STORMINORMAN
Member
Pistol brass can usually be reloaded many times: it depends upon how heavy a reload and how hard the brass has been "worked", i.e., how aggressively it was expanded and crimped. Rifle brass can often be reloaded multiple times, but some cases (Magnums & some older calibers) are less prone to be easily reloaded to spec.
This is why inspection and measurement is so very important in reloading: where MOST common pistol & revolver brass seldom needs trimming or a headspace determination, most rifle calibers do so for safe and accurate reloads.
You'll find comments that individuals have reloaded high quality 38 Special brass for decades, and that even experienced reloaders routinely lose 44-40 cases and the like in resizing after even just one or two attempts.
If the cartridge is only going to be fired and refired in one weapon (usually a rifle) things can get a bit easier. My friend's Marlin in 35 Remington being a good example: a typical older, low pressure hunting caliber with no new rifles in production any more, except by some po$$ible $pecial order(!), new factory ammo (even from Remington!) hasn't been available for years and could certainly be in the $2+ per round range, if ever...?
An avid hunter might have bought a box of 20 every other year 50 or 90 YEARS AGO, shot a few at the range and called it good for the next hunting seasons, figuring he could walk into the gun shop and find some on the shelf. Those days are, unfortunately, gone with the wind!
So, since having a rifle with no ammo for over a decade is great if you are into decorating by hanging it on a wall, but no fun if you would ever like to actually SHOOT it, locating 50 once-fired cases is a godsend. As bullets are readily available (in this cases there's even load data for 180gr XTPs!), with powder and primers and set of LEE dies he's back in business (with a little help from HIS friend)...
So, NOTHING LASTS FOREVER. Where 100 new Starline cases in 270 Winchester just might "last a lifetime" for most typical active hunters, the same 100 in 9mm (or 45acp, etc.) probably won't for the owner of a pistol with a 15+ 1 capacity & 4 magazines that goes to the range once a week.
Cheers!
P.S. You are possibly overthinking the entire muzzle blast concept, IMHO. Yes, if you EVER need to fire any firearm in a confined space there is going to be a blast! and noise! and you are not going to be wearing hearing protection nor safety glasses, etc. But you are probably not going to go to bed outfitted as you would for an afternoon at the range.
You may be overthinking some other concepts as well...
This is why inspection and measurement is so very important in reloading: where MOST common pistol & revolver brass seldom needs trimming or a headspace determination, most rifle calibers do so for safe and accurate reloads.
You'll find comments that individuals have reloaded high quality 38 Special brass for decades, and that even experienced reloaders routinely lose 44-40 cases and the like in resizing after even just one or two attempts.
If the cartridge is only going to be fired and refired in one weapon (usually a rifle) things can get a bit easier. My friend's Marlin in 35 Remington being a good example: a typical older, low pressure hunting caliber with no new rifles in production any more, except by some po$$ible $pecial order(!), new factory ammo (even from Remington!) hasn't been available for years and could certainly be in the $2+ per round range, if ever...?
An avid hunter might have bought a box of 20 every other year 50 or 90 YEARS AGO, shot a few at the range and called it good for the next hunting seasons, figuring he could walk into the gun shop and find some on the shelf. Those days are, unfortunately, gone with the wind!
So, since having a rifle with no ammo for over a decade is great if you are into decorating by hanging it on a wall, but no fun if you would ever like to actually SHOOT it, locating 50 once-fired cases is a godsend. As bullets are readily available (in this cases there's even load data for 180gr XTPs!), with powder and primers and set of LEE dies he's back in business (with a little help from HIS friend)...
So, NOTHING LASTS FOREVER. Where 100 new Starline cases in 270 Winchester just might "last a lifetime" for most typical active hunters, the same 100 in 9mm (or 45acp, etc.) probably won't for the owner of a pistol with a 15+ 1 capacity & 4 magazines that goes to the range once a week.
Cheers!
P.S. You are possibly overthinking the entire muzzle blast concept, IMHO. Yes, if you EVER need to fire any firearm in a confined space there is going to be a blast! and noise! and you are not going to be wearing hearing protection nor safety glasses, etc. But you are probably not going to go to bed outfitted as you would for an afternoon at the range.
You may be overthinking some other concepts as well...
