Cases...UNDER SAAMI specs?

[Captain*kirk]

I just found me a baggie full of .45-70 cases that I have no idea where they came from, but in the distant past I had labeled them as "under SAAMI spec". So I dug out the calipers and sho' 'nuff, they are at least .010 LESS than the trim-to length listed in my Speer manual. Now, while they do list a max and trim-to length, Speer does not list a minimum length. Would you guys use these assuming they will stretch in time, or avoid them like spraying Round Up on your weeds?

 

[MEHavey]

Are they perchance Hornady ?

 

[Captain*kirk]

Indeed they are!

 

[Soonerpesek]

Are they perchance Hornady ?

Ding…. Ding…. Ding…….for the win…!!!

 

[Soonerpesek]

Indeed they are!

For the “FTX” bullet………

 

[Walkalong]

I just found me a baggie full of .45-70 cases that I have no idea where they came from, but in the distant past I had labeled them as "under SAAMI spec". So I dug out the calipers and sho' 'nuff, they are at least .010 LESS than the trim-to length listed in my Speer manual. Now, while they do list a max and trim-to length, Speer does not list a minimum length. Would you guys use these assuming they will stretch in time, or avoid them like spraying Round Up on your weeds?

Won't hurt a thing, load them and shoot them, if they ever stretch enough, trim them, but .010 isn't much in a big relatively low pressure case/caliber like .45-70

 

[Charlie98]

Won't hurt a thing, load them and shoot them

Just be aware that if you are crimping your handloads, you will have to adjust between the shorty Hornady brass, and any regular brass you might have.

 

[Captain*kirk]

Just be aware that if you are crimping your handloads, you will have to adjust between the shorty Hornady brass, and any regular brass you might have.

Would most likely be using them for non-crimped Sharps loads with 535gr Postell bullets.

 

[dartor]

Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I just realized I could use them in my Henry single shot as they wouldn't need a crimp. I've been setting the Hornady cases aside when I find them at the range.

 

[MEHavey]

Perfectamundo.....

 

[Charlie98]

Would most likely be using them for non-crimped Sharps loads with 535gr Postell bullets.

I use mine in a Pedersoli 1885... but I do use the crimp to knock the case mouth bell out, not a super-critical function, of course.

 

[Captain*kirk]

Another thing I noticed last night; in addition to the Hornady cases being under trim-to specs, I also have 20 or so cases headstamped BHA. (Black Hills) that are also below spec. Is it possible these are made by Hornady as well?

 

[Walkalong]

I suppose, but I wouldn’t worry about it. Are weights similar?

 

[ackley man]

Surprisingly I received 100 Starline .38 Special brass cases that is .07 under SAAMI minimum! Starline said it is withing their specs. Wow, what BS!

 

[MEHavey]

SAAMI 38 Special case length min is 1.135"
What was the Starline length?

 

[Blue68f100]

I normally find that All Starline brass comes in at Trim Length. This is bad for straight wall brass which get shorter when fired vs stretching like bottle neck brass. Which I do not like since I like to true up the mouths so they are square and trim to my desired length. Now I have some 224V brass that I received at min and it has not stretched any (<0.002") in 3 firings. So this AR brass will last till the primer pockets give up and I may never need to trim it.