Question about reloading 9 mm range brass in Missouri

[JohnhenrySTL]

I just acquired roughly a thousand 9 mm range pieces. The Lynn man book states their trim to length should be .751. The first 12 I measured are all around .733.

As this is my first round with reloading 9 mm for my new G17, what concerns should I have with the shorter brass?

Even if in this instance I'l be okay, I still would like to know the dangers of brass being shorter than spec. I often end up 3 or 4 thousands of an inch shorter than trim length on my .40s, and 308s.

Some people and books do not recommend range brass. As I am developing mid range loads and have had success with at least 10000 range pieces before, I am willing to continue to try my luck.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rule3]

The max length of 9mm is .754. There is no need to trim semi auto handgun brass. I do not trim or even measure any of my semi auto 380, 9, 40 or 45

The brass should be measured after it is RESIZED. A length of .733 sounds a bit odd?

Double check that and also what headstamp it is??

 

[JohnhenrySTL]

It is random headstamps. I've trimmed brass before to put the most consistent taper crimp on it I could. I'm not trying to trim these. I'm hoping they are safe. These were measured after being resized.

 

[vaalpens]

Are you sure your caliper is correct?

The SAAMI specs for 9mm is .754" - 0.010". This means the min length for your 9mm cases should be .744".

It is up to you to decide if you want to load .733" cases, but I normally won't load anything below min case length.

 

[JohnhenrySTL]

I will try to find a battery for my caliper. I think is right, but I have had it for quite a while.

Thanks.

 

[Walkalong]

I have never trimmed a .32 ACP, .380, 9MM, .38 Super, .40, or .45 ACP case.

How long are 9X18 cases? Some people trim 9MM (9X19) to 9X18.

Just checked, .733 is too long for that.

 

[JohnhenrySTL]

I actually just finished trimming some 9x19, down to 9×18, these though were called once fired 9 Luger. These 5 or 6 I measured were about .733'. I'm trying to find a battery for my Frankford arsenal caliper as we speak.

 

[Rule3]

I thought 9x18 was .713"?

 

[JohnhenrySTL]

9×18 trim length is .710 according to my data. I am now loading 9x19. The brass given to me measure in at .733. Which is short of my lynmann's recommended .751.

 

[GarySTL]

What about taking one of your shorter cases and sizing and priming. Since the 9mm headspace on the case mouth I wonder if it's too short for the firing pin to hit the primer hard enough to crush the compound? No powder or bullet of course.

 

[JohnhenrySTL]

I just re measured all of them with my caliper that I just put the new battery in. They were mainly .738, and a few longer, with 3 or 4 .734. I checked all 26 that have been resized. Would you scrap out the ones shorter than .741? I have almost a thousand more.

 

[Sam1911]

You certainly could scrap them, but it seems odd to me that you'd have found 9mm range brass that's too short to fire. I load tens of thousands of range pick-up 9mm cases, and I've never measured one of them. Ever. Never had a failure to fire (caused by that), either.

 

[Rule3]

I just re measured all of them with my caliper that I just put the new battery in. They were mainly .738, and a few longer, with 3 or 4 .734. I checked all 26 that have been resized. Would you scrap out the ones shorter than .741? I have almost a thousand more.

Yes, I would. There is so much 9mm out there why bother with questionable pieces?? Heck I have so many 9mm , when I clean up the range I toss the 9mm in the recycle bucket. I am not going to pick through it, Some of the guys have reloaded them unknown amounts of time, I especially like the ones that are spray painted on the case head so they know it's theirs! I use a sharpie.

Now if I see someone with new boxes of factory ammo.....

 

[Jim Watson]

I shoot range pickup and mailorder "once fired" 9mm. I haven't trimmed or even measured one yet. Just a moment...

About 20 at random, unresized, were .738-.748".

Check your caliper against something known, like a jacketed bullet.

But I would not let the short cases keep me from using them. I had the occasional 9x18 Makarov creep in and they loaded normally. I usually pulled the bullets and recycled the components, but decided to shoot a couple and see what happened. No different from the 9mm P.

 

[kcofohio]

I just re measured all of them with my caliper that I just put the new battery in. They were mainly .738, and a few longer, with 3 or 4 .734. I checked all 26 that have been resized. Would you scrap out the ones shorter than .741? I have almost a thousand more.

Before scrapping them, set 'em off to the side. Find someone with a standard for 0-1" micrometer. Double check your calipers with the standard.

If your caliper is out of wack, you may be tossing perfectly good brass.

 

[Dave P]

"reloading 9 mm range brass in Missouri"

Be careful, the magnetic field is weaker there. Be sure your calipers are adjusted accordingly (long, lat).

 

[rcmodel]

They obviously aren't too terribly short.
Or they wouldn't have been found fired on the range.

If they worked the first time they were fired, they will continue to work when you reload them.

rc

 

[tcoz]

Probably eight out of ten reloaders have never measured or trimmed a semi auto handgun case. Load em up and shoot them.

 

[JohnhenrySTL]

I will load them. I will use remington number 5 1/2 primers, bullsye powder, and Jacketed 124 grain hollow points. I had never come across this dillema previously.

Thank you Sam and others for the confidence.

 

[Dudedog]

I never measure my semi auto pistol brass unless I am trimming 9X19 to 9X18.
I would say load up a few to test and if they work ok your good to go.

 

[armoredman]

I lose pistol brass before I need to trim them. Rifle, yes, 9mm, no. My calipers are manual, no better to fail.

 

[Ret.CWO]

I agree with SAM1911. I to have never had a problem along with never trimming any of it.

 

[joem1945]

When I set my seat /crimp die I try to find the shortest case and adjust for that length. This will make sure the bell is removed and the rounds chamber. On some mag calibers that required a heavy crimp it works just as well. I never have trimmed pistol brass in over 20 + years of reloading

 

[LiveLife]

first 12 I measured are all around .733.

20 at random, unresized, were .738-.748"

JohnhenrySTL and Jim, you should be measuring the case lengths after they are resized.

Or did I miss something in the thread?

 

[Mad Chemist]

You should take them over to Louisiana and load them there.