Case length ..... when is it too short ?

[round]

Take a standard .308 case for example, would a case that is .02 under be acceptable to use ? I know it'll hold the bullet , but any implications from a case that is that short ?

 

[MikeRu]

Stay below max case length and you should be fine. Watch for a carbon ring in the gap. Get max from a reamer print if possible. Your “trim to” length can be 5 or 10 thou under max. If you’re 2 thou below your target “trim to” then I would just shoot it and let it grow longer. Doesn’t seem to affect anything.

 

[jds holler]

.02" is 20 thousandths, not 2. Even still, if it holds enough of your bullet shank it will be fine.
It's possible that accuracy may suffer, or be different than case with full necks, - or not.
There is always the possibility they'll preform better. jd

 

[243winxb]

Take a standard .308 case for example, would a case that is .02 under be acceptable to use ?

Yes see SAAMI Standards. Other cartridges may be different.
-.020"

 

[wkdickinson]

Make or buy a tool to measure your max case length so you know! Shorter cases give you less bullet to case neck contact (not sure that is a consideration). But the larger the gap between the end of the neck and the end of the chamber, promotes more carbon ring issues.

 

[round]

I didnt think to check SAAMI , thanks.


Here is the issue. I got some brass in trade that was claimed to be once fired brass . I expect a light edge break on once fired brass, so I didnt ask if it had been trimmed or not. upon further inspection I see that someone was a little too aggressive with a chamfer tool and removed .02 of material from the neck.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Shoot them, they will already be longer after your first sizing

 

[K22]

For precision shooting, I learned a long time ago to start with virgin brass, dedicate a group of cases to a specific rifle, rotate their use, and monitor case head space to avoid problems I often see posted on this Forum.

 

[SKWERLZ]

Take a standard .308 case for example, would a case that is .02 under be acceptable to use ? I know it'll hold the bullet , but any implications from a case that is that short ?

I use 6.5 grendle cases for my 22 arc, after they are fireformed they are about 20 thou short of 22arc cases.
They are just fine for my needs.

 

[6.5 forever]

I didnt think to check SAAMI , thanks.


Here is the issue. I got some brass in trade that was claimed to be once fired brass . I expect a light edge break on once fired brass, so I didnt ask if it had been trimmed or not. upon further inspection I see that someone was a little too aggressive with a chamfer tool and removed .02 of material from the neck.

Resize the cases before you measure them. They will probably grow in length.

 

[r bose]

I do things a little differently. After resizing my cases, I measure them looking for the longest I can find, then I chamber the longest case in the rifle. I use my borescope to examine where the case neck ends in relation to the chamber. If it's hitting then obviously it's too long and needs trimming, but what i'm ultimately trying to do is find the MAX length of a case for the particular rifle. I record that measurement for future reference.
This process in my opinion will keep any carbon ring to a minimum and decrease the number of times I have to trim. Yes I do believe in uniformity but, 3 or 5 or even 10 thousands variation in case length has never shown any increase in group size. Or if I trim all cases exactly the same, that doesn't shrink groups either, but I'm not a bench rest shooter.

 

[swd]

.020” don’t worry about it. Shoot them a few times and they’ll grow..

 

[Mark611]

Just my experience, I purchased 50 new Nosler 308win cases 15yrs ago, that measured 1.095, I loaded them the same as my LAPUA 308win cases at 2.005 same powder same bullets same everything, the shorter neck lengths ran a 100fps slower vs the correct trim length of my LAPUA brass, after reading this thread I pulled the Nosler brass back out of storage, remeasured them yep nothing changed even after once firing them, same measurements, I guess I'll experiment with them and see how many shots it takes for them to reach 2.005 OAL YMMV

 

[D-4297]

Load and shoot the "short cases together as a group . Re-size them as part of your normal reloading process , and you'll find they gradually "grow" in length . If you aren't loading a "Hyper-sonic" load , the primer pockets will give out before they get to your desired length , or they will be just fine for the life of the case . Some will "grow" faster than others , so keep them separated as a group . More than a .003 length variation will affect your scores .

 

[SeabeeKen]

When is it too short? when its at maximum. I let em grow to .005 under chamber length. Less Carbon buildup

 

[jds holler]

When is it too short? when its at maximum. I let em grow to .005 under chamber length. Less Carbon buildup

This is exactly what I do. I measure every one of my chambers to come up with my "new max length". Keep it written in my die box along with "OAL touch length" for various bullets.

My new max-length is almost always 10 or 15 thou. over book length. jd

 

[dryhumor]

Short ones make good foulers.

 

[tom]

I trim .025 - .030 short on purpose ever since I did it by accident.

Tom

 

[4xforfun]

Old story, but...short version late summer 2011...first year with the dasher. Prepping 100 brass for the season. I spaced out and trimmed the brass WAY short, but, all the same length. Not enough time to buy new brass, fire form ,trim, re fireform before the nats. Won the 1K nats.

As long as they are all the same, and not MORON short, you're good!!

The end,
Tod

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I have 1200 or so 223/556 carbine class brass that I've been running thru AR's and bolt guns. Sizing to a Lyman ammo checker fitment. Some of it is 1.740 ish and hasn't lengthed from a couple firing/FL sizing cycles. It's my only high volume loading so I don't know if other cartridges have occasional pieces of brass that just don't "grow".