUT this depends on your rifle, how much coffee you have had, how the wind is blowing and karma.

 

[wapiti25]

The only thing I can think of is from bent rims causing problems.

 

[Preacher]

I don't care to use so called once fired brass in a new build either, why deal with any problems they might cause when new brass is available.. If it was going into a new chamber cut with the same reamer I will use it if I'm 100% certain it was only once fired, other wise--no way...

 

[people]

It depends on how you want to shoot your hunting rifle. Short range stuff it really doesn't matter.

 

[stool]

as was mentioned..is it REALLY once fired.
all brass has a life, and its life is based on how it is treated.
308 brass..one case... fired and loaded 50 times in one rifle..just to prove it could be done( in one sitting, hand loading)..not normal.
now with annealing almost anything is possible.
machine gun fired brass is tuff to reclaim but not impossible.

we have a company in colorado that claims "once fired brass' is a TERM in the industry and does not mean the brass is once fired...WHAT BS and is not good for those of use that actually sell once fired brass.

if this is a a hunting rifle i would buy a box or two of factory ammo or a bag of 50 pcs of brass and go from there.

nothing wrong with once fired, but you have to buy from a trusted source, not just "cause the guy said so".

 

[tenring]

You have to buy from a trusted source, not just "cause the guy said so".

Amen to that. I have bought allegedly "once fired brass" and in the second loading the necks split. I have been selling some used brass, and I tell the buyer how many times each batch has been loaded. Mostly, I keep a stroke count on each box.

 

[spclark]

we have a company in colorado that claims "once fired brass' is a TERM in the industry and does not mean the brass is once fired...WHAT BS and is not good for those of use that actually sell once fired brass.

Man that's an understatement of fact if ever there was one! That kinda marketing is part of why this country's population is so 'confused' about the path we should be on.

(You meant to say "us" up there? You have an interest in the once-fired brass marketplace some of the forum members here may not be aware of.)

 

[stool]

i'm semi retired, and do list some brass here, but i have a business and it is local sales only.
the stuff i sell here is personal in excess of my needs.
do not want to step on anyone's toes....

we have a company in colorado that claims "once fired brass' is a TERM in the industry and does not mean the brass is once fired...WHAT BS and is not good for those of use that actually sell once fired brass.

Man that's an understatement of fact if ever there was one! That kinda marketing is part of why this country's population is so 'confused' about the path we should be on.

(You meant to say "us" up there? You have an interest in the once-fired brass marketplace some of the forum members here may not be aware of.)

 

[Link]

Is there anything wrong with shooting say LC once fired reloaded brass in a AR? After a full length resize. You know it's once fired because it had the primer crimp.

thanks

 

[people]

Is there anything wrong with shooting say LC once fired reloaded brass in a AR? After a full length resize. You know it's once fired because it had the primer crimp.

thanks

Nope it is fine.

 

[stool]

just remember if you have a nice chamber , it MAY need to go thru a small base die ONCE...
after that a std die should be fine.

Is there anything wrong with shooting say LC once fired reloaded brass in a AR? After a full length resize. You know it's once fired because it had the primer crimp.

thanks

 

[308warbird]

I process and sell 250K-300K pieces of once fired LC 5.56 brass a year, primarily to service rifle shooters and 3 gun shooters. It comes from a private training range, from rifle and carbine classes, with no MG fired brass. It is inspected many times during processing and packaging. Runout averages .0015, trim length varies +/- .002. Annealing is offered as an option. It works very well for 600 yard slow prone from a gas gun, I sell to multiple High Master shooters. And I have a waiting list for next year.

Nothing is wrong with once fired brass if it is processed correctly. You can not run it through a Dillon 1050 at 900 rounds per hour and call it done. If processed by a competitive shooter who understands your needs, it can be a viable option for a high volume shooter, at less than half of the cost of unobtainable WW.

Your opinions, personal needs, and mileage may vary from mine and my customer's needs. But once fired brass is not junk. It can become good brass with proper processing and care.