Buying once fired brass and forming it to your rifle?

[jeener]

Hi all,

I'm looking to start reloading and a mate who doesn't reload is happy to give me a bunch of his old brass to use.

I get that fireforming brass to your own rifle is ideal, and that chambering someone else's brass can not feed well and that kind of thing.

He's got about 80-90 spent brass to give, which would save me $100 if I can get away with it.

After I've run it through my rifle a few times, will it form to my rifle even though it started life in another one? Or would I be best to buy new unfired brass?

I know $100 isn't a fortune, but every bit helps.

Cheers.

[SendIt]

Yes, it will reform.

You'll end up replacing it in the future at some point anyway so it's not a big deal. You can rotate to new brass then if you want or use more of your mates once-fired if you're happy to do so.

[redrum]

You'd be fine.

Brass softens when it's heated, it will reform to your rifle after you've put it through a couple of times.

[reddog]

You'll be fine you just have to full length size for the first shot , after it is fired once in your rifle

it is fire formed to your rifle and then you can either neck size or keep full length sizing . Free brass

is good it is the biggest cost in reloading , and that is before you do any case prep

[Norton]

It's all good.

Load it once, shoot it, trim it and it's as good as new for your rifle.

[on_one_wheel]

If it chambers easy then its fine to use without a full resizing.

[Yelp]

If it chambers easy then its fine to use without a full resizing.

Yeah, as long as you don't have to force it to feed it'll be fine.

[ap2727]

All good advice there.
Personally, if the brass is free, I would spend a little time in case preparation.
Full length resize
Trim to correct length.
Give them a good clean
They should be like new brass
Things are also a lot easier if they are all the same make.

[chacka]

...
Full length resize
Trim to correct length.
Give them a good clean
They should be like new brass
Things are also a lot easier if they are all the same make.

Yeah, if you want to treat them to the works a full length resize and trim will make them like new.

Chamber a few first though, if they go in smooth I wouldn't bother. Just give them a good tumble and a trim and start reloading.

My 2c.

[Lorgar]

Things are also a lot easier if they are all the same make.

I've previously been using mostly Winchester, with a box or two of Federal and Remington in the mix.

I recently went through all sifted out the Federal and Remington so I'm using the same brass and my groups seem to have tightened a fraction.

I think due to the Remington giving slightly higher velocity. Not that I've measured but due to thicker case walls I suspect.

[bunnybuster]

You can get an idea of case thickness by sizing then trimming each of your samples then weigh each on your powder scale.Keep them in separate batches and

load a sample of each to check for pressure signs compared to each other.

BB.

[ebr love]

You can get an idea of case thickness by sizing then trimming each of your samples then weigh each on your powder scale.

Yep. If you're going for ultimate accuracy you'll need to start weighing and grouping your brass like BB says.

This is real fine details stuff though. If you're working up a hunting round for the scrub or something like that I wouldn't bother.

[jeener]

Thanks for the replies all.

I've done a few reloads now with his now resized and refired brass in my rifle.

Accurate enough for my purposes and no problems so all is well