308 Winchester Minimum case length?

KnotRight

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Just got back from the range today and shot about 30 rounds of 308. Noticed that the primers looked a little flat. I full length resized them and measure them to see if they needed to be trimmed. Some measured at 1.970". The max OAL is 2.015 if I remember correctly. I am/was running a middle to lower end load. These are being shot out of a bolt action rifle.

What is the minimum a case should be and still be safe?
 
Min 2.05 iirc. I trim to 2.00 myself. Wouldnt worry about them being a little short.

Pics of primers? What is load here?
 
I trim to 2.005, but know quite a few people that trim to 2.00. I have never heard of anyone having a problem at 2.00 and I read some where last year that some of the precision shooters trim to that length. Can not remember why though.
 
A short case is not the problem a long case is. As long as you have enough neck tension to secure the bullet, a case that is a bit short is not going to harm much of anything.

About all the FC 223 brass I get is a bit shorter than the LC brass I get, and that does not seem to cause any problems.

edit: I generally trim all my cases to the length of the shortest cases in order to be uniform.
 
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What they said....... My spirence with 308........ A warm to hot round will flatten out the primer a bit....but there are no problems with extraction and not much difference with most factory ammo. Please, post a pic of your primers.
 
BowWow, all brass was deprimed before I noticed the shorter cases. I have about 70 cases that are in the 1.960" range. Not sure what they are good for. I measured about 6 1 gallon zip lock baggies full of 308 brass. Trimmed all that were over 2.010".
 
About all the FC 223 brass I get is a bit shorter than the LC brass I get, and that does not seem to cause any problems.
I've noticed that as well. Quite a bit of the 223 FC brass is already shorter than the "trim-to" length.

I processed some 308 brass for the first time recently, and I found the opposite to be true - the FC were generally longer than the LC, and the flash holes were centered in the Perfecta cases. Go figure.
 
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I woldnt worry about the short ones..long would be an issue as noted above. 308 headspaces off the shoulder anyway.

Lets look at the primer question..

What is the load here? Type of rifle? Are the edges a bit flat or is the primer filling the entire primer pocket? Ejector marks ? Need more info.
 
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Jabroni, I was shooting an Axis II 308 bolt rifle. The primer was flat. No ejector marks or signs of pressure besides the primer. The load was 44.0 grains of Shooter's World Tactical Powder. That is right in the middle of the scale. Est. velocity is around 2800' sec. Primers used were CCI 200. OAL was 2.700".
 
Never heard if that powder so cannot comment. What bullet? 150gr?

Estimated isnt going to mean much..need a chronograph..powder lots will vary..is what it is...

Need a picture to see jus how flat it is. Unless its pancake flat, I wouldnt worry too much, but would get or borrow a chrony to see how fast youre really going. No ejector marks is a good sign though for bolt gun..no sticky bolt lift Id assume too.
 
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