Minimum brass length for .40 reloading

[Wildeman_13]

I have just started reloading and I have searched here and google to try to find an answer and I'm just not finding anything on this. I know that the maximum length is .850" with a case trim length of .845" as per the Hornady and Lymon Pistol & Revolver reloading books. I started de-priming and resizing my once fired brass and took some caliper measurments to see where they stand. An entire box of 50 brass all sit around the .840" mark. Some get closer at .842-3" but 80% of them are at the lower number. Is this normal?

I did my best to measure the brass on some factory loaded rounds (Hydro-shock and a Wolf HP) and both came out at .845" Granted there is some off-ness there due to having to hold the caliper slightly off because of the bullet being in the way. I'm just trying to figure out how the fired stuff is now shorter than factory. Unfortunately I don't have any unfired factory rounds of the same brand as the fired brass.

Any thoughts on this? Am I just being paranoid here? Is there a minimum length listed somewhere? I'd really hate to blow myself up or ruin my toys.

Edit to change Lee to Lymon.

[XDRoX]

I have just started reloading and I have searched here and google to try to find an answer and I'm just not finding anything on this. I know that the maximum length is .850" with a case trim length of .845" as per the Hornady and Lee Pistol reloading books. I started de-priming and resizing my once fired brass and took some caliper measurments to see where they stand. An entire box of 50 brass all sit around the .840" mark. Some get closer at .842-3" but 80% of them are at the lower number. Is this normal?

I did my best to measure the brass on some factory loaded rounds (Hydro-shock and a Wolf HP) and both came out at .845" Granted there is some off-ness there due to having to hold the caliper slightly off because of the bullet being in the way. I'm just trying to figure out how the fired stuff is now shorter than factory. Unfortunately I don't have any unfired factory rounds of the same brand as the fired brass.

Any thoughts on this? Am I just being paranoid here? Is there a minimum length listed somewhere? I'd really hate to blow myself up or ruin my toys.

According to my manual (Reloading Manual #14 by Speer) max case length is .850" and trim length is .840". So I'd say you are fine. Just make sure your OAL is good and I think you'll be OK.

It's nice to you you are being so particular with these things though. You'll make a good reloader. I don't think you can be too paranoid with loading, it's a dangerous hobby.

[Wildeman_13]

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Based on your book, .840 is still OK. So I should not be trimming/touching or otherwise doing anything to the brass at this length. My concern is that both my books mention that the head space is indexed off the case which means that if the case is too short, this can cause problems with the firing pin not reaching and the bolt not being in the right place. This all leads to too much pressure/gas escaping, correct?

Is this something that I should direct to Springfield (reloading for an XD)
for advice on their specific requirements?