How critical is case length?

[bluetopper]

The only way I would go to the trouble of measuring the volume of cases is if I traveled to competitive rifle matches.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I could see the logic in that. I've heard that Lake City cases have thicker walls and, subsequently, smaller internal case capacities than commercial cases, and that leads to increased pressure from equivalent powder charges. That said, measuring the volume of cases must be a labor intensive, time consuming chore.

Don't fall off that cliff. It's an a very hard climb back to sanity.
Look for of center flash holes and sort by head-stamp. This is about as deep as you need to get for great accuracy.
I do neck turning and weight sorting while I'm watching my baby crawl around. It is more of a keep me occupied than a necessity.
When he can walk I will go back to not weight sorting. It makes a tiny difference that isn't worth the effort.

 

[cw308]

243 is a accurate round , I'm a benchrest shooter , if your into reloading for accuracy and safety , on trimming the minimum and maximum length pick the middle length trim to that length and trim every firing it will be more of a clean up then a trim . Your rounds should be as close to exact as possible. No shortcuts and reloading will be trouble free . Hope I Helped in some way.

 

[Walkalong]

I've heard that Lake City cases have thicker walls and, subsequently, smaller internal case capacities than commercial cases

.308 yes, 5.56/.223 not so much, may be lighter, may be heavier, may be about the same.

 

[Slamfire]

.308 yes, 5.56/.223 not so much, may be lighter, may be heavier, may be about the same.

Avoid maximum charge levels, stay mid level, and you won't be plucking blown primers out of the magazine well. Bad things happen when you push things......

 

[Walkalong]

I have seen more than one pickup loaded exactly like that with pallets. Brave folks out there, and I cannot say I have never overloaded a rusted out 64 Chevy II pulling a trailer full of wet oak.......

It's called "experience", and we either learn from it, or not.....

Bad things happen when you push things......

They do at that, sooner or later the odds catch up with us when we flirt with danger.

Those kids have it tied down nicely, I hope they made it.

 

[257ack]

Sinclair sells a device that you can measure your chambers case length. You have to modify a case to use it. Col. Billy Stevens put me on to that at a benchrest match. I now have them for other calibers. I like to keep my cases .005 shorter than my chamber length

 

[Bfh_auto]

Avoid maximum charge levels, stay mid level, and you won't be plucking blown primers out of the magazine well. Bad things happen when you push things......

View attachment 818235

Difference is you can choose to go slow with an overloaded vehicle.
An overload in a firearm only has one option.
That looks like how I hauled hay as a teen. We didn't go far or fast.