Short mags VS long mags.. Case life

[John Y Cannuck]

At the moment, I don't own either one, but in a post by Bigredd in Hunting arms, he mentioned he was getting longer case life in his Winchester short mags.
1/ Is the same true for you?
2/ Why do you think it's happening/not happening?

 

[john-brennan]

case life

I own 1 short mag and two belted mags and i agree with BIGREDD, i find the belted mags always separate at the belt with in 4 fireings, where the short mags do not have a belt and i am at 5 fireings and still going.

 

[Troy G]

Not to be a smart ass here but if your belted brass is seperating after four firings you have something not set-up right.

I had a .240 Weatherby Magnum that I shot brass over 10 firings on and never had an issue. My 7STW gets at least six firings before the primer pockets are starting to get loose and then it gets chucked.

 

[Leeper]

People are getting better case life with short mags simply because they are not setting the shoulders back when sizing. If one depends on the belt of a belted magnum to handle heaspacing chores every firing, he is going to experience separations in short order. If the belted mag is allowed to headspace on the shoulder for subsequent loadings, case life will be as good as any other. Regards, Bill.

 

[chappy]

i don't see much difference in case life with either short or long mag. i do find quality of the dies and how there set up makes a big difference. i prefer rcbs x dies. properly set up they minimize triming and extend life. as leeper says if you bump the shouder back too far you will have a short life span but i think that goes for any round you load. only set the shoulder back far enough to allow it to easily chamber.

 

[Gatehouse]

People are getting better case life with short mags simply because they are not setting the shoulders back when sizing. If one depends on the belt of a belted magnum to handle heaspacing chores every firing, he is going to experience separations in short order. If the belted mag is allowed to headspace on the shoulder for subsequent loadings, case life will be as good as any other. Regards, Bill.

I agree with Bill, wiht one thing to add:

Ackley Improved cartridges often havea reputaiton or having stellar case life. Often this is is remarkably longer than thier parent cartridges (the ones with very sloping sides for example)

The short mags emulate alot of AI cartridges, with thier straight sides and sharp shoulders.

I headspace on the shoudl er with belted mags, and my cases will last a long time, but I stop using them for hunting or full power loads after about 4 or 5 firings. I'd rather not take the chance of something going wrong when hunting.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

My 338Wm used to give me a dozen reloads, and I threw them out, not because they looked bad, just.. well just because.
I never bumped the shoulder, in fact I neck sized most of them, and loads were hot enough to burn a little ring on the bolt face too.