Reloading 45/70 Hornady LeverEvolution Brass

[Albertaktm]

I reloaded my once fired Hornady brass with Berrys 300 grain plated bullets on a Lee Turrent press.

Bullets seated to form a OAL of 2.550

Firm crimp with the Lee Collet factory crimp die

I didn’t notice the case length difference till I started loading the longer standard new brass

I am only plinking. I don’t want to buy FTX Hornady bullets. Or throw out 150 pieces of Hornady fired once brass.

Am I screwed and have to bust these apart? They chamber fine

 

[Doug Beach]

What is the case length difference?

 

[Albertaktm]

What is the case length difference?

It’s about 1 maybe 1.5 mm shorter. Enough to buckle the regular cases in the seating die. I am in the lowest end of the load data

 

[Doug Beach]

I wouldn’t worry about it. You’ve lost a little case capacity, so don’t jump to the top end too quickly. If you shoot the short cases a bunch, you may discover some carbon buildup that makes chambering full length cases difficult. It’ll clean out.
You’re basically shooting .38 cases in a .357...

 

[Albertaktm]

I wouldn’t worry about it. You’ve lost a little case capacity, so don’t jump to the top end too quickly. If you shoot the short cases a bunch, you may discover some carbon buildup that makes chambering full length cases difficult. It’ll clean out.
You’re basically shooting .38 cases in a .357...

Great, thanks.

 

[Doug Beach]

The other question is, is the Hornady brass short, or the other brass long?

 

[AJC]

The other question is, is the Hornady brass short, or the other brass long?

The hornaday brass is short for the Ftx bullet

 

[Albertaktm]

The hornaday brass is short for the Ftx bullet

'Exactly. The crimp on the shorter Hornady isn't as good and the regular brass. The loads are pretty light. I think I ll just fire the 25 I have loaded then sell the whole 100 lot of Hornady brass. I'm not looking to get the FTX ballets or do trapdoor loads. Just want to have all the 45-70 brass and projectiles the same.

 

[AJC]

'Exactly. The crimp on the shorter Hornady isn't as good and the regular brass. The loads are pretty light. I think I ll just fire the 25 I have loaded then sell the whole 100 lot of Hornady brass. I'm not looking to get the FTX ballets or do trapdoor loads. Just want to have all the 45-70 brass and projectiles the same.

You may have some luck on the brass trader site. I got lucky on my local range and found 34 pieces of starline.

 

[joshb]

I haven’t had any trouble shooting them. Once you realize they’re shorter and adjust for it, just load and shoot as usual, after working up a load.
What gun are you using?
You have a lot of good brass. You should hang on to it!

 

[brainiac]

If you are fond of Starline brass I just bought a bag of 50 off Midsouth for $24.19

 

[Edawg]

The other question is, is the Hornady brass short, or the other brass long?

Hornady brass is shorter for the ftx bullets to fit in a tubular magazine.
I'm reloading ftx in a federal case untrimmed but my oal is 2.60 instead of 2.55 hope that is still safe. 47 grains of imr4895.