Is this 44mag brass out of spec?

[Axis II]

Okay this is odd and I’ve ran into this issue before. 44mag starline brass purchased new and case length is below Sammi trim spec. Some are 1.275 and lowest I found was 1.272. Hodgdon says 1.280 trim spec. I am also hand priming and feel the primer pockets aren’t deep enough. Primers are only seating to 2k below flush.

 

[troy fairweather]

I'd call starline

 

[JO JO]

I thought trim length is 1.275 as per Hornady manual and Max case length is 1.285

 

[JO JO]

I would think you are good with the starline

 

[Axis II]

I thought trim length is 1.275 as per Hornady manual and Max case length is 1.285

I googled Sammi and came up with something different. Hodgdon states trim length 1.280. I’d look in my manuals but seeing how I had to move within like 2 days they are packed away and who knows where. I have my load cards but my last batch I trimmed them all because every piece was a different length like 7k at most.

 

[Axis II]

Any issues with crimping with them being all over the place in length?

 

[Jim Watson]

Trim to the SAME length no matter what for a uniform roll crimp and go shooting.
Primer any at all below flush is fine.

 

[JO JO]

Hornady,Ramshot and Lyman all say trim to 1.275 ,
You say the starline are1.275 to1.272 your talking about a .003 difference for revolver brass
I would not sweat it starline is good bras,
If you want them better then size and trim uniform but .003 varience in 44 mag brass I would load those up and call it a day in my opinion
Starline is all I have and shoot in my 44 wheel guns

 

[mcb]

SAAMI spec for 44 Mag is 1.285 +.000/-.020. so that brass is in spec for length. Also since it is a revolver cartridges head spacing on the rim, as long as you trim them all the same length so your crimps are consistent the length is not all that critical. As for primer pocket depth, as long as it is flush or slightly below flush I would not sweat that either.

 

[Toprudder]

I prefer to use the Lee collet crimper (not the regular FCD) for 44mag with cannelure bullets. Trim length is not critical. For bullets with real crimp grooves, I prefer adjusting the seating die to give a crimp while seating, and trim length becomes more important. But the only thing critical about trim length is that they are all the same, not that they are any specific length.

 

[Rule3]

Load them and shoot them. Don't fuss over them
Yes, size them first it is not that much more effort to skip that. You do it every time you reload anyway.

 

[TikkaShooter]

When in doubt; check the source:
https://saami.org/technical-information/cartridge-chamber-drawings/

 

[Blue68f100]

As long as the primers are below flush your good. The idea of seating primers 0.003-0.005" is non sense. The correct depth is where they bottom out at. If your set on a particular depth you can run a primer pocket uniformer tool to trim them deeper.