Newbie needs help - New Brass, slightly short - Safe??

300magman · July 1, 2011, 10:36 AM

I just picked up some new bags of winchester brass, and the first thing I did was pull out my caliper to measure the cases (incase they needed trimming) Much to my surprise I found the opposite.

My manual(s) list 2.015" max and 2.005" minimum brass length. Well, half of the new winchester brass specs out to 2.006 and the other half specs out to 2.004 with 3 pieces comming up really short at 2.0025

So, is half of my brand new brass unsafe?
Can I use the 2.004" brass as normal?
Or could I try minmum loads in the 2.004" brass and hope they stretch slightly during that first minimum load firing?

I'm assuming the 2.0025 pieces are definetly heading into the garbage.

Shootest · July 1, 2011, 11:17 AM

Absolutely NOTHING wrong with any of it. Deburr it and load as normal.

lasvegastransplant · July 1, 2011, 11:30 AM

I'm new to reloading also but I would say it's OK. Good luck

AllenJ · July 1, 2011, 12:00 PM

Your brass is fine, don't throw any of it away. I use Winchester brass for my rifles and I have always got the same result as you when measuring it. The last few years rather than measuring each case I have started setting my caliper to the max recommended length and just make sure none are over. Winchester makes soft brass and it typically lengthens faster than other brands so by the third reloading they'll need trimming.

Doodlebugger45 · July 1, 2011, 12:29 PM

It's not a problem at all. I typically trim my brass down to 0.003" to 0.005" less than the minimum or trim-to length specified anyway. I figure it might let me reload those cases one additional time before I have to trim again eventually.

Civil War Life · July 1, 2011, 01:07 PM

I full length resize all my brass, even the new ones before I measure them. Your brass is fine as is.

tom234 · July 1, 2011, 01:45 PM

You neglected to say what caliber but due to size they're definitely rifle cases. No sweat, they'll stretch with use.........

300magman · July 2, 2011, 09:10 AM

Ah, yes...late night posting at its best, I did forget the caliber. They are .308 win cases.

So I guess the consensus is that even the 3 Extra short cases are still safe for normal loading Good to know.

Thank you everyone for your reply.

10 Spot Terminator · July 2, 2011, 11:10 AM

That brass will be fine. After you load, fire, and resize it, you more than likely will find it back within the published spec range . I usually take those slightly shorter cases and seperate them from the herd and use them for fouling rounds when working up new loads and after a couple firings they hit the trimmer after sizing and return to the herd.

July 1, 2011, 10:36 AM	#1
300magman Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2008 Posts: 714	Newbie needs help - New Brass, slightly short - Safe?? I just picked up some new bags of winchester brass, and the first thing I did was pull out my caliper to measure the cases (incase they needed trimming) Much to my surprise I found the opposite. My manual(s) list 2.015" max and 2.005" minimum brass length. Well, half of the new winchester brass specs out to 2.006 and the other half specs out to 2.004 with 3 pieces comming up really short at 2.0025 So, is half of my brand new brass unsafe? Can I use the 2.004" brass as normal? Or could I try minmum loads in the 2.004" brass and hope they stretch slightly during that first minimum load firing? I'm assuming the 2.0025 pieces are definetly heading into the garbage.

July 1, 2011, 11:17 AM	#2
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	Absolutely NOTHING wrong with any of it. Deburr it and load as normal. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

July 1, 2011, 11:30 AM	#3
lasvegastransplant Member Join Date: May 15, 2011 Location: Vegas Posts: 74	You're fine I'm new to reloading also but I would say it's OK. Good luck __________________ Thinking 4:24/7 is a way of life.

July 1, 2011, 12:00 PM	#4
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	Your brass is fine, don't throw any of it away. I use Winchester brass for my rifles and I have always got the same result as you when measuring it. The last few years rather than measuring each case I have started setting my caliper to the max recommended length and just make sure none are over. Winchester makes soft brass and it typically lengthens faster than other brands so by the third reloading they'll need trimming.

July 1, 2011, 12:29 PM	#5
Doodlebugger45 Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,717	It's not a problem at all. I typically trim my brass down to 0.003" to 0.005" less than the minimum or trim-to length specified anyway. I figure it might let me reload those cases one additional time before I have to trim again eventually.

July 1, 2011, 01:07 PM	#6
Civil War Life Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 166	I full length resize all my brass, even the new ones before I measure them. Your brass is fine as is.

July 1, 2011, 01:45 PM	#7
tom234 Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 753	You neglected to say what caliber but due to size they're definitely rifle cases. No sweat, they'll stretch with use.........

July 2, 2011, 09:10 AM	#8
300magman Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2008 Posts: 714	Ah, yes...late night posting at its best, I did forget the caliber. They are .308 win cases. So I guess the consensus is that even the 3 Extra short cases are still safe for normal loading Good to know. Thank you everyone for your reply.

July 2, 2011, 11:10 AM	#9
10 Spot Terminator Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Central Oregon Posts: 348	That brass will be fine. After you load, fire, and resize it, you more than likely will find it back within the published spec range . I usually take those slightly shorter cases and seperate them from the herd and use them for fouling rounds when working up new loads and after a couple firings they hit the trimmer after sizing and return to the herd.