gunbugs ---- Thanks for the reply. I still have some (not many) jacketed 110 gr. bullets that I'm laying back for tougher times maybe. The hard cast lead seems to work OK in my shooter piece and like yourself I'm still re-using brass that has been fired 3 or 4 times. After that many reloads I throw them away. As mentioned before I pick up about 100 pieces of new brass at every gun show I attend. I really like shooting the M1 carbine & keep my reloads fairly soft.

No need to throw them away after 4 loads. Carbine brass will last a LONG time. When the neck finally splits, then its time to chuck them.

or shoot them 5 times
Set empty case in water 1/2 way up
Run a blowtorch until top is cherry red - only a few seconds
knock them sideways into the water

This anneals (softens) the top and prevents splitting.