Minimum safe brass size for 45 acp

[Al13]

I've been looking all over for this information, but cant find it. Here is the question; at what size is .45 acp brass too short to reload safely ? I know nobody trims pistol brass. It only gets shorter as it gets fired. Manuals state .888 is minimum "trim to length" and .898 is max. Does anybody use brass much shorter than .888 ?
Thanks.
Al

 

[ReloaderFred]

Never measured one to find out. I just load .45 acp until the headstamp is either obliterated or I lose them. They're too plentiful to really worry about.

Hope this helps.

Fred

PS: Welcome to the Forum

 

[Reefinmike]

ive never bothered checking... load em til they split or the primers fall out.

 

[rcmodel]

Same here.

Don't recall ever measuring one in 50 years.

They worked the first time to become empty brass.

They will work the second time as well.

rc

 

[Walkalong]

As many others, I don't measure them, I just load them and shoot them.

Welcome to THR.

 

[243winxb]

45 acp brass length after sizing.

Many years ago, i picked up some once fired IMI range brass. My standard target load was now more accurate. Taking measurements of all my brass showed IMI to be longer. At the time i was loading WRA69 brass originally bought as GI surplus ammo, 50 round boxes for $3. I still have that brass. After sizing Starline, Federal, and the WRA69 brass, the 2 shortest are from the WRA 69 brass, at .874" and.877" Never had a misfire, so that short should be OK, but may headspace on the extractor, not the case mouth. Starline is .893" Federal is .891" In general, the longer the brass, the more accurate it will be. This cuts down on end play in the chamber. Measurements from 3 pcs. each of Starline/Federal, 6 pcs. of the WRA69 were measured.

 

[Al13]

Thanks guys.

Al

 

[Blue68f100]

I've checked a few 1000's looking for the longer ones for BE shooting at 50 yrds. During the process I found several under the .884" . This was my std practice range brass I had been using for years and never had a problem. Since the 45acp head spaces off the mouth, if you have a long chamber you may run into problems. You will be relying on the extractor to hold the round in order to fire. So if you start having problems they have finally got to short. Though I have never found any too short to work. 45acp brass lasts a very long time, 20+ reloads. You will probably loose it for it wears out.

Since I've seen people shoot 40 cal in a 45acp barrel (by accident) I dought you will ever have a problem with the length being too short. They fired but did not extract.