What to Know About Once-Fired .45 Brass

Are you looking to take your target shooting experience to the next level? You're in good company.

Research shows that 56 million–plus people in the US enjoy target and sport shooting activities, and naturally, they're striving to improve their skills at today's shooting ranges. Fortunately, once-fired .45 brass (pronounced "45-caliber brass") can help you to do this.

Here's a rundown on everything you need to know about these brass casings and where you can get them.

Let's jump in! 

Once-Fired .45 Brass: What Is It?

Once-fired .45 brass casings, also known as reconditioned brass casings, are casings that you can reuse for 5-10 reloads. Many seasoned reloaders use them because they provide an excellent shooting experience before becoming worn out.

When brass has been fired only once, this guarantees that the brass hasn't been reloaded so often that it has become work hardened, or toughened. Likewise, you don't have to worry about the brass experiencing stress failure.

Rather than purchasing once-fired .45 brass, you might be tempted to pick up and use the brass casings you find lying on the ground at the shooting range. However, you don't know the degree of misuse, abuse, and neglect the case has suffered.

When you order dependable once-fired .45 brass, you can rest assured that the case has not been fired multiple times during the life of the product.

Bullet Casings and Primer

Shell casings are metal pieces of ammunition. Although they can be made using various types of metals, they are usually made with brass.

The ammunition you fire from a shotgun, rifle, or handgun can always be reused. This ammunition is part of the bigger ammunition mechanism that you load into the gun chamber before you fire a shot.

Another important part of the firing mechanism is the primer of the bullet, or a small explosive charge designed to light your cartridge's powder. Friction or heat can easily ignite the primer, which is positioned at the base of the cartridge.

The primer is what causes the firing of a bullet from a gun. It does this by igniting the propellant.

Your gun's firing pin hits and ignites the primer when you pull your firearm's trigger. The resulting explosion then ignites the powder in your cartridge. This sends the bullet flying out of your weapon's barrel.

The spent casing and primer are what accompany a bullet that has been discharged from a gun. You can then reuse the casing after you have reloaded it with a fresh propellant and primer.

Important Primer and Gunpowder Considerations

Note that the primer has to be the right type and size for your ammunition's specific caliber to work properly. In addition, the primer has to be in the proper position for ignition to happen correctly. An improperly installed primer can lead to a misfire, which may be harmful.

Also, be sure to handle your gunpowder carefully.

This explosive black powder is made up of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur. The powder expands rapidly, and when burned, it releases large amounts of gas. This gas is what causes the bullet to be fired from the barrel of your weapon.

If you're not careful when handling gunpowder, the gunpowder could inadvertently be detonated due to being highly sensitive to friction and heat.

Why Use Once-Fired .45 Brass?

Once-fired .45 brass offers many benefits for individuals who buy ammunition for their firearms frequently. Let's take a look at their advantages.

Cost Savings of .45 Brass

For starters, fresh ammo is more expensive than already-fired brass. So, switching to once-fired .45 brass will provide you with greater monetary savings long term. With once-fired .45 brass, you can put your own ammunition in the casings—or reload them.

To reload successfully, you'll need to know the proper ammo caliber size for your gun. As long as you know this, you should have no problem creating whatever ammunition you need.

You can also create ammunition that features certain characteristics you're looking for in your ammo. For instance, you might want your bullets or targets to travel farther than they would with new ammunition.

By customizing your ammunition with the help of once-fired .45 brass, you'll have no problem getting various bullet characteristics.

Environmental Benefits of .45 Brass

Yet another reason to use once-fired .45 brass is that it allows you to do your part in helping the environment.

Ammunition casings often fall and strike the ground once they've been discharged. Unfortunately, the environment may suffer dramatically if these casings are not picked up.

When you use once-fired .45 brass, you are removing previously used shell casings from the ground to reuse them. This will prevent shell casings from going to the wrong places and make you feel good about improving the environment in your local area.

You can rest assured that providers who sell once-fired .45 brass are proponents of green initiatives, too. 

How We Can Help with Our Reloading Supplies

Once-fired .45 brass casings are previously fired casings that you can use to reload your gun. Using these casings instead of buying brand-new bullet casings will save you money long term. In addition, it will allow you to create ammunition featuring the characteristics you desire.

Using previously fired .45 brass will also help you to protect the environment by removing casings from the ground and reusing them.

At US Reloading Supply, we take pride in offering high-quality ammunition, brass casings, and reloading supplies.

Get in touch with us to learn more about our gear, and place an order today!