How long will cases last?

[gandilamont]

How long will cases last for a 300 WSM? I have started reloading and so far I have shot my cases a total of three times and there seems not to be much wear to the cases. I am just neck sizing them as they are just for my gun.

You might see some flyers after 4 loadings now as the necks start to get little brittle.Also note hard extraction after 3 firings. I myself would partial FL size next you might have trouble getting the brass out of your gun. Maybe not.

I started annealing my necks after 3 loadings. And on the 5 or 6 load, I usually toss.

[gandilamont]

Flyers?? What do you mean? Also what do you mean by annealing the necks?

Meaning say on your 3rd or forth reloading, you might have great groups, but on your 5th or 6th reloading all the sudden, you might have 3 clustered and one 2" away. flyers!

Annealing is heating the necks with a torch to ~550F and then dunking in water. This softens the necks back up to get back your neck tension.

[gandilamont]

Thats funny, I always get flyers. No matter what ammo I use. I always assumed it was just due to the barrel heating up.

Could be, who knows. Could be a multitude of factors from bullet runout, too hot primer, inconsistent bullet depth, bad batch of brass, or even the gun is just not capable, and no offense, but sometimes its the shooter.

Problem is people try to start reloading the hard way and try to build competition grade ammo right out of the gate. It just doesn't happen. You will become frustrated and reloading won't be much fun. You have to start with the basics, and then start changing one component here and there and find out what really helps and what really don't. Start looking for some tips. Like squaring your dies. Might have to invest in a head and shoulders gauge, or a comparitor. I won't be without either.

[Rebel Hog]

ORIGINAL: bigcountry

And on the 5 or 6 load, I usually toss.

Yep! I take a hammer to them and throw in the brass bucket!

[gandilamont]

My deal is, the first group is usually real good. Let the barrel cool down, then my groups get progressivly worse(flyers!). Its probably a combo of warm barrel and fatige.

What I do is take 3 guns to the range when I go. And one is always a 22 or some other varmit type gun like my 204. After shooting a 2 or 3 shot group, I wait a min of 10min before shooting that gun. I usually BS with folks around there or shoot my 22 for a while. It kinda chills me out.

[Mr. Longbeard]

BC they need some ventilation at that range in Carrol County

It get hot as hell in there!!!