Case length variations

[flashotter]

The other day I was reloading .357 once fired brass and noticed three cases that were about .040 shorter than the rest. Can I use them? and if so, do I load them to the same COL (1.580) or .040 shorter. And do I put less powder? I'm using 5.5 gr Titegroup. What I'm asking does .040 in case length make a big difference? Big enough to require compensation. Thanks in advance for your input.

[Imageview]

That?s a pretty conservative load. It shouldn?t cause an issue, but if it annoys you enough I?d just toss the cases.

[plinkr]

I'd like to hear from more experienced reliaders, but IMHO if you keep the same OAL, then you maintain the same internal cartridge volume, should be the same pressure. Just have the bullet sit out 0.04" more.

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[Tommy Gun]

Those are cases trimmed for use with the Hornady FTX (Red "rubber" tipped FMJHPs). I'd toss them of you only have a few, or load for low to mid power loads and load them to your standard COL.
ballistics might change but not enough to .atter i bet. Full power magnum loads would probably be OK but now reason to chance it if you don't need to.

[jwb28]

Those are cases trimmed for use with the Hornady FTX (Red "rubber" tipped FMJHPs). I'd toss them of you only have a few, or load for low to mid power loads and load them to your standard COL.
ballistics might change but not enough to .atter i bet. Full power magnum loads would probably be OK but now reason to chance it if you don't need to.

Beat me to it. If you keep the same C.O.L. pressure should be the same, but the crimp would not be the same on the short cases. Might not be much at all.
If it was me and I never planned on loading the ftx bullet, I just trash the 4 cases. One less possible oops to worry about.

[Snoopy47]

Folks measure out their straight walled pistol cases?

[smoothy8500]

Yeah, I don't bother measuring revolver cases. Only an issue if you are trying to keep the crimps consistent. I don't worry about doing an actual crimp, just eliminate the belled mouth.

[bigbossman]

Folks measure out their straight walled pistol cases?

That was my thought, as well. Measuring and/or trimming straight walled pistol cases seems like a waste of time.

[divingin]

The other day I was reloading .357 once fired brass and noticed three cases that were about .040 shorter than the rest. Can I use them? and if so, do I load them to the same COL (1.580) or .040 shorter. And do I put less powder? I'm using 5.5 gr Titegroup. What I'm asking does .040 in case length make a big difference? Big enough to require compensation. Thanks in advance for your input.

If you don't change your seater, the completed cartridges will be functionally identical. Sams amount of space inside the cartridge, so no pressure changes. You may run into problems with the crimp, however (if you crimp.)

[bruce381]

I trim all my pistol brass that get a roll crimp once then not again. Why cause OAL of the brass will make the CRIMP vary from heavy to none. if the case is on the long side the crimp will be excessive and bulge and NOT chamber makes you look bad LOL. Or crimp will be none at all makes for I would think not consistent ammo. Seems to be only needed once I trim to the Lyman trim length. Look at you loads and if not trimed unifoemly you will see crimps from none to a lot.

[bruce381]

I have seen brass vary enough to make heavy crimp to no crimp, maybe 20 thousands.

[sghart]

I trim all of my straight walled pistol brass. I load my cast bullets in them with a collet style crimp.

I shoot these in lever action rifles and uniform case length/ uniform crimp definitely makes a difference at 100 yards.

[ar15barrels]

I trim all of my straight walled pistol brass. I load my cast bullets in them with a collet style crimp.

I shoot these in lever action rifles and uniform case length/ uniform crimp definitely makes a difference at 100 yards.

Collet crimps don't care about case length variation because the case is not being pushed into a fixed shoulder in the die to form the crimp.
Traditional roll and taper crimps do not deal with case length variation well because those crimps are formed by the case mouth being pushed against a fixed shoulder in the die.

[kcstott]

The other day I was reloading .357 once fired brass and noticed three cases that were about .040 shorter than the rest. Can I use them? and if so, do I load them to the same COL (1.580) or .040 shorter. And do I put less powder? I'm using 5.5 gr Titegroup. What I'm asking does .040 in case length make a big difference? Big enough to require compensation. Thanks in advance for your input.

it's a rimmed case. the case headspaces off the rim. there is no reason to change anything other that the crimp setting.

[pennstater]

I have seen brass vary enough to make heavy crimp to no crimp, maybe 20 thousands.

Dang! Have not seen that in handgun cases. It's also why I seat and crimp in two different steps. Using a Lee FCD, case length isn't an issue. Has worked for me and many others without issue, if you adjust them correctly. Which is simple.

MLC