Minimum cartridge length?

[PinnedAndRecessed]

I've read that some reloaders, when trimming rifle cases, will trim to minimum case length so that they won't have to trim again for two or three firings.

My once fired 30-06 brass, after resizing, measures 2.494" which is the specified length in my Speer reloading manual #10.

Three questions.

1) Will these cases be ok for another firing before trimming or should I go ahead and trim (since they are at the outside tolerance).

2) Is it practical to try to cycle these cases through my rifle to see if they will work?

3) Where could I find these "minimum lengths" since my book only gives one figure?

thanx.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I think I can help ya here...My Lyman 48th Edition shows a "trim to length" of 2.484 and a maximum length of 2.494. The Sierra 5th Edition shows a minimum of 2.485 and a maximum of 2.494. I normally trim my .30-06 cases to 2.490. I see no reason that you can't load those cases at least one more time or until they exceed maximum length. I found that if I go past 2.496 I start feeling the case mouth being squeezed into the throat of the barrel on my Browning A-bolt. Thus causing a high pressure condition not to mention hard bolt closing.

Hope this helps

Mike

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Thanx. That's what I needed. Guess I need to pick up another reloading manual or two.

 

[USSR]

PinnedAndRecessed,

Trim all your brass to the length of your shortest case. It don't matter what the length is (as long as it is below max length), what is important is that they are all the same length.

Don