How short is too short 9mm case

[QuietMike]

Came across a 9mm that sank in my case gauge after reloading, I measured it and the case is only .726” instead of .750
Not sure why it’s all pick up brass maybe somebody trimmed it?

Is it safe to shoot because it probably won’t be sitting on the case mouth when it’s chambered in the barrel

 

[LiveLife]

Some people trim 9x19 brass to reload 9x18.

If you line up the brass on bench top, the shorter cases become obvious for separation, not to mention easily sorting out the 380Auto brass.

Is it safe to shoot because it probably won’t be sitting on the case mouth when it’s chambered in the barrel

The shorter 9x18 brass won't headspace off case mouth, rather headspace off extractor but it will still go bang.

Heck, 9mm will go bang in 40S&W barrel, held only by the extractor.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Some people trim 9x19 brass to reload 9x18.

That was my first thought also, but a quick check shows that 18mm converts to 0.708661".
0.726" comes out to 18.4404mm...it could have just been a sloppy trim job

 

[fxvr5]

SAAMI specs for 9X18 show a max case length of 0.713".

 

[Demi-human]

When is a 9mm case too short?

When it’s a .380!

Maybe trimmed, maybe just a short case. Is it lighter than others of its ilk? Maybe it just didn’t get drawn as well as the others.
Will it hold the bullet you plan to use?
It went bang once, there is a high probability that it will again.
Maybe keep ‘ol shorty’ and see how it does. Or crush him and scrap it and think no more of it. It’s just a case.

Auto pistol brass will get too short from use in the head area, eventually the primers will stand proud of the head and be prone to slam fire. If it still fits the extractor for that long.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I've seen them as short as .735, but not in the .720s. I read in LiveLifes thread on accuracy loading for 9mm about measuring cases for length for better consistency.
I used to do that and but haven't for a long time. I believe I'm going to start again.
If for no other reason but to pick out tired old brass that's grown short in the tooth, or this case the length.

 

[lordpaxman]

Is it safe to shoot because it probably won’t be sitting on the case mouth when it’s chambered in the barrel

As @LiveLife wrote, it’ll headspace off the extractor rather than the case mouth. BUT, depending on neck tension, it may just go Pfffffffft, rather than Bang. When a .380 case made it’s way into my process, this is what happened to me and that’s a squib. Your short case could have been any number of things, that’s why I case gauge as well. Good luck!

 

[dcarr]

One really short 9mm case, I'd trash it not shoot it.

 

[Walkalong]

As @LiveLife wrote, it’ll headspace off the extractor rather than the case mouth. BUT, depending on neck tension, it may just go Pfffffffft, rather than Bang.

It'll go bang, if the primer ignites, it will go bang.

 

[dcarr]

Don't doubt the shell goes bang, possibility of squib mentioned earlier that would concern me.

 

[Walkalong]

It won't squib because of a short case, if the primer goes off, and the powder charge is reasonable, the cartridge will go bang.

 

[LiveLife]

possibility of squib

It won't squib because of a short case

When 9mm is fired in 40S&W barrel with very little pressure confinement due to larger bore, it will go bang with quieter muzzle report and lighter recoil but the bullet will exit the barrel.

if the primer goes off, and the powder charge is reasonable, the cartridge will go bang.

With semi-auto pistol barrels (Not unlike revolver with cylinder/forcing cone gap), force of primer detonation is enough to often push the bullet into the barrel. And with even small powder charge, bullet will be pushed out the muzzle (Not very far if powder charge is really light).

 

[lordpaxman]

It won't squib because of a short case, if the primer goes off, and the powder charge is reasonable, the cartridge will go bang.

You guys can say what you want. I only know what actually happened, there was a Pffffffft, smoke out of the action, no ejection of the case which was a very fortunate thing, and the bullet lodged in the barrel. I did have earmuffs on, but I can assure you there was no bang. I stopped, the SO was really puzzled and said stop, and, that was that.

 

[Walkalong]

It wasn't from a short 9MM case.

 

[9mmepiphany]

there was a Pffffffft, smoke out of the action, no ejection of the case which was a very fortunate thing, and the bullet lodged in the barrel.

I've seen a lot of squibs in competition and classes and I've never seen on from a overly-short 9mm case. The case is either held tightly enough for the firing pin/striker to set off the primer or the extractor would lose purchase of the rim (highly unlikely unless you had a faulty extractor; or a Glock) and the primer would be too far forward for the FP/Striker to impact

 

[BLACKFIN]

Quick question since I’m new to this reloading thing... can you reload 9mm, 9x18 mak, and .380 With a 9mm luger die?

 

[lordpaxman]

The best theory that fit the symptoms was the bullet was not held in by neck tension as I was loading 124s and a lot longer back then. Inertia caused it to slide forward in the chamber, exiting the case mouth, with powder as well, it was a sig with a very generous leade. The case head spaced on the extractor, the primer fired just fine, but as there was escape routes for the pressure, the bullet lodged just forward a bit. It was the proverbial “smoking gun” at the time. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, something like this happens. I can’t say for sure why, there are other theories of course,

 

[fxvr5]

Quick question since I’m new to this reloading thing... can you reload 9mm, 9x18 mak, and .380 With a 9mm luger die?

No. The case dimensions are very different. You need separate dies for each caliber.

 

[murf]

do the plunk test with that round. bet ya it won't pass. no worries if it doesn't. either the bullet in the lands or the extractor will hold the round back. i'd take a range rod with you just in case you get a stuck bullet in the barrel.

luck,

murf

 

[LiveLife]

Quick question since I’m new to this reloading thing... can you reload 9mm, 9x18 mak, and .380 With a 9mm luger die?

No.

SAAMI dimensions - https://saami.org/wp-content/upload...FP-and-R-Approved-2015-12-14-Posting-Copy.pdf

9x19/9mm Parabellum/9mm Luger is a tapered case with SAAMI dimensions (Page 27) showing .380" for case mouth and .394" for base rim diameters with .3555" diameter bullet (and why you cannot push-through resize using Lee FCD).

9x18 Makarov is a straight walled case with SAAMI dimensions (Page 28) showing .3902" for case mouth and .392" for base rim diameters using .365" diameter bullet.

380Auto is a straight walled case with SAAMI dimensions (Page 50) showing .373" for case mouth and .374" for base rim with .3565" diameter bullet.

 

[JJFitch]

Some people trim 9x19 brass to reload 9x18.

If you line up the brass on bench top, the shorter cases become obvious for separation, not to mention easily sorting out the 380Auto brass.


The shorter 9x18 brass won't headspace off case mouth, rather headspace off extractor but it will still go bang.

Heck, 9mm will go bang in 40S&W barrel, held only by the extractor.

OOPS!

Nothing stops my Pistol Caliber Carbine like a 9X18! The extractor doesn't control the round! This is a caliber specific AR 9mm carbine not a modified AR15!

It takes a cleaning rod to push out the round!

My 9mm 1911's will hold the 9X18 and fire just fine!

To the OP: Follow the SAAMI specs for case length! I have never trimmed 9mm cases in 30 years of reloading 9mm for action pistol games!

Smiles,