Range brass

[HAWKEYE10]

When I pick up range brass I seem to get more
split hulls in 38SPL. than other brass. I would think
people would reload more 9's 40's and 45's than 38's.
Do they just split easier? Whats your opinion? Don

 

[snw19_357]

I would think
people would reload more 9's 40's and 45's than 38's.

Seems to me there are more people who don't reload that shoot 9, 40, and 45 so a lot of that brass would be once fired.
9, 40 and 45 are also cheaper than .38spl (when it can be found) so less would reload them as opposed to the .38s.

Do they just split easier?

I load a lot of 148gr HBWC in .38 and since it's soft lead and not tapered at the bottom of the round (like a SWC), I have to expand them a little more than if I were loading jacket bullets so I'm not shaving lead trying to seat them. That's going to stress the mouth more and cause them to split quicker.

 

[Gutpile Charlie]

When I pick up range brass I seem to get more
split hulls in 38SPL. than other brass. I would think
people would reload more 9's 40's and 45's than 38's.
Do they just split easier? Whats your opinion? Don

_____________________________________________________

I shoot 38, 9, 45, 40, 357, etc.

I have extensively reloaded 38, 357 and 45.

Most 38 is loaded to a relatively low pressure level, and I have found you can just continue loading 38 until it fails. It takes many loads before it fails. In fact, I've never had a 38 case failure from anything that I bought new and started reloading. I've had some unknown range brass fail after a few reloadings. This experience of mine covers about thirty years of reloading.

Years ago I saw one of the gunny scribes doing an article on it in one of the popular rags, and he got up to about 25 reloads before he got a split case neck. When you get the split neck, just throw it away. During the course of his testing the author changed his methodology because it was taking to long to get any "results"!

Now, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't do this for ammo that was going to be put to a "serious" application, but for plinking and target shooting in 38, just keep loading it till it fails.

Higher pressure loads, or loads for bottom feeders that leave the case unsupported are a different matter. They require more attention.

 

[WR Moore]

The most reloaded round in the world used to be the .38 Special. Dunno if it still is, but once necks have started to split, it's time to leave it on the range-or sell it for scrap brass. Nickel cases split quicker than regular brass cases.

If what you're saying is that you find more split .38 brass than you do other calibers, it's because the reloaders are leaving the scrap.

 

[HillbillyJim]

I would never leave bad brass on the range!
Someone will pick it up and reuse it.
Much better to take it home and place in a brass recycling can.
Leaving bad brass on the range is being no better than a litter bug.

 

[mstuhr]

Howdy

Howdy,
Just a thought, most 38 spl is revolver fired and not thrown all over like an auto. Maybe people are dropping the split ones and keeping the good stuff.
Mike

 

[bamacisa]

I get a lot of 38 range brass. You should always inspect pick-up range brass for quality. It has been my experience that reloaders keep all reloadable brass and toss the rest in the garbage can. Alot of people don't reload and they leave their brass which is mostly once fired factory brass. The non-reloader fired brass is great for reloading.

 

[HoosierMike]

I have another possibility for you. If your range hosts Cowboy Action Shooting, there may be a lot of .38 brass laying around. .38 has become the dominant caliber in the sport and those lever action rifles throw it everywhere.

 

[Dr.-d]

I reload mostly 9mm for pistol and way before I have any splits the rimless rim gets beat up enough where I won't reload it again. I myself usually don't see a lot of revolver brass left at the range and when it is it's Blazer. In fact the only split cases I ever get is with mil-surp cases.