9mm brass exceeding Max Case Length

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gonoles_1980

gonoles_1980

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I know a lot of folks don't like to trim 9mm brass but I have probably a 100 or so 9mm brass that is between .755 and .758 inches. I have a 9mm trimmer but my chamfer tool doesn't work well with 9mm brass. So do I just use as is, or do I go ahead and trim? If I trim, where can I get a chamfer tool that will work with 9mm brass?
 
Trim and then you can use a file lightly on the O.D. And a 1/4" dowel with a small strip of fine grit paper wrapped around dowel for the I.D.
 
Anywhere near the minimum chamber length could cause failure to battery.

You might get away without trimming, but it will depend on the barrel.
 
I never trim 9MM brass. I also never measure any. I am quite sure some of it is over the SAMMI max. Odds are anyway, as I have all kinds of it.
 
Size it and drop the longest ones you have in your guns chamber.

If it drops in flush or slightly below the barrel hood?

You are good to go as is.

rc
 
9mm chamfer tool

The Lee chamfer tool works on the inside of 9mm but not on the outside. I use the Lee case trimmer so while it's still in the chuck I chamfer the inside and do a twist in steel wool to take the rough edge off of the outside. This is all after it's been resized of course. OYE
 
Ive never even thought to measure it. I guess that means I might need to increase my reloading situational awareness.
 
Last edited:
I've always trimmed my pistol brass. I enjoy every step of the reloading process, keeping my brass trimmed to spec. helps me sleep better.:)

GS
 
9mm trim

Even though it's not needed, I've always trimmed pistol and rifle brass after each resizing and keep a record of how much was removed. Since you don't remove much it takes very little time and makes each round consistent. It eliminates problems and gives me more confidence making a shot. OYE
 
So you don't like your Lee R&C tool. I have one I bought back in the dark ages, it works, but not as clean as my Wilson / RCBS. Are you sure your turning the brass the right direction? They only work in one direction.

GS
 
I've never trimmed 9mm brass and use a CZ that has one of the shorter chambers coming out of Eastern Europe.

On my SD loads, I never trim, but I do check case lengths for the SD hotter loads and uniform reloading for higher pressure loads..
 
gonoles_1980 said:
I know a lot of folks don't like to trim 9mm brass but I have probably a 100 or so 9mm brass that is between .755 and .758 inches. I have a 9mm trimmer but my chamfer tool doesn't work well with 9mm brass. So do I just use as is, or do I go ahead and trim? If I trim, where can I get a chamfer tool that will work with 9mm brass?
Click to expand...

Wilson, Lyman RBCS chamfer/ debur tools all work on the 9mm. I do not trim them but just checked. True the LEE version is too deep to do the outside edges.

Any of these types.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/46...ng-tool-17-to-60-caliber?cm_vc=ProductFinding
 
I just ordered an L.E. Wilson Chamfer and Deburring, it looks like it can handle the 9mm case. I probably will trim. I'm a little anal like that.
 
Somebody need to make one of these....

A loading block made from steel where you can drop your shells in neck down. Flip 'em over. Anything beyond the SAMMI length will stick out. Use a power sander on the shells as they are sitting on level surface. You can trim 50 rounds at a time.
 
Walkalong said:
I never trim 9MM brass. I also never measure any. I am quite sure some of it is over the SAMMI max. Odds are anyway, as I have all kinds of it.
Click to expand...

So being that 9mm head spaces off the case mouth not the rim, wouldn't a case shorter than SAMMI minimum give you problems?
 
No.

Most all auto-pistols headspace off the extractor hook most of the time, if truth be known.
New case length tolerances, and new chamber tolerance stacking make that inevitable.

The only case length problem that will stop a gun is if the case is too long to chamber flush with the barrel hood.
And even that isn't a deal breaker in the loose guns they make today.

The case obviously wasn't too long when it was fired.

Or it wouldn't be empty brass you are measuring and going OCD over now!

rc
 
Although my Lee R&C tool is older than dirt, it's the same one they still offer these days, and it does work on 9mm, I just tried it last night to confirm.

GS
 
jell-dog said:
So being that 9mm head spaces off the case mouth not the rim, wouldn't a case shorter than SAMMI minimum give you problems?
Click to expand...
Never has yet, and I shoot a horrid mix of range brass. I use a magnet to pick out any brass washed steel, and shoot everything else that passes the eyeball test and my Wilson gauge.
 
Gamestalker, I can do the inside, but I can't get the outside, how do you manage to do the outside.

243winxb not sure what you mean by measure the chamber? Are you talking about dropping the longer pieces into the barrel?
 
That's what I have been talking about since post #6!!

If it fits the chamber after sizing, without sticking out past the barrel hood?
The length is perfectly fine.

rc
 
the efficient handloader

A few personal observations:

Reloading untrimmed range pickup (I have maybe 5,000 mismatched 9mm cases in play) has yet to create problems in my small world of practice and casual IPSC competition.

When starting out reloading I measured case length and took a few notes - the cases didn't seem to grow. Trimming seemed superfluous. Anyhow, free 9mm brass is so easy to come by that if I bothered to measure case length, discarding rather than trimming would be a better use of my time.

But I inspect: Any case that is cracked, is more than mildly bent at the mouth, severely discolored, looks funky, provides a different or light feel when resizing, sounds weird, accepts a new primer too readily, has a marred extractor groove or a bowed base gets flung in the trash.

Reloading is a bit like carpentry and cabinetry combined. Sometimes you want a seamless fit, sometimes a 1/16th fit is just fine. Other times being within a quarter inch is efficient and the end result just as functional.

The efficient handloader figures out what tolerances make him happy and keep him safe, and sticks to those until other evidence shows that a different course of action would be more satisfactory.
 
QUOTING twofifty:
"The efficient handloader figures out what tolerances make him happy and keep him safe, and sticks to those until other evidence shows that a different course of action would be more satisfactory"
QUOTING gamestalker:
"I've always trimmed my pistol brass. I enjoy every step of the reloading process, keeping my brass trimmed to spec. helps me sleep better.:D"

remodel,
No OCD here!:uhoh:
Like gamestalker, I enjoy the reloading process.
I just like to know I'm within +/- 0.001" on my case lengths, (example: 9mm = 0.754" to 0.752 in one bin, ETC) so I sort into bins as I resize to the tolerances I am happy with. 0.756" & longer get trimmed, 0.742" & shorter hit the recycling bin.
Now, I've only loaded and shot approximately 4,000 9mm, but (so far using my sort method) not one failure.
So, to be consistent, I measure, sort and inspect all my pistol/revolver brass.
Doesn't take long, makes me happy, and I sleep better at night.:D
YOUR MILAGE MAY VERY!
 
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