9mm case length question

[UR2X3M4ME]

I find my once fired 9mm case length consistently shorter than recommended trim-to length, even after decapping/resizing using Dillon's carbide dies.

Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th ed. recommend a trim-to length (TTL) of 0.751". Depending on the brass used, I typically measure my case lengths between 0.742" & 0.749", which is shorter than the TTL.

What do you guys do? Ignore the TTL and compensate at bullet seating?

 

[NShunter1254]

I have never seen a 9mm that needs trimming.

 

[UR2X3M4ME]

Agreed. Never heard of a such thing either.
Yet, we crank away thousands of undersized 9mm shells that should be trashed if we rely on reload manuals. Am I wrong? What do I fail to understand?

 

[Spawn-Inc]

it's part of the stuff used to cover their ass legally speaking, at least that's my view.

 

[Suputin]

Agreed. Never heard of a such thing either.
Yet, we crank away thousands of undersized 9mm shells that should be trashed if we rely on reload manuals. Am I wrong? What do I fail to understand?

You fail to understand that it doesn't make a lick of difference. If all of us have been loading 9mm rounds for decades without measuring or trimming then don't you think it would be safe to say the whole case length thing is a non-issue? Why are you measuring 9mm case lengths in the first place? In 25+ years of loading 9mm I don't think I have ever measured or even considered measuring the case length.

 

[UR2X3M4ME]

You fail to understand that it doesn't make a lick of difference. If all of us have been loading 9mm rounds for decades without measuring or trimming then don't you think it would be safe to say the whole case length thing is a non-issue? Why are you measuring 9mm case lengths in the first place? In 25+ years of loading 9mm I don't think I have ever measured or even considered measuring the case length.

Thank for the replies. Suputin, that's just it but said in different words, perhaps with a "lick of difference"

Such great care is used in tweaking the various parameters allowing the optimal precision shots for rifle reloads. The irony is that for one of the most used pistol caliber, no one give a flying hoot. Volume I guess?

Yes, I am the super cautious type that do measure everything, especially when switching to a new caliber. 9mm annoys me because of published dimensional data:
a) the difference between MCL (.754") and TTL (.751) is so minute with 3 damned thousands;
b) I find that most fired brass well below published TTL.
Those two points alone makes reloading 9mm not recommendable, yet history/field practice is evidently quite different.

I care to know/compare how fellow gunners are managing with 9mm restrictive data. Personally, its shell inspection and headspace management.

 

[Ganderite]

"In 25+ years of loading 9mm I don't think I have ever measured or even considered measuring the case length."

45+ years. never measured a 9mm case.

As I handle the empty case, I toss any cases that might be split. That is the total extent of my inspections.