What to do when brass is too short after firing?

[Swift]

I'm still fairly new to reloading. Have about 500 rounds under my belt. I'm only loading 308 for my 700 right now.

I mostly use Nosler Custom brass which has been pretty good but the cases from the Federal Gold Medal Match I've had in recent batches have been giving me issues and what I've been noticing is after the case is fired, once I get it up in the sizing die and measure, it's coming out a couple thousandths (and even a couple hundredths in some cases) shorter than the standard in my Lee handbook. (can't remember the figure at the moment)

At first I thought it might be the way the die is set, but I started measuring before I sized and in terms of length they aren't changing much.

So why are my cases coming out shorter, instead of longer which with expansion would make more sense? Also, is it safe to load these cases as long as the overall length stays at or below 2.800"? Is this normal or is it something I should look into? Thanks in advance.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

An oversized chamber will cause this. Check the brass dimensions at or above the base and at the shoulder and compare to your new brass.

 

[BobinNC]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

.308 Win

MAX case length 2.015"
Trim to length 2.005"

Keep your brass between those two measurements and you are GTG.

What your Lee handbook say?

And your not limited to 2.800" COAL, most folks with a Rem 700 load at least to mag box length. Factory throats on 308 Rem 700's are very long.

Bob

 

[targaflorio]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

i just shot two boxes of FGMM 168s. I'm measuring the fired brass and it is all showing up short. I then Precision Mic the fired brass and full length resize and it's not showing the shoulders moving back.

I feel like I'm seeing things. Anyone ever have a similar experience?

I'll start over again and see where I might have messed up...

 

[pjparker]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

I don't worry about my brass being a little shorter than published dimensions.

What is really important is that they are all the same length. Find your shortest one and trim all the rest to match, then don't worry about it.

Brass length shouldn't affect your COAL unless you're running out of neck to seat a bullet into.

Paul

 

[Swift]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BobinNC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.308 Win

MAX case length 2.015"
Trim to length 2.005"

Keep your brass between those two measurements and you are GTG.

What your Lee handbook say?

And your not limited to 2.800" COAL, most folks with a Rem 700 load at least to mag box length. Factory throats on 308 Rem 700's are very long.

Bob





</div></div>

Lee says maximum length of 2.015" and that minimum of 2.005" scares me a little. On average, most of the cases are measuring 1.997"-1.999" with a couple outliers being 2.015 exactly and some less than 1.997 which I ended up tossing.

 

[Swift]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: targaflorio</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i just shot two boxes of FGMM 168s. I'm measuring the fired brass and it is all showing up short. I then Precision Mic the fired brass and full length resize and it's not showing the shoulders moving back.

I feel like I'm seeing things. Anyone ever have a similar experience?

I'll start over again and see where I might have messed up... </div></div>

That's funny cuz that's the exact same situation I'm in. Local shop had FGMM on sale for $20 a box so I picked up a few. The now once fired Federal brass from those boxes has been giving me a lot of headaches. The Noslers haven't been so bad but the Federal all seem to come up short.

However I love seating 168 gr Sierra MK HPBTs in them and having essentially a fresh, new box of FGMM at my disposal.

 

[Swift]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BobinNC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.308 Win

MAX case length 2.015"
Trim to length 2.005"

Keep your brass between those two measurements and you are GTG.

What your Lee handbook say?

And your not limited to 2.800" COAL, most folks with a Rem 700 load at least to mag box length. Factory throats on 308 Rem 700's are very long.

Bob





</div></div>

And you wouldn't happen to know off hand what mag box length on 700s is would you? I have a detachable floorplate so it's difficult to accurately measure mine.

 

[BobinNC]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

2.850"

I would try to load just under that length, 2.835" - 2.840" MAX

Bob

 

[High Binder]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: THEBEARRRRRRJEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BobinNC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.308 Win

MAX case length 2.015"
Trim to length 2.005"

Keep your brass between those two measurements and you are GTG.

What your Lee handbook say?

And your not limited to 2.800" COAL, most folks with a Rem 700 load at least to mag box length. Factory throats on 308 Rem 700's are very long.

Bob





</div></div>

And you wouldn't happen to know off hand what mag box length on 700s is would you? I have a detachable floorplate so it's difficult to accurately measure mine. </div></div>

Off hand and at the ogive mine tend to be to around 2.3" but I don't have my recipe book with me so don't quote me.

 

[Brain]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

Measure your chamber length and figure brass length from that. OAL should be determined from measuring distance to lands with the bullet you intend to use.

There is no "standard" length when it comes to loading unless you want to duplicate "standard" loads...at which point you have negated the greatest benefit of loading your own.

Example: .308, manual says max case length is 2.015 and trim length is 2.005. My chamber measures 2.036 so I trim to 2.020.

Tailor <span style="font-weight: bold">your</span> loads to <span style="font-weight: bold">your</span> rifle.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

Did you set up your Full Length die per the instructions, if so I bet your oversizing your brass, get a headspace gage and bump the shoulder .001, and throw away the federal brass, it's soft, that's good for accuracy at first, but when reloaded the primer pockets let go, fast

 

[High Binder]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Brain</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Tailor <span style="font-weight: bold">your</span> loads to <span style="font-weight: bold">your</span> rifle.

</div></div>

Winner Winner! Don't worry about standard load book crap, figure out what your rifles's dims are and go from there.

 

[High Binder]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427Cobra</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Did you set up your Full Length die per the instructions, if so I bet your oversizing your brass, get a headspace gage and bump the shoulder .001, and throw away the federal brass, it's soft, that's good for accuracy at first, but when reloaded the primer pockets let go, fast </div></div>

I also have horrible results from Fed brass, I don't use it but when I did it was a single maybe 2X shot deal.

 

[targaflorio]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

Thanks for the feedback. I will stick to new winchester brass for the foreseeable future. Anybody measure chamber length on gas guns?

 

[Swift]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

What are you guys using to measure chamber length? From your chamber length, how do you determine what length to trim to? OAL?

 

[427Cobra]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

Sinclair sells a chamber length tool, when you order it, also order a Hornady head space measuring tool

 

[Brain]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: targaflorio</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Anybody measure chamber length on gas guns? </div></div>

Yes. Measure it on everything I load for. Why would there be a difference for gas guns?

 

[bignada]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

As was said, ditch the Federal brass.
Winchester is about the finest reasonably priced production brass.
I buy Lapua, or Winchester for commercial; or Lake City for mil-spec.

Start with some virgin brass. Get or borrow an RCBS Precision Mic or Wilson Case Gauge tool. You want to measure the case dimension on your gauge/mic before firing (load assembled) and fired. You might want to also mic or use a caliper to ascertain your chamber isn't excessively wide.

Try neck sizing only in your once-fired cases. Only size half the neck. See if there is any further variation.


Nosler brass isn't worth $1 per case, and Federal isn't worth a damn.

 

[Ol' RD]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

Lapua brass an your GTG!

 

[BCP]

Re: What to do when brass is too short after firing?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: THEBEARRRRRRJEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Lee says maximum length of 2.015" and that minimum of 2.005" scares me a little. On average, most of the cases are measuring 1.997"-1.999" with a couple outliers being 2.015 exactly and some less than 1.997 which I ended up tossing. </div></div>

Mine are exactly as you describe with maybe 1:100 growing like a weed or shrinking, I just toss it in the trash.