9mm: do you measure cases after sizing?

[domyalex]

Case length is important for cartridges that headspace at the mouth, so... do you measure the the length of each 9mm case after resizing?

I'm reloading on a single stage, so I do everything in batches, but I'm guessing those who use progressive presses don't check much?

If so, how do you find those overly long/short cases, especially when picking up range brass?

Thanks

 

[CeeZer]

Pistol brass with straight case walls doesn't stretch/shrink in practical sense for one to worry about measuring case lengh or trimming.
Seriously, forget it, non issue.

 

[Antoine22]

Pistol brass with straight case walls doesn't stretch/shrink in practical sense for one to worry about measuring case lengh or trimming.
Seriously, forget it, non issue.

Exactly, I don't bother to mesure case lenth with any straight wall cases.

 

[sevoman]

If anything,pistol brass tends to shrink with reloading

 

[1shot]

Far more important dimension is overall length.

 

[domyalex]

Thx folks.

I understand straight walled brass actually shrinks with use; don't you have to worry when it gets below SAAMI specs? (0.744 for 9mm).

 

[blindman]

I always checked the OAL, and when finished loading, used a chamber check for all reloaded rounds. Cheap enough to buy.

 

[sunray]

"...picking up range brass..." Not a great idea. You have no idea what has been done to it or how many times it has been loaded or with what.

 

[acrashb]

Thx folks.

I understand straight walled brass actually shrinks with use; don't you have to worry when it gets below SAAMI specs? (0.744 for 9mm).

If it's too short, worst case it sits too deeply in the chamber (headspace off of the case mouth) and will be unreliable - the firing pin won't reach forward enough to reliably ignite.

It's a theoretical problem - never happens unless someone decides to trim and gets carried away.

 

[Al-Sway]

I have never checked case length on 9mm, nor .45, and have never had a failure to fire. Nor, any perceived accuracy problems with any of my loads.
So, might make a difference but not worth the effort, in my opinion and based on my experiences.

 

[cyclic]

"...picking up range brass..." Not a great idea. You have no idea what has been done to it or how many times it has been loaded or with what.

Have been picking up pistol range brass and reloading it for years. (Rifle brass is a different story)

1)Pick it up
2)Tumble clean it
3)Reload it
4)Shot it

Been doing this for years never had one issue, I shoot and reload about 15k rounds per year with no issues.

I use a Dillon

 

[Cpt.Flan]

Cheers.

 

[diesel_weasel666]

"...picking up range brass..." Not a great idea. You have no idea what has been done to it or how many times it has been loaded or with what.

As I have more time than money, I always scrounge the range after the weekend. Last week I came home with close to 100 pieces of .44Mag and some .303 too. Once it has been cleaned and buffed up in the tumbler any defects show up clearly

 

[SKS50]

Some do some don't,you may find that you get better accuracy in your semi-auto with a case at a particular length. It's your ammo and your loading it so it's you choice.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylor/9mm_reloading.htm