How many pieces of brass do I need?

[michiman]

I recently started reloading and started with 100 pieces of 6.5 cm Lapua brass. I wasn’t sure if I was going to get into it or not so I didn’t want to invest too much. Well... I’ve confirmed that I really enjoy it and wanted to buy more brass but don’t know how much I should have. I was thinking about buying 200 more for a total of 300. How many pieces of brass do you guys recommend I have?

 

[krw]

Crdmr brass is available in PX basically daily. Bargain shop. Cant have too much

 

[Boon20]

I recently started reloading and started with 100 pieces of 6.5 cm Lapua brass. I wasn’t sure if I was going to get into it or not so I didn’t want to invest too much. Well... I’ve confirmed that I really enjoy it and wanted to buy more brass but don’t know how much I should have. I was thinking about buying 200 more for a total of 300. How many pieces of brass do you guys recommend I have?

If your realoading for comps figure out what your round count will be then make a little more if your just plinking that is your call on how much you want to make and have on hand

 

[dustingaunder]

I like to have at least 500 for a caliber I shoot.

 

[HCICVOGT]

You'll lose some at matches and while plinking no matter how hard you try not to. I have 298 pieces of my 6xc when i stared with 325 this season. I think 300 is a good number so you'll have plenty for a match.

 

[TheGerman]

Yes

 

[Kadams1563]

I like to have at least 500 for a caliber I shoot.

I used to think this way but I have 200 unopened Lapua 6.5 just sitting here. I’ll buy 300 from here on out.

 

[michiman]

Thanks for all the replies. I bought 200 more for a total of 300 pieces of Lapua brass.

I also just remembered that I had saved all of the brass from the factory loads I shot when I first got my rifle. So 200 Hornady

 

[Kadams1563]

Stick with Lapua. Give the Hornady to a friend or not a friend of you really want to look out for him.

Do not mix the loads between brass.

 

[MK20]

All the pieces.

Really, set a price point at which you would be really happy to pick up some brass and if you find that deal make yourself always buy at least a little. Over time you will have enough.

Keep track of what you have though, or when you move you get a surprise.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

I handload in batches of 50rd or 100rd because that's the quantity the various components are packaged in; so I'd consider 100 as simply a beginning number, and the suggestion for 300 overall as a good total number. Barrel life for the 6.5CM probably tops out at around 2,000 to 2,500 rounds, which would divide by 300 to suggest 6 to 8 reloadings, which is attainable from Lapua brass.

Brass loss adds to the requirement. Brass conservation can help with this. To accommodate this and maybe give some relief to the brass reloadings number, perhaps another 100 cases might help.

Consider also that the 6.5CM may become a favorite, so additional rifles/barrels in the chambering may become a reasonable option. In such a case, a total number of cases may not be such a serious consideration. Also consider rotating the cases to keep reloadings for each case relatively equivalent.

For me; reloading is not so much about money as about accuracy. Handloading allows ammunition to best deliver a given barrel's accuracy potential. If precision accuracy is the goal, cost becomes less significant a factor.

Lapua is really top shelf stuff. I've bought it when the chambering I was interested in was only available from them at the time. IMHO, it's a great choice for folks who have already eliminated all the other inconsistencies that prevent Championship performance. For the rest of us mere mortals, lesser brass is quite adequate. I normally buy Starline.

Greg