there is a little interest in my area now because of myself preaching BPCR style shooting, the main question that keeps coming up is the cost of cartridges with time, casting, loading etc not being an issue, so my question is this: if brass its properly taken care of then how many times can it be reloaded, I know there are many variables but there should be a medium number

I've got 45-70 cases that are ten years old, been reloaded lord only knows how many times and are still truckin. Blackpowder pressures are well below what most saami specs say and as such there's not hardly any wear and tear. Bottleneck cases get a little more stress, but I've some of the Jamison 44-77's that have been loaded a 1/2 dozen or more times, and they're still fine.
So I'ld say given reasonable care of the cases, and barring any weird things like seperations from wet chambers etc,or weird mishaps in the resizing or seating process, the life on a typical bpcr case is indefinet.

ok, I am doing something stupid like "figuring the cost per round" so I will use 1/20 of the cost of brass

imo, people should never figure what a certain sport costs for participation

thanks Don

More like 1/50th or 1/100. I been loading and shooting a 50 3 1/4" since 1991 on, have only retired 1 or 2 cases total. Clean them as soon as possible after shooting so they don't corrode is more of a consideration than wear. My 2 cts worth bobw

(01-22-2013, 09:14 AM)bobw Wrote: More like 1/50th or 1/100. I been loading and shooting a 50 3 1/4" since 1991 on, have only retired 1 or 2 cases total. Clean them as soon as possible after shooting so they don't corrode is more of a consideration than wear. My 2 cts worth bobw

ok that changes things I will use the cost of brass as 1¢

thanks

I don't know if you really can count the brass in the cost per round, as it's reusable, the only time it would figure in the actual cost per round would be the first time. Everytime after that it's more or less free. Sort of like the cost of your reloading dies, once you own them, they don't cost anything to use.

(01-22-2013, 10:42 AM)Don McDowell Wrote: I don't know if you really can count the brass in the cost per round, as it's reusable, the only time it would figure in the actual cost per round would be the first time. Everytime after that it's more or less free. Sort of like the cost of your reloading dies, once you own them, they don't cost anything to use.

I like the way you think Don, I am all about something that is "free"

Hmmmmm amortization of capitol expenditure on durable goods,allowable depreciation to follow IRS guidleines---directly comsumed goods not subject to depreciation--------hazmat shipping expense on incomming consumables----indirect labor case maintenance-------direct labor during the loading operation----------potential expense to meet OSHA guidelines for "hot work" areas of bullet manufacture-------------sounds like we may need BDO

Happt Birthday Don

DAve sounds like you spent to many years with a herd of bookkeepers etc buzzin in your ears

Thanks for the bday wishes

As a matter of fact-------cost is kinda like a judge interpreting the law "its only an opinion"---------and yup managed several "cost accounting systems"---------HMMMMMMM Ahhhhh what would ya like the answer to be today-------and if it need to be formalzed be glad to find someone to sigh it for ya