Observation - 357 M case

[Cherokee]

I know, most people do not trim pistol/revolver brass. I do trim certain revolver brass for a uniform crimp. That being said, I keep my 357 Mag brass around 1.281", some a little +/- for plinking loads. Today I picked up 12 nice Hornady plated cases at the range; measured and they are 1.245". They are so short the expander doesn't even bell the case mouth. According to Hornady's load manual, the min case length should be 1.280". No big deal, they'll go to the scrapper but I do wonder why this Hornady brass is so much shorter than minimum.

 

[Ian]

Some .308 brass I had from Hornady is the same way, well short of minimum and wouldn't reach the crimp shoulder of the seating die.

I trim all my revolver brass to a uniform length, just me.

 

[KHornet]

I have never trimmed revolver brass. May be giving some
serious consideration however to doing so at least to 357
and 45 colt. Good thread Ian.

Paul

 

[Blaster]

Most of the Hornady gummy tipped bullets are loaded in shorter brass to keep the O.A.L. in check. I've got a few 45-70 pickups that are a bit short.

 

[KHornet]

Ya, have a couple that I have picked up. Think they
would work for round ball loads.

Paul

 

[Missionary]

Sounds like someone was using a long nosed cast and needed a shorter brass to fit right.
We have done this with numerous brass for long cast. But we are very careful to keep those "special length" cases segregated in a well marked container.

 

[358156 hp]

The shorter cases were originally loaded with Flex Tip bullets from the factory. The cases have to be short to accommodate the longer bullet. For me, this effectively makes Hornady brass only fit for the scrap bucket.

 

[Ian]

For me, this effectively makes Hornady brass only fit for the scrap bucket.

...and that's without even considering the huge variances in neck thickness and internal volume, shrunken primer pockets, and ratty brass composition. CCI, Speer, and Hornady almost always get recycled and I don't mean back into ammunition.

 

[RicinYakima]

Buy American!

 

[Brad]

Buy Starline

 

[USSR]

The shorter cases were originally loaded with Flex Tip bullets from the factory. The cases have to be short to accommodate the longer bullet. For me, this effectively makes Hornady brass only fit for the scrap bucket.

Exactly!

Don

 

[waco]

Most of the Hornady gummy tipped bullets are loaded in shorter brass to keep the O.A.L. in check. I've got a few 45-70 pickups that are a bit short.

Yep. I've noticed this as well.....

 

[358156 hp]

Hornady would have been better served with either aluminum or steel cases for their oddball bullets. Something that doesn't piss reloaders off every time we see them.

 

[Brad]

Hey, my scrap bucket doesn't discriminate. The recycler takes them all as long as they are brass. Last time I got about 2.40 a pound for 45 pounds. Trades for a lot of lead.....

 

[Cherokee]

I do recall now reading about the short cases to accommodate the special bullets...these were once fired so I'm sure that is what they were. Anyway, into the scrap bucket.

 

[Ian]

A little while ago I was checking overall length with a new to me .45 Colt bullet and noticed a few nickel-plated and brass Hornady cases in the "miscl." box from which I was pulling a few mis-matched cases to make dummy rounds. I didn't measure the Hornady ones but they were all about a nickel's thickness shorter than Starline or CBC cases I had handy to compare. I'd say that is pretty dramatic.

 

[RBHarter]

Listen I will take all of that short Colts brass . I have a Schofield that it will trim just fine for .
Not only that but as Schofield it'll feed in the 92s which actual Star line Schofield won't do because of the slightly larger rim .....

Think of me before you scrap it .

 

[Winelover]

Don't run into a lot of Hornady brass, except for 9mm. Haven't found case length to be a big deal with that flavor. Starline tends to run short as does Federal, especially, in 44 caliber. I just keep them separated and adjust dies, accordingly.

 

[Cherokee]

I hate readjusting dies for case lengths, once they are set, I leave them.

RH - only 12 cases, you really want them ?

 

[KHornet]

I am pretty much inline with Winelover, and
adjust accordingly.

Paul