Short 38 special brass?

[Peter M. Eick]

I got curious because of one of the posts here today and I measured out my 38 special brass.

I found that it was rare for any of the brass to be longer then the trim to length. Most of this stuff is 10 times fired and it all is short of the trim to length of 1.145. Most of it was running around 1.135 to 1.140.

I was debating trimming everything to 1.135 but that seems a bit excessive. My other solution was to buy new Starline brass and keep it segregated to get a better crimp overall.

Anyone experience this before?

 

[NCsmitty]

Being too short will not be a issue as a rule, but they all need to be the same length for proper crimping.

NCsmitty

 

[rat31465]

Yep, I have seen this many many times with .38 Special....One of the big pluses for this paticular round. Even with hotter +P velocity loads you will have minimal trimming issues.

 

[Walkalong]

I trim all my .38 Spl to 1.140 (after sizing) Almost all the cases I have had are that long or longer.

 

[Steve C]

Most handgun cases shrink with loading rather than getting longer like bottle neck rifle cases. IMO trimming pistol cases is a waste of time. I gave it up 30 years ago.

Perhaps those uber magnums like the S&W 500 and others that run at rifle pressures may actually grow in length and need trimming eventually.

 

[something vague]

So there is no minimum case length for 38spl.? It seems reasonable as there is usually plenty of room after the powder charge. But at some point issues must arise. Wouldn't pressures begin to increase, and accuracy must suffer. The further the bullet is from the rifling, wouldn't accuracy start to suffer. Especially in revolvers chambered for 357mag.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I actually have several sets of .38 Special that are 1.150. They started out at around 1.140. Most of my .38 special brass is +/- a few of 1.145. I've had some that were 1.130. No problem. Load them. I would make sure that all in a set (of 50) are within +/- .002 of each other to insure a proper and even crimp.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I'm in the middle of loading 5,000 rounds of .38 Special for some upcoming matches, and I'm sure not going to trim them, or even measure case lengths. They shoot great just like they are and I see no need to change anything with them.

Even when I was shooting PPC matches years ago, none of us ever measured or trimmed a .38 case. We paid more attention to quality of the bullets and consistant powder charges for hitting the X ring at 50 yards.

The only pistol cases I've ever trimmed were some Federal 357 Sig cases that were too long.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[jfh]

Jeezus, I may have to finally measure some of my 38 Special cases. However, the few random checks I've done show no lengthening.

Jim H.

 

[243winxb]

38 special Roll Crimp Trimming

Being too short will not be a issue as a rule, but they all need to be the same length for proper crimping.

+1 thats how i see it also. The mimimum trim length is listed as 1.150" but under does not hurt. But roll crimping must work within a range. The longest to the shortest case difference should not be more that .005" difference. IMO As i said in the other post, setting the die on the shortest case and then roll crimping a longer case, say maybe .010" ,can buckle the brass at the case mouth. Then the round will not chamber. http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=5305029&postcount=28

 

[Walkalong]

I'm in the middle of loading 5,000 rounds of .38 Special for some upcoming matches, and I'm sure not going to trim them, or even measure case lengths. They shoot great just like they are and I see no need to change anything with them.

As much as I post saying trimming is important in revolver rounds, and I still say that, I have been using untrimmed range brass for working up light .38 and .357 loads with plated and jacketed bullets. After I got what I liked I use trimmed cases for big batches. (500 to 1000)

I was taper crimping all the loads and it is much more forgiving than a roll crimp. They shot real well, but I can only believe they would shoot a little bit better with uniform cases. The lighter the crimp, the less critical the case length is. (Roll or Taper)

I would have to agree with Fred. if I was loading 5000 rounds for Cowboy Action where they don't have to be bullseye accurate, I would be hard pressed to worry about trimming either.

 

[joneb]

I often find the longer cases are out of square from the shell body, measure 1.153" rotate 90 deg. measure 1.148". .38 spl. brass consistency aint what it used to be.