Rookie Mistake: Need Advice

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Idcurrie

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Hi Guys.

So I've done my second (ever) reload and I made a mistake. I was using brand new never fired factory brass so I didn't feel the need to measure the case. Now that I've loaded 20 rounds, I find that the overall length is within spec but the case length is 2.59". Spec calls for 2.494".

I'm really surprised that this is an issue with factory brass as I'd assume they would be cut to the correct length already.

Anyway, the rounds chamber and extract just fine and there are no marks on the brass.

What should I do in this situation? Should I pull the bullets and start over?

Please advise.

edit: 30'06.
 
I would think that as a rooky reloader he may also be crimping the crap out of his case necks and or factory crimping them. In that case the mouth of the case may actually be in the bore! If a lee factory crimp die is used the crimp grooves may be camouflageing the rifling grooves
My experiance says that factory new cases are long in the neck and VERY inconsistent depending on manufacturer. For example I've seen Rem brass all over the map for legnth and some had to have the dented necks straightened out before I could size or trim.
I would not risk it and would pull them apart, re-size,trim, and reload them all. Its only 20 rounds to tear down but it only takes one to blow you up.
Case dimensions are nothing to play around with especially in a rimless bottleneck case,especially a 30-06.
Safe vs sorry? Safe wins with me
 
Hmm. Well it's a possibility. I am following the directions for the press and dies exactly. Only allowing the die to touch the hammer, the pulling the hammer down and giving it 1/4 turn as per directions. The bullet seating required virtually no force.

I am new but I know my caliper is accurate. I'm not at home but when I am I will take some measurements on some of the brass which I have not loaded. It's new remington brass from WSS.

What do you all think of firing these 20 rounds? Should I maybe use the caliper on the necks and report back?

Thanks.
 
:)Good on you Idcurrie, for catching what could of been serious, before it became so.
You need to know your rifle chamber's actual neck length to determine if the case mouth has adaquate clearance. 10 thousand's or more is what I've heard is minimum.
The best way to do that is a cerrosafe chamber cast, ... lacking that, I've used a longer-necked case(.270 or .280) full length resized and neck expanded. Smoke the mouth and try to close the bolt, trim it back a bit at a time till it will close with a bit of resistance on the bolt handle, and then measure.

FWIW, there is plenty of variation in neck length from chamber to chamber. You may find that your loads have adaquate clearance to fire safely, but if there is any doubt in YOUR mind, ..... Pull them down and call it a lesson well learned.b:
 
The bullet seating die has a roll crimp built in.
If you are following the directions to a T then you will probably be crimping an elongated neck down to a dimension that will fit in the gun but will not allow any space for the neck to expand when fired.
If the neck can't expand the bullet has a hard time exiting the case. This could prove to be a catastrophe.
The full length resizeing that you just described should ensure proper shoulder distance but if your cases are a hundred though too long then there can only be one dimension that is accounting for the added length. Neck length. Check the neck DIA too. They are usually a bit thick when new.
New brass should always be trimmed. Have you seen how inconsistant the necks are? Angled,wavy,long,thick,out of round....
 
Okay, I just measured the width of the neck. It's uniformly 0.344. Specs call for 0.340. For what it's worth, I also measured some factory ammunition I have here from Winchester and Federal and it's all above 0.340 as well. In fact the Winchester ammunition is 0.345.

Now, I'm starting to doubt my caliper. I just measured that same winchester factory cartridge and it is measuring 2.595! This caliper was used for many years by my father and I believed it was quite accurate as it's expensive. Maybe its past its prime?

Federal premium partition cartridges from the factory is measuring 2.59 for case length!!!!

Anyway, my hand loads are actually slightly smaller in dimension in all ways than this factory ammunition which is known to fire safely from my rifle so I guess I should be good to go.

The caliper does measure the bullets as about .308 so it seems accurate there...

Bah. I'm confused!
 
Last edited:
Idcurrie said:
Now, I'm starting to doubt my caliper. I just measured that same winchester factory cartridge and it is measuring 2.95! This caliper was used for many years by my father and I believed it was quite accurate as it's expensive. Maybe its past its prime?
Click to expand...

Measure against a tape or other known dimension out to 3"-4" where you seem to be having issues and see if they agree.


Mark
 
It seems the rookie mistake was using a caliper which is not functioning correctly. It's bang on at <2" but above that it starts to go wonky. Is this because of stripped teeth or something?

Anyway, picked up a new dial caliper at WSS for $69 and am now getting measurements well within specs.

Sorry for the dumb question/problem guys.
 
"...assume they would be..." Nope. New brass needs to be checked for length, trimmed, chamfered and deburred as required and full length resized first. 2.590" is too long.
 
There are two completely different schools of thought on loading new brass.
Many of us simple prime it, then put powder and a bullet in it.
Also, many of us loaded for years without using a caliper. The standard way to check case length was to compare the case with a factory load. If the case appeared longer, we trimmed it.
Just place your reload next to a factory load and compare. If you can't detect any difference in the lengths of the two cases, you are good to go.
Also, you shouldn't have to crimp your 30-06 ammo.
 
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