Brand New 38spl. Cases

[R.W.Dale]

I just measured 50 mixed headstamp IMI,WCC to S&B amongst the usual suspects ?X fired resized 38 special cases

82% of these fell between 1.147" and 1.151"

six were waay too short and the remainder were 1.145 and 1.146

none were longer than 1.151"

 

[Doug b]

Krochus,was this the same brass you used in your "blue dot misadventure"?

 

[243winxb]

The simple fact is this. If you adjust/setup your roll crimp die on the shortest case of the lot, then you try to crimp a round that the case is the longest of the lot,say +.010" You will end up bulging the loaded round in the mouth area. Then that round will not chamber. This is why the maximun length is 1.155" and minimum trim length is 1.150" If you dont apply a heavy crimp on setup, you will not buckle the case of a 38 special.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Krochus,was this the same brass you used in your "blue dot misadventure"?

different set of cases and that was only 20rds

the brass I measured was from a $6 mixed bag of 100 I bought at a gunshow Sunday that I have yet to load

 

[Doug b]

Krochus I asked because I'm interested in what other loaders think of Alliant blue dot.I liked the old stuff (Hurcules) in 357 with cast, loaded fairly warm.Don't like the new stuff at all it's fertilizer this spring.The new unique to.

 

[something vague]

Wow, thanks for all the replies and differences in opinions! The batch of Magtech 38spl. brass was fairly dissapointing on the consistancy of length. They range from 1.145 up to 1.154, with most being in the 1.150 area. Now don't you have to have a consitant length to get the same roll crimp on every single round? My question is how close to each other is going to give me consistant enough crimp?

243winxb, not sure where you got that minimum trim length at but my manuals all say a trim length of 1.147". No what would be the minimum case length of a 38spl. I had one case of different brand measure out to 1.144". Should this case be discarded?

 

[243winxb]

The Minimum trim length is from RCBS chart that comes with there Stainless Steel Dial Caliper. It just a general guide line. Brass can be shorter without harming a thing. Its best if the shortest to longer case is not more than .005" maxium difference for roll crimping. When you set up your die adjustment, use the shortest case for locking/setting the die for the crimp. Make a light crimp. That way, the longest case will not get bulged just below the case mouth. You should make 2 different lots. The short one, and the longer ones if you have a lot of both. But then you need to readjust the die for each lot.

 

[oneounceload]

In 30 years of reloading 38/357, I have yet to measure, let alone trim any of my brass, some of which have been reloaded 10-15 times....all fit, go in easily, and extract with no difficulties - but then, I don't load super-hot max loads either. The brass is mixed from many brands, some mine, some range brass

Same thing with my 9mm over the last 15 years

Guess I don't see the big deal for a revolver

A rifle is a different matter

 

[joneb]

I have yet to measure, let alone trim any of my brass,

Ben there tried that, as for loading magnum revolver trimming makes reloading much easier, so much easier I trim my standard pressure revolver loads as well

 

[243winxb]

something vauge, Correction. The trim lengths i posted come from the info included with RCBS Dial Caliper/case length gauge. Interesting- Most rifles & pistol cases have .010" removed from the listed maximun length. But a few have different amounts removed OR None at all. Odd the 357mag has .010" removed(1.290"max-1.280"trim. but the 38spec. only has .005" trimmed off (1.155"max-1.150"trim) STRANGE??. Love to know RCBS's thinking on that one?? 9mm luger .754" No trimming. 45acp .898" NO trimming. Rounds that headspace on the case mouth would not need trimming unless over there maximun lenght. We all know that, right? lol Most is just a guide line/FYI thing.

 

[something vague]

Thanks 243winxb for your explaination, exactly what I was looking for. I recently got a RCBS digital caliper, I'll have to check to see what they listed in my manual. That is weird. All my references show from 1.145" to 1.147" (double checked last night).

Since you brought up 9mm, I have yet to ever see any 9mm cases even close to the max length of .745". Especially remington's cases. Not that I'm real concerned about them due to the taper crimp instead of the roll, but wouldn't it seem the shorter the case gets the bigger the variance you get for bullet seating depths? And wouldn't that in turn affect pressures and ultimately affect accuracy?

 

[bluetopper]

I have never measured or trimmed 38 Spl. cases and I shoot a bunch of them in my Model 52, three 14's, and a model 15. I can't even begin to tell you how many times my cases have been reloaded either. I never separate them and my cases consist of every headstamp you can think of.
They all chamber and feed like a charm in my semi-auto model 52.

 

[joneb]

STRANGE??. Love to know RCBS's thinking on that one??

It may have something to do with the spacer ring RCBS includes with the 38spl/357mag die sets ?