Question on trimming rifle cases

[burch]

I`m suppose to be trimming these 35Rem. casings at 1.910. They are once fired casings. Some of them are way below the 1.910 lenght. Does that mean they just have`nt stretched enough to be trimmed or am I doing something wrong. This is my first experience loading bottleneck rifle ammo, i`ve only loaded straight walled casings before. Also should I be resizing the entire case or just the neck ?

Thanks to all,
Burch :?

[Leftoverdj]

It's common for cartridges to shorten on the first firing. When the brass expands to fit the chamber, it has the effect of shortening the case. Personally, I full length size bottleneck cases that are to be used in anything but bolt guns. I prefer certainty that every cartridge will chamber readily over the advantages of neck sizing. Bolt guns have the leverage to force a tight cartridge into the chamber. Lever guns usually don't.

When you have full length sized, you will find that some of your cases have lengthened as brass was forced in from the sides. That's the time to trim if you need to. Cases that are a few thous shorter than the trim-to length are nothing to worry about. Overly long cases are a concern because they can jam in the leade of the chamber, hold onto the bullet, and raise pressures drastically.

[swany]

Trim you cases to minimum length, so you can establish your crimp in the seating die. I concur with full length sizing for hunting loads. I have two loads for most of my guns, one for hunting and one for plinking. The plinkers used at the range I do not full length resize, instead I put a .050 7/8ths washer I made up for this under the locking ring prior to putting the die in the press. Just don't mix them with your hunting loads as the full length resizing does lower the chances for feeding problems in the field.