Once-Fired Brass
Cartridge cases fired a single time, prized by handloaders as a more affordable starting point than buying new brass.
Once-fired brass refers to cases that have been through the chamber exactly one time, whether pulled from a range bucket, bought in bulk, or saved from one’s own factory ammunition. For the handloader it is an economical entry into reloading, since the cases cost far less than virgin-brass yet have already been fireformed once to a chamber.
The catch is that once-fired brass of unknown origin carries some uncertainty: it may be mixed headstamps, may have been fired in a generous chamber, and military cases may still wear a crimped primer pocket. Careful sorting, inspection, and resizing bring it into spec, and from there its remaining brass-life depends on how hot it is loaded and how it is maintained.