I have 280 win cases once fired and they range in length from 2.522 to 2.538 what shoild I do? I am new to reloading. Thanks

As long as they do not exceed the maximum length (usually mentioned in loading manuals) you'll be OK.

If you start out doing things half-way, you will begin taking short cuts in places you shouldn't. Bad way to start.

Get a Lee Case Length Gauge/Trimmer and run all of them through it. Then Chamfer the inside of the Case Mouth and Deburr the outside.

Once you have that done, you will realize it didn't take long.

You could use them as they are. But I would trim them 2.440.

Uniformity of lengths is only important if you are crimping bullets.

As long as they don't exceed 2.540" they're fine. You'll suffer no accuracy problems with them as-is

AS Hot Core said, start out with good habits and you won't get bitten in the butt

From the "GunSmithing " forum

quote:

The case stuck in the M70 was a Remington made .375 H&H case ... the right caliber for the rifle.

It has been loaded with a 320 grain alloy slug over XMR 5744.

The case was previously was fired x2 in a Weatherby Weathermark Alaskan of the correct caliber. It had been full length resized with a Redding FL die.

Only two small problems ... crimp was a bit heavy, and the case was a smidge too long.

"Does case length matter?"

No more than shoe size or undershorts size.

If these are the only cases you have, then full length resize them, and then trim them all to the length of the shortest.

Like the wrong size shoes or shorts, your different size cases will function, but they will not be optimum.

Do it right the first time...

quote:

Originally posted by Jay Johnson:
You could use them as they are. But I would trim them 2.440.

Jay, out of curiosity why that number? roger

quote:

Originally posted by ricciardelli:
"Does case length matter?"

No more than shoe size or undershorts size....

Hereby nominated for "The Quote of the Week"!

I have to disagree with some views to this thread. Case lenth does matter if you want absolute accuracy. The neck of the case hold tension on the bullet. This tension requires a certain pressure to release the bullet. A longer neck puts more tension, a shorter neck reduces the tension. When the bullet is fired it takes pressure for this tension to be broken. This is especially true in tight neck chambers where case expansion is not as prevelent. If the case lengths are different you will get different release pressures. This is one of the basis for extreme spread calcualtions with velocity changes in handlods. What case length you use is not as important as the consistency of the case length that you choose. Just make them all the same.

I like Steve's analogies. LMAO

quote:

"Does case length matter?"

No more than shoe size or undershorts size.

and then only if they are too small.....with cartridge cases it's a matter of being too large.

There is a difference.....

It also applies to cartridge cases.

If the necks are different lengths, you will have different co-efficients of friction to overcome between the bullet and the case, when the powder initially ignites, thereby causing totally different pressure and harmonic curves.

elmerdeer,

Make sure you measure your cases after you size them.

Ex: My cases are always longer after FLR.

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by Jay Johnson:
You could use them as they are. But I would trim them 2.440.

Jay, out of curiosity why that number? roger

Because that is the trim to length for the case in question. ??????

Steve that’s a pretty good analogy.

quote:

Originally posted by Jay Johnson:

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by Jay Johnson:
You could use them as they are. But I would trim them 2.440.

Jay, out of curiosity why that number? roger

Because that is the trim to length for the case in question. ??????

Steve that’s a pretty good analogy.

Jay.....add a hundred thou to it...ok? We all knew what you meant didn't we guys!!!

quote:

Jay.....add a hundred thou to it...ok? We all knew what you meant didn't we guys!!!

Man you got me? Read it right off of the chart I always use when reloading.

Rifle Cartridges
That's why you have to always check these things out??

quote:

Originally posted by elmerdeer:
I have 280 win cases once fired and they range in length from 2.522 to 2.538 what shoild I do? I am new to reloading. Thanks

Well don't worry too much about the resident experts for a start. They seem to think everyone is trying to win a benchrest comp.

As one said, first FLS or PFLS (if you don't know what PFLS is just ask and a fella called Hot Core will pop up.)

By then the ones at2.522 should be a bit longer.
Either way you can shoot'em off at deer at any length under max (2.540)
Being too technical at reloading can be a bad habit by it's self. At your stage just worry about the BASICS. Eg correct powder/amount etc.

Your trim length is up to you, anywhere under 2.540. Books RECOMEND -10 thou. = 2.530. (See the confusion has started above already.

Others say trim to the shortest. Bloody hell,
why trim hundreds of cases 30thou if ONE is too short. You get the picture.

IF you sort them on measureing them into batches
IE short medium and ones trimmed at what YOU decide under 2.540, well that will help any percivied variations in neck tension. Only one possible variation anyway.

And when you get Buck fever and let drive from a field position that will be your least worry.

quote:

Man you got me? Read it right off of the chart I always use when reloading.

Rifle Cartridges
That's why you have to always check these things out??

I suggest you get another chart.....this one is defective......the data is just wrong...plain and simple!!!

quote:

Originally posted by JAL:

quote:

Originally posted by elmerdeer:
I have 280 win cases once fired and they range in length from 2.522 to 2.538 what shoild I do? I am new to reloading. Thanks

Well don't worry too much about the resident experts for a start. They seem to think everyone is trying to win a benchrest comp.

As one said, first FLS or PFLS (if you don't know what PFLS is just ask and a fella called Hot Core will pop up.)

By then the ones at2.522 should be a bit longer.
Either way you can shoot'em off at deer at any length under max (2.540)
Being too technical at reloading can be a bad habit by it's self. At your stage just worry about the BASICS. Eg correct powder/amount etc.

Your trim length is up to you, anywhere under 2.540. Books RECOMEND -10 thou. = 2.530. (See the confusion has started above already.

Others say trim to the shortest. Bloody hell,
why trim hundreds of cases 30thou if ONE is too short. You get the picture.

IF you sort them on measureing them into batches
IE short medium and ones trimmed at what YOU decide under 2.540, well that will help any percivied variations in neck tension. Only one possible variation anyway.

And when you get Buck fever and let drive from a field position that will be your least worry.

Thanks for the info!

quote:

Well don't worry too much about the resident experts for a start.

Nothing like knowing how they do things in the land of Oz, with an attitude!

Follow his advice and you are on the start of a journey down a very rocky road.

The object of reloading to to squeeze every bit of accuracy and performance out of your firearm and ammunition. If that is not your goal, then just go to one of the Mart stores and buy the cheapest factory ammo you can find.

quote:

Does size matter?

apparantly it does to some.....for the .016 difference you're seeing I seriously doubt the old girl will know.

They can get too big and can get too small.....

Is this the reloading forum???......

Yup ... case length can matter.

Get'm too long (say from max length new brass and a couple of firings), and you can stick one in a chamber. Happened to my Winchester M70 SS Classic. Required pulling the barrel and some work to fix.

Other than that, the issue is one of consistency of crimp pressure and impact point.

quote:

Originally posted by ricciardelli:

quote:

Well don't worry too much about the resident experts for a start.

Nothing like knowing how they do things in the land of Oz, with an attitude!

Follow his advice and you are on the start of a journey down a very rocky road.

The object of reloading to to squeeze every bit of accuracy and performance out of your firearm and ammunition. If that is not your goal, then just go to one of the Mart stores and buy the cheapest factory ammo you can find.

So Mr. ricciardelli, Thats a bit harsh, and a load of crap as well.
Reloading can be a hobby to get a good reasonably accurate load with a minium of gear, you know like people can do with a Lee type hand loader and a powder scoope.
So with the average joe shooting a 30-30 M 94 on pigs at 15- 60 yards, you want him to order a match barrel with match chamber, Redding Bench rest dies, highest quality projectiles, lapua brass, neck turn of course, and don't forget to deburr the primer hole.
So start bench rest testing loads with 6 different powders projectiles primers (oh I forgot you only use Rem primers), and finds a load that the old M94 whatever went from 2" at 50 yards to 1 1/4". BIG DEAL.
Maybe you should get out more.

Oh my.

Length is one of those things that can bite you when you when you least expect it. Earlier I reffered to another post where it bit someone (stuck cartridge)

Steve may be overboard according to some but what he's saying is "good habits make good plus safe ammo"

Now I personally don't mike my cases. but I use a Lee trimmer which I run each case thru after sizing. Eventually they will all be the same length. It's a no brainer. Just use the little gem clip test when you are inspecting your cases for head separation.

Right on Bill, the "habit" re safety re case length is to check Max length.
The original poster had none over max and obviously was measureing them.

The quandry was whether to trim them all to the length of the shortest one, or maybe take a more realistic approach.

If the shooter is just looking to be sure that fireing shorter lengths is safe, Steve's response to me re. country of origin, rocky road ahead ect. was well over the top.

I've been living dangerously reloading varying length cases for 47 years now, and I'll be damned if I'm going to trim to the shortest length, or go bananas for the utmost possible accuracy. Cripes I can't shoot that well.

One thing not mentioned so far.

You can get the idea your cases are too long when closing the bolt starts having some resistance.

IF your bolt closes real hard, there's a great possibility that case may stick in the chamber.
Best way to handle that and help many others too. Is carry a 'range rod', just a section of brass rod a little less than bore size in your rifle case. Sure comes in handy. So far, I've stuck a few and helped many others by having one along. Saves a trip to the gunsmith.

Trimming with the Lee pin/gauge system is slick and easy. Whole lot easier, faster and cheaper than using those sorry minilathe things selling for a hundred bucks or more, the nhaving to buy pins to fit each cal.

I've made up a handle to hold the bottom half of the shell holder. Just cut 1/2 the thickness off a section of 3/4" sq, drill it to fit the pin end, and tack weld the base part to the handle.

Then you just need to change the lock rings to trim other size cases.

I bought a small drill press for my loading bench mostly to spin these cutters/pins in. Sure is handy for lots of other uses too. Have about 25 different size pins and the rest of the equipment totals less than #80. Compare that with the minilathes you've got to turn by hand and wear blisters with.

I can trim several hundred per hour with this set up. All exactly the same length and without much effort.

George

I think a to long case can lead to high preasure

yes i agree you need to chek ever time you shoot a LOAD check it its not going to hurt right hey get the the lee cutter they sale them for ever cal. really man just be safe hey well good luck