Muir,
If I'm shooting a 30/06, that's what I want to be shooting, not a .308, or 30/30, or a 300 mag, but a true 30/06. That is why I use max loads. 99% of the brass I use for reloading has been free. Up until recently, I could collect enough free brass at our clubs annual sight in days, to last me years. With the recent shortage of all shooting components, I actually had to buy some brass. I bought the best stuff they had, Nosler. I had a case head seperation in a .22 LR Ruger pistol once. I have been kind of paranoid about a case head seperation ever since. That seperation on the little .22 shot hot gas into my eye and face and gave me a minor burn on my hand and turned it black! My fist thought was man am I glad this wasn't the .270 or 30/06. Using Federal brass, I have gotten loose primer pockets with 4 or 5 reloadings. Black around the primer pocket and when reloading the primer was too easy to press into place. I always thought why chance it, do 5 and start over. I would not have guess a case would take 20 or more reloadings. I have heard of people getting many reloads, especially if just neck sizing. I have never heard of a really reliable method of knowing when the case is going to seperate. Yes, there is the ring, and you can bend a paper clip at a right angle and "feel" aroud down by the head for a crack begining, and other things. Since my brass had been free all these years, I always thought why fool around with it. Anyway, now that I'm having to buy brass, I'm looking for a way to make it last, especially at the cost of the Nosler product. As I don't know everything, I posted a question about it. Perhaps you can enlighten me of when you know exactly when it's time for a new case. I learned to load when I was 17 by reading the Lyman reloading manual. I bought their Expert Reloading Kit and went to town with it. I am 54 now and have never had a reloading accident. I always enjoy learning from others.