1.How many rounds do you get out of a pound of powder? I know this can vary, but for a larger (270, 30-06, 300 win) cartridge can anyone give me a ball park?
7000 grains per pound...simple division.
2. How many times can you reload brass?
Depends on pressure, case design, ect. I reloaded most of my .270 brass 5 to 6 times before tossing it.
Do you just keep reloading and resizing until is shows damage or a crack?
Usually a loose primer or split neck with the .270....
3.Is there any brass from factory ammo that I shouldn't reload? I don't shoot alumminum or steel casing so no worries there, but for example if I buy some cheap Federal loads, is the brass still good for reloading purposes?
Blue box Federal is good to go for a lot of shooting. If it were me though I'd just source a bulk bag of virgin brassfrom one of the shooters supplies and rock on....cheaper that way. Remmy's, Winchesters, don't matter....
4.How do you guys keep track of how many times a specific case has been reloaded?
Used to be anal about it but now I just shoot the stuff until it craps out. The first split neck or loose primer getsthe batchtossed. I do shoot a lot of cases one complete go around before reloading. IOW, ifI've a 100 30-06's, they'll all get shot before before reloading any of them the next time.
5.Powder seems to be pretty confusing. Any recommendations?[
I had good luck with IMR4350 and IMR4831, H1000 worked pretty good but it is slow and offers compressed loads. Try for a 90% or above load density with that type burn rate of powder.
6. I see case cleaners for sale but my manual doesn't say anything about tumbling, only cleaning the primer pocket. Is this something that I need to consider?
Shiney brass looks better but it don't shoot any better. I do like, however, having clean brass to run through a sizer and definately can appreciate clean brass going into my chambers. I don't tumble, I wash with IOSSO.....
On aside, if you need brass, I've a chitt load squirreled away that I would let you have pretty darn cheap. I don't shoota .270 anymore.....