.308 Case Trim length question...again

[TScott]

I realize this question has been answered a few times in the past, but I was hoping I could get a little more insight into actual safe measurements. I have about 20 rounds set aside with cases that are a little shorter than what Hornady cites in their manual, specificially the trim to length of 2.005 (max of 2.015), I have a few cases that range from 1.9937 to 2.000 and I was wondering if anybody would see this as enough of a problem to pull the bullets (which I can chalk up as a lesson learned), or if I should be good to go?

-I got a little crank happy on our old school case trimmer (will be replaced soon), but I'm hoping to gain some knowledge from people that know more than myself about case lengths.

 

[MEHavey]

Shoot`em w/o worry.
Not a problem at all.

 

[TScott]

Long explanation for a simple question...whoops. But thanks.

 

[243winxb]

RCBS tells user of there X die to initial trim .020" off the maximum case length of 2.015" So RCBS thinks it safe to have 308win brass as short as 1.995" As said above, "shoot them"

 

[Sin City Shootist]

I've shot them that short, no problem. Have fun.

 

[243winxb]

The bullet does need proper neck tension/bullet pull. Short neck, less contact with the bearing surface of the bullet. Just make sure if loading for an auto that the bullet cant be pushed into the case with light pressure.

 

[Jasper1573]

Along this same thread, could the shorter case length affect accuracy? I have some that I got a little overzealous with as well, but have reloaded and shot them. Unfortunately, I didn't take the time to compare accuracy between cases down around 2.000 and those at 2.005-2.007.

 

[TScott]

Thanks for all the replies, it's good to know the cases a little short won't hurt anything.

Jasper, when I was trying to find an answer to this I came across a similar thread that said consistency is always the key to accuracy. My take on it was the rounds just won't group as tight as a batch with the same lengths. I am guessing you wouldn't notice at ranges around 100-200 yards, but beyond it may show some effect (I hope this helps).

 

[MEHavey]

TScott,

With all the other variables involved that five thousandths of an inch won't make a hill of bean worth of difference. Shoot away w/ confidence that you're good to go.

 

[amlevin]

Just shoot them. After a couple of reloadings they'll be long enough to trim again.

I use a Lee Trimmer with pilot that prevents me from trimming too short. Every case = 2.005.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

As a side note, I got in the habit of trimming all my .308 brass to .2010 when I first started reloading for my M1A a long time ago because that's how long a new factory case was. My RCBS manual case trimmer can be set for this length and stays there, and with my hand drill cranking, I can trim 150/hr. I also found my M1A Supermatch is a 1 to 1.5 MOA rifle and my Rem 700 SPS SS is a 0.4MOA rifle with my chosen target loads (those length cases, 42.0gr RL-15, 168gr SMK bullet, CCI BR2 primer), so I haven't changed anything for the .308 in a while.

FH

 

[cheygriz]

Get a Forster case guage. If it says "go" then
go."

 

[kelbro]

A sampling of several of my rifles showed that NONE of them needed the brass to be trimmed.

Sinclair sells a plug that you can use to determine the neck length of your chamber. May save you a lot of work and it's another dimension that you need to know.