Case lengty questions

[roadsterguy]

What means are you trimming your brass, there is a suggested length how much is an acceptable difference? I know there can be feeding issues but assuming you don't have those, consistency would be very important, how much variance is acceptable? Plus what and how are you measuring, and assuming this is all done after sizing.

 

[Sadie]

Sinclare sells a chamber length gage to get true chamber length. .010 less than actual length is generally recommended. For center fire Cases nice for them to be all the same when trimmed but I don't think a couple thousands variation matters much.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

What means are you trimming your brass, there is a suggested length how much is an acceptable difference? I know there can be feeding issues but assuming you don't have those, consistency would be very important, how much variance is acceptable? Plus what and how are you measuring, and assuming this is all done after sizing.

Reloading manuals give you the suggested range for a cartridge. Trim to is the recommended shortest you intentionally make them and max length is the recommended longest you allow them to get to limit potential issues.
-If you know your gun can allow longer then that is your call
-If your brass isn't even at the "trim to" length yet then it is what it is keep on shooting
-You don't have to trim back to the trim to length fully if you don't want to. Depending on how much your cartridge brass tends to stretch and how often you want to futz with it might mean you trim them fully back or something in between.

I'm sure some people are anal about it, if it isn't longer than the max case length yet I just reload them, the ones that are longer I trim back.

 

[roadsterguy]

Reloading manuals give you the suggested range for a cartridge. Trim to is the recommended shortest you intentionally make them and max length is the recommended longest you allow them to get to limit potential issues.
-If you know your gun can allow longer then that is your call
-If your brass isn't even at the "trim to" length yet then it is what it is keep on shooting
-You don't have to trim back to the trim to length fully if you don't want to. Depending on how much your cartridge brass tends to stretch and how often you want to futz with it might mean you trim them fully back or something in between.

I'm sure some people are anal about it, if it isn't longer than the max case length yet I just reload them, the ones that are longer I trim back.

That's what I've been doing for years, I haven't tried to trim so they'd all match to me that's a bit anal, I was talking to another reloader that said I'll never get any accuracy if I didn't match all the brass lengths, my nosler 6.5prc is a .75 moa easily the way I load, just wondering other reloaders thoughts. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I'll never get any accuracy

Its all relative, are you trying to shoot F class or are you hunting?

 

[JRMiller]

I prefer the Lyman case length/headspace gauge.
In one go it will tell you if your over length, under, or sized to chamber correctly (after sizing, and for a SAAMI chamber).
They make two kinds though, its not the length only gauge.
That and a case comparator tool are very, very important if you are reloading brass multiple times.

 

[wind gypsy]

If needed, virgin cases get a chamfer/deburr. Once any of the cases in that lot get about to max case length, the whole lot gets trimmed, chamfered, and deburred. That one trimming seems to be about all the trimming I need to get cases through roughly 10 firings.

People who worry about case length being a few thou different from each other for hunting ammo? ha!

 

[roadsterguy]

Its all relative, are you trying to shoot F class or are you hunting?

Hunting, but for years, lots of them we'd sight in 1" high at 100yds, in the ballpark at 200, we would always go for 200 or less. 2" at 100 was accepted. Winchester 270 and Weatherby 300 Weatherby mag.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

People who worry about case length being a few thou different from each other for hunting ammo? ha!

Exactly.

Hunting, but for years, lots of them we'd sight in 1" high at 100yds, in the ballpark at 200, we would always go for 200 or less. 2" at 100 was accepted. Winchester 270 and Weatherby 300 Weatherby mag.

It was rhetorical.