I just got 200 new Norma 260 rem cases and upon measuring them I noticed they are shorter than thy should be. I measured several random cases (overall length) and got 2.018"-2.021" with the specified max overall length being 2.035". Even after trimming 0.010" they're still 0.007" or more short.

I've used 7mm mag Norma brass and didn't have this problem. Is this normal or did I get a bad batch? Has anyone else had this problem? Is it safe to load and shoot, will it cause any performance/accuracy problems?

Well, right off I can tell you you can't trim them enough to make them any longer! []

Forget it, you don't have a case length problem so don't make one. Load 'em,shoot 'em and enjoy it.

normally that might be fine, but I use these cases for 1000+ yd shooting and I like to make every case identical to eliminate any source of inaccuracy. And turning the necks of cases of different overall lengths causes the shoulder to be cut too deep or the neck not being cut enough, it's pointless unless they're all exactly the same length.

Not to mention that when you buy the best brass possible and pay $1.00 or more a case it should be the right length. I've never had this problem with any other brass and it's annoying.

The first time I bought Norma brass the primer pockets where too shallow and I had to trim an excessive amount of brass out of them to get the primers to seat properly. I would have gladly bought lapua if it was available, but due to the panic buying of uneducated, misinformed idiots nothing is available.

The only thing I've been impressed with about Norma brass is their price.
Find your shortest piece of brass and trim everything to that length. It'll work fine.

quote:

Originally posted by wasbeeman:
The only thing I've been impressed with about Norma brass is their price.
Find your shortest piece of brass and trim everything to that length. It'll work fine.

What he said. Don't worry about it.
Bear in Fairbanks

quote:

Originally posted by Bear in Fairbanks:

quote:

Originally posted by wasbeeman:
The only thing I've been impressed with about Norma brass is their price.
Find your shortest piece of brass and trim everything to that length. It'll work fine.

What he said. Don't worry about it.
Bear in Fairbanks

X 3 roger

Either trim to the shortest length, or shoot the brass until it exceeds the length you determine. It's surprising what only one firing / resizing will do to stretch a case.

Every new case I have ever purchased for my 308, 3006, and 358 have been shorter than the SAAMI standard. I just full length size, match the primer pockets and flash holes and shoot.
After a few firings when I run them through the trimmer they begin to shave a bit off.
Note: I only neck size after the first loading and shooting and I run every piece of brass through the trimmer after sizing.

Don't buy Norma brass.

Had the exact same problem with 338 LM brass from Norma.

for the price I would rather have purchased Lapua but was unavailable at the time

did not make any difference in that it is the only brass I have and it is now all trimmed to same length

loaded rounds are holding tight ES and SD over the chrono so I am not concerned but it would have made a difference if I had other "normal" sized brass to match up to.

Obviously Norma is not and will not be my go to manufacturer of precision brass-still is Lapua

Gary

quote:

Originally posted by wasbeeman:
The only thing I've been impressed with about Norma brass is their price.
Find your shortest piece of brass and trim everything to that length. It'll work fine.

My limited experience also suggests that Norma is overated.

A batch of factory ammo which was so hot primers FELL out. Approximately half the cases, measured unfired and fired, were over max length. The brass jammed into the lead causing the pressure problem. Same problem in two different rifles - definitely the brass not the chamber.