Brass

I'm trying to get all of the info I can before I start reloading and I have some questions about brass.
I keep seeing brass for sale as "Once Fired" brass. Is there a way to tell how many times brass has been fired? I have been collecting brass for the last 6-9 months at the range when I go. I not only get my brass but i sweep up all that I can reach and also scoop up mixed brass by the box full out of the bucket that other shooters have dumped in there. I have no idea how many times that my brass has been shot.
When do you discard brass? I've read that handgun brass can be reloaded until it splits. Is that correct? Do you keep up with your brass as to how many times you shoot it? Do you just inspect each round as you load them and discard them as you find any flaws? When in doubt, throw it out.
What is the safe way to know when enough is enough?

I have some pistol brass that i know for sure has been loaded at least 8 times and some rifle brass about the same. I kind of keep track of em, but mostly i just clean and inspect them each time i reload them. I run across some now and then that look a bit worn or may need to be sized. So far i have only found one that had actually split. If i find some that have dents and such i just toss em.

I have found that the life of the rifle bottleneck brass's life depends on a few different factors. What shortens the life is first the charge. If you tend to use max charges, the life will be shortened. Also is whether you neck size or full length size. Neck sizing will increase the life of your cases. Also if it is a rimmed round such as the 3030, I find that I get fewer reloadings. As far as how many, it depends from 5 or less to maybe a dozen or so. Be sure to trim the bottle neck cases. Failure to do so may cause very high pressures or the inability to chamber the round. With straight case pistol rounds such as the 9mm, I do use them a lot longer.

It takes a bit of experience to be able to tell when to stop using brass, however if there is a question, throw it out. Life is too short and the number of eyes and appendages are limited. Be sure to get a lot of reloading manuals and read them. Most public libraries have them so that you do not need to by a lot of them. Be safe and be cautious.

Nice first post above.

I have 38 special brass which I am sure has been loaded more than a dozen times. There are less now than when I started with them because you get the occasional split mouth, etc. Just toss them.

As for rifle, neck sizing for sure will give you more uses. Eventually, though, you have to full length size and trim those cases back. It is hard to say how many times you can neck size before you have to run them through the full length die, though. There are so many variables. As mentioned, heavy charges will stretch those cases.

Also, if you have more than one rifle in the same caliber and plan to neck size, it is a good idea to not switch guns and brass.