Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Once fired brass?

We have been shooting a lot on weekends at steel. It's tons of fun and gives one a lot of confidence. It isn't uncommon to shoot 150-200 rounds in a session. I'm curious if I should be buying inexpensive "once fired" brass for plinking and save my "good" stuff for hunting season. Is buying this stuff the crap shoot I think it is? There are deals to be had but I'm afraid it's whored out.

What cartridge you talking about?

A lot of popular cases are back on the market again brand new.

Imho.... buying anything that may have come through a semi-automatic or fully automatic weapon is really a crapshoot.

If I can find new at a reasonable price that's the way I'm going.... and I'm even getting goofy enough to say that lapua is a pretty good value!

I have purchased once fired brass from this seller several times.

http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?IncludeSellers=1660457

The oldest lot (.243 Win) is now on its fifth loading since I bought it, and I have lost exactly one case out of 100 due to a split neck. All the other lots have been fired at least twice since acquired, only lost a couple other cases total.

I'm happy with what I received. As far as I could tell, it didn't seem to have been fired, trimmed, polished, etc... multiple times. Headstamps are still crisp, no loose primer pockets, overall the brass has been in good shape.

I've not had issues with once fired cases. Except some
Military 7.62x52 shot in a M60. I had to buy a small base die for that brass. But after resizing the cases are no problem.

Actually I don't see a big advantage of new over once-fired.

243 win

I have bought quite a bit of once fired 243 brass, mainly federal and have had no problems. Full length resize, trim and check for incipient case head separation with a bent paper clip and you're good to go. No worry about having been fired by a full auto. In 223 where semiauto is common I use a 357 carbide sizing die as a small base die then FL resize, trim, etc. Like wise a 45acp carbide die can be used for 243 if needed.

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/590675863 ?

Pull down brass?

Factory loaded that didn't meet QA specs for whatever reason. The bullets were pulled, the powder dumped, and they were bought by the seller to resell.

I bought some 7mm Rem Mag brass from this guy a while ago. It was as advertised, primed but never fired. I neck sized it and used it with no issues.

Heck yeah that's what I do... either old worn stuff range pick ups or stuff I buy 1x.

I can't imagine a reason not to personally...

Reloading, by definition, presumes one will be using, at least, once fired brass and many more firings. I don't personally feel buying once fired brass is that big of a gamble. I will throw in the caveat that it would be preferred one would buy once fired brass from a person or entity of good repute. The biggest risk is that some numbnuts represents multiple-time-fired brass as once fired.

Yep. No place like Texas