Reusing Factory Cases vs Buying New Cases

One of the many great things about reloading is the opportunity to reuse cases. Instead of spent cases going in the garbage they can be reloaded and fired again, providing they are in good condition and have been cleaned well. However, there are some caveats with reusing cases, especially ones from factory loaded ammunition.

Types Of Cases

Only high quality brass cases should be reused. Rimfire, aluminum, steel, and coated cases should not be reloaded. Be aware that cases can differ slightly even between lot numbers of the same brand. It’s a good idea to sort and keep cases with the same lot numbers together in case you see a small point of impact change or capacity difference. If your cases are organized well over time, you may discover your gun likes a particular case best.

Inspecting Your Cases

Before you reload spent cases, they must be examined carefully to ensure they can be reused. Look for cracks in the wall, bulges, or cracks in the neck. Discard cases with any of these defects. Cleaning used cases well is also very important. Some factory loaded ammunition may use fairly dirty firing powders, which will require good cleaning in a tumbler. Many people choose to leave the primers in during tumbling so the primer pockets don’t get clogged with cleaning medium.

Also, consult a reloading manual for the exact case specifications to make sure your used cases are within the tolerances needed. Double check case length and diameter. If your cases exceed the maximum length, you will need to trim them and possibly debur the case mouth.

Advantages of Buying New

Depending on the factory ammo you started with, buying high quality new reloadable cases may or may not be more expensive. Besides cost, there are many advantages to starting with new cases.

Quality new cases will be the proper length right out of the box and be deburred, saving you the time of checking case specs and inspecting them carefully. The flash holes will also be properly aligned. New cases are also usually packaged and sorted into consistent weight groups, ensuring the entire package of cases has the exact same weight, which will help you get more consistent results from your reloading.

Whether you start with used brass or new, follow a good reloading recipe and stay within the guidelines from the manufacturer to have a safe and enjoyable reloading and shooting experience.