Nitro Case Life

[redriverjake]

With modern brass, what is the case life with the big Nitro Express cartridges at standard load pressures ? How many reloadings can be reasonably expected?

 

[JvW]

The make of the case is a big factor here. Norma brass is very good but have thinner sidewalls than Hornady. A friend gets 3-4 shots out of his Norma .470 brass, but 5-6 shots out of his Hornady .470 brass. I'm shooting a .450 NE and I'm using Bertram brass because it's all I could get hold of. The quality of the brass that I have is very good, though, and I've reloaded one batch of twenty cases for the third time now with no problems.

 

[redriverjake]

The make of the case is a big factor here. Norma brass is very good but have thinner sidewalls than Hornady. A friend gets 3-4 shots out of his Norma .470 brass, but 5-6 shots out of his Hornady .470 brass. I'm shooting a .450 NE and I'm using Bertram brass because it's all I could get hold of. The quality of the brass that I have is very good, though, and I've reloaded one batch of twenty cases for the third time now with nor problems.

Firstly, thank you for your reply. The I have two makes of brass, the first being BELL and the other Jamison. The Jamison fodder seems quite more substantial in terms of both sidewall and rim thickness.

 

[JvW]

BELL hasn't been made for some years, and I do recall problems with them, specifically cracks in the neck area. I will have to dig out some old notebooks, but if I remember correctly, annealing before first use basically cured the problem.

 

[Longwalker]

I don't see any reason why big bore brass should fail at all if the case mouth and neck are annealed after every three or so firings. Primer pockets should remain tight "forever" at the low pressures such cartridges develop. Necks should not spit if the brass is not over worked and if it is annealed every few firings. Don't over size brass and it will serve a long, long time. 20 shots or more.

 

[Luvthunt]

Used Bell brass in my 458 Lott. Annealed after every two loadings and got 5-6 loading before I retired them when Hornady brass became available. The same comment on Barnes 458 brass as to life. For me annealing was the primary factor in case life.

 

[redriverjake]

Great information and I will be sure to anneal the case mouth/neck after every few firings. Thank you all, gentlemen. Aside from the annealing, are there any other tricks that will extend the life of these very hard to find and expensive cases ?