Reloading once fired brass

[Steve300xcw]

I'd not be afraid of once fired brass. Have ran a lot of it over the years. Though, these days. Starting out with fresh brass makes a bit more sense to me than it used to

the big issue is whether the chamber they were fired in is on the upper end of tolerance for diameter, and yours is on the lower end from something like a worn reamer. Sometimes the standard sizing dies won't size the body down far enough, and the brass is either tight or won't chamber,

Had a savage 99 243 thats like that. That brass, is for that gun only

 

[Ganderzone]

Been covered. Size it, shoot it, repeat. If it's a premium brass like Lapua fired once and it's cheap I see no issue especially if it was factory loaded. If it was hand loaded you never know how hard they ran it on the initial firing. Lastly, free brass is free brass.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I think you should be OK when sized. Brass is like beer, free is always the best, no matter what brand.

 

[Briant_az]

@Ganderzone @NRA4LIFE
Unfortunately this brass was not free.
So for anyone else that is interested I bought this once fired lapua from creedmoor sports. I’m not sure where they get it or how. What I got was 99pcs of 6.5 PRC for $100. Was supposed to be 100 but got shorted one.
I am currently waiting on a couple neck bushings for my sizing die. I also bought a couple boxes of new brass to see if I could tell a difference at all.
I just checked their website and it looks like they no longer have the 6.5prc brass but they do have 6.5 creedmoor if anyone is looking

 

[doc holiday13]

1x fired will be fine for most purposes depending on usage. Mil surp 1x could have been shot from a new M4 or a ragged out m249. So FL size & Trim is required. I'm processing a bunch of mil surp right now on a my dillon. Most cases are getting a shave and a few are not getting trimmed because they're within factory produced spec.

If you're precision reloading, then i'd run teh full process. Tumble clean, Anneal, FL Size, Trim, chamfer inside, flash hole deburr

 

[Harvey_NW]

I am currently waiting on a couple neck bushings for my sizing die.

Since we're on the subject of saving money, a FL die will size as consistent, or better than, a bushing die. Bushing dies are a marketing scheme.

 

[Briant_az]

Since we're on the subject of saving money, a FL die will size as consistent, or better than, a bushing die. Bushing dies are a marketing scheme.

The die I use is a full length die but has bushings. I gave up neck sizing brass a long time ago.

 

[Harvey_NW]

The die I use is a full length die but has bushings. I gave up neck sizing brass a long time ago.

Right, but that die was 2x the $ of a standard FL die, and then you have to buy the bushings to size the neck. Reloaders love to theorize and justify costs, but reality is a FL die doesn't make less precise ammo, or work the brass excessively, you're way more likely to lose a primer pocket before splitting a neck.

 

[Shortschaf]

I prefer once fired factory ammo from same lot. Dont care whose rifle it came from

Trying to find pressure with virgin brass is misleading. First firings are supposed to be made milder due to cartrige growth. So I save components and time by skipping to second firing

 

[Kaleb]

I think all I've ever use for 223AI our 223 tikkas and factory Montanas is once fired R/P brass. When I started loading for a AR I started using a small base sizer rather than regular FL sizing die. I trim with a little crow thing that goes in the drill and it's really fast. I use starline in a rebarreled Montana just to keep brass separate. After I fire it in my gun I have started annealing run through a sizer for that rifle and carry on.

I bought a good bit of alpha once fired 6cm brass years ago. I can't tell any difference in it and new. Ive also use once fired 308 R/P brass for my 708 for a long time. Works great.