Case Wall Thickness

[jrice]

I reload mixed head stamped cases. I have found that when checking case lengths and trimming to length that my pilot on my mandrel will not go into some cases after sizing. I usually de-prime and size my cases before trimming to length. I set aside the cases that the mandrel will not fit in. This leads me to believe that there must be a considerable difference in case wall thickness. Any opinions? Thanks...

[M1A4ME]

I don't trim pistol cases, but I've seen that same issue with rifle cases (neck wall thickness variation).

If you want to know, exactly, measure some bullets, seat them in the cases, then measure the OD of the cartridge.  If the bullets are the same, any difference in OD will be the neck wall thickness.

Or, just using the calipers to measure the thickness at the case mouth after resizing should show a case to case difference as well.

[jrice]

Thanks M1A4ME for your response. Is there no particular need in trimming pistol cases? If not, I will cut out that reloading step. Thanks for the wall thickness test...

[copemech]

Thanks M1A4ME for your response. Is there no particular need in trimming pistol cases? If not, I will cut out that reloading step. Thanks for the wall thickness test...

Yes, I would cut out that step for common pistol caliber rounds.

[IDescribe]

Is there no particular need in trimming pistol cases?

Straight wall pistol case don't stretch. They get shorter.  And since they headspace on the case mouth, you don't want to shorten them any more than they're getting shorter on their own.   

[ReloaderFred]

I've trimmed a total of 5 rounds of handgun brass in the past 54 years of reloading and those were 357 Sig cases that I just "had to make work".  Life is way too short to spend the time to trim pistol brass.

As to your original question, if it pertains to 9x19 cases, wall thickness is all over the place with them.  The average shooter can't tell the difference between uniform thickness same brand brass, and mixed headstamp brass on target anyway.  In fact, some of the "average" shooters I've seen lately don't think a handgun round will be accurate much past 7 yards, but they'll never know, because they aren't accurate at even 7 yards........  It's sad, but when I started shooting, accuracy for handguns was measured at 25 and 50 yards. 

So, as to trimming, unless you're a highly ranked Bullseye, or PPC competition shooter, it's not necessary.  And even when I was actively shooting PPC matches every weekend, we never trimmed even our 50 yard brass.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[1SOW]

What ID said^^^^

Measure the lengths on a number of range pick-ups or yours after several uses.
 

[M1A4ME]

I've trimmed a total of 5 rounds of handgun brass in the past 54 years of reloading and those were 357 Sig cases that I just "had to make work".  Life is way too short to spend the time to trim pistol brass.

As to your original question, if it pertains to 9x19 cases, wall thickness is all over the place with them.  The average shooter can't tell the difference between uniform thickness same brand brass, and mixed headstamp brass on target anyway.  In fact, some of the "average" shooters I've seen lately don't think a handgun round will be accurate much past 7 yards, but they'll never know, because they aren't accurate at even 7 yards........  It's sad, but when I started shooting, accuracy for handguns was measured at 25 and 50 yards. 

So, as to trimming, unless you're a highly ranked Bullseye, or PPC competition shooter, it's not necessary.  And even when I was actively shooting PPC matches every weekend, we never trimmed even our 50 yard brass.

Hope this helps.

Fred

I still chuckle, sometimes, when I think about the looks on people's faces when I talk about us handgun shooting in the "old days".  Twenty-five yards was the starting distance.  We'd get out the 100 ft. tape, stretch it out to 75 ft./25 yds. and put up some target holders and then walk back to the car/ATV and load up and start shooting.  If we wanted to stretch it out we'd got to 100 yds., or farther for some of the more accurate guns.

These days I do 7.5 to about 12.5 yds. with handguns and 25 yds. (mostly) for rifles. 

The good old days.  Easier to find places to shoot longer distances.  My eyesight was a little better than perfect.  I could hold the handgun up and shoot till it was empty without it starting to wobble.  And I could carry a load of guns/ammo/targets to the shooting site without getting plumb worn out.

[ReloaderFred]

When I was stationed in the desert with the Sheriff's Office, my substation area included the North Gate to Edwards AFB.  We had a really good working relationship with the Security Police Detachment on the base and we had monthly matches on their ranges with the CHP, the SP's, us and Cal. City PD.  Sometimes they would bring out one of their M-60's and a 20mm ammo can full of 7.62 and they'd let us play with "their toys".

We often included shooting B-27 targets at 100 yards with our .38's, which was done with their issue ammo (130 gr. FMJ), since they had lots of it, and none of us were making enough money at the time to be able to afford extra ammunition.  This was in the early 1970's.  We rationalized that all of us were working the desert, so long distance shooting was well within the possibilities.  It was good experience for all of us, and we soon learned that there wasn't any mystery to putting 6 shots into the silhouette target at 100 yards with a .38 Special.  Proper sight alignment and trigger squeeze were vital, just as it is today, as well as grip.  We did allow single action shooting at 100 yards, but everything else had to be done double action, since that's how we trained and shot.  It didn't take me long to figure out that I could shoot just as good at 100 yards double action as I could single action with my 6" Model 19, which I still have.

Yep, "good old days" in some ways.  In others, not so much.........

We didn't trim handgun brass back then, and I still don't today.  With all the buckets full of brass I have on hand, there's no need, and the thought of even doing it isn't a good one.....

Hope this helps.

Fred

[recoilguy]

I have never trimmed a handgun case in my life. If one needed to be trimmed I throw it away and move on.

RCG

[jrice]

Many Thanks to all for your input. Well taken. will not be checking/trimming my pistol cases anymore. Jerry