.003 under COL a problem?

[Rule3]

I don't trim handgun brass so even using Hornady brass and Hornady bullets I never can exactly match the manuals OAL

For the OP .003 in 38 special is not gonna matter. Even using lead bullets with a crimp groove. How wide is the groove or the cannelure on a jacketed bullet? There is thousandths of room to work in. The cannelure on a Hornady XTP is around.065" wide. So to me .003 is not a issue.

Just get in the groove and shoot them.

 

[mdi]

trimming brass has everything to do with a consistent crimp.

murf

In theory, yes. In real life nope. I will only come into play if all the headstamps are the same, and from the same mfg. lot. Also how many times the case has been reloaded. Any variation in wall thickness too. Then there's the press/dies which can vary (slight movement)) from round to round, and of course the operator applying the exact same pressure on the handle can vary...

 

[murf]

In theory, yes. In real life nope. I will only come into play if all the headstamps are the same, and from the same mfg. lot. Also how many times the case has been reloaded. Any variation in wall thickness too. Then there's the press/dies which can vary (slight movement)) from round to round, and of course the operator applying the exact same pressure on the handle can vary...

i disagree with everything you say here. case length "comes into play" regardless the above extremely minor variations. a handloader can "legally" vary case length .010" per saami specs. set your seating die to seat at the top of the crimp groove on the shortest case and all other cases will have the case rim above the crimp groove. this is a large affect on crimping.

if the handloader doesn't care much about consistency in loading, then anything goes here. i'm talking about consistent handloads. i, erroneously, assumed: same headstamp, same primer, same bullet, same powder. # times reloaded, wall thickness variation and press/die movement have no measurable affect on crimp.

if you can give me an example of your variations having any affect on crimping, i'm all ears.

murf

 

[Rule3]

It all depends on what kind of shooting, what kind of shooter and what kind of gun.caliber, Yes, in a perfect absolute world, being consistent to the point of obsession may in fact make a difference. For those one hand Bullseye shooters at 50 yards, long range bench rest guys etc etc.

The OP asked about .003 and pressure in a 38 Special. There are so many many other variables involved.

.003 is the width human hair or a piece of copy paper. For most general, go to range shooting with a revolver it makes no difference and is good enough.

 

[murf]

It all depends on what kind of shooting, what kind of shooter and what kind of gun.caliber, Yes, in a perfect absolute world, being consistent to the point of obsession may in fact make a difference. For those one hand Bullseye shooters at 50 yards, long range bench rest guys etc etc.

The OP asked about .003 and pressure in a 38 Special. There are so many many other variables involved.

.003 is the width human hair or a piece of copy paper. For most general, go to range shooting with a revolver it makes no difference and is good enough.

agreed, light 38 special loads need very little crimp (enough to remove the bell is usually enough). but, consistency is still the key.

for general shooting, none of what i say makes a hoot of difference.

murf