HAND LOADING FOR MY HANDI

[teddybaham]

ive been shooting the Hornady LE 325gr FTX bullets with phenominal results. finally got enough cases to start reloading so i picked up a box of the FTX bullets. i also ordered a FTX stem for my seating die. i realize the hornady cases are much shorter. trim length on a standard cartridge is 2.090 the trim on the LE cases 2.040. i measured some once fired cases and they were around 2.038 + or -. my brother gave me a box of once fired cases from some winchester rounds and i cleaned em up trimmed fom 2.105 to 2.090 on all of them. curious to see where the lands is in my handy i shoved a bullet in one and closed the gun. pulled it out and in the 2.090 cases come to the very bottom of the canalure. the cannulure is .040 wide so heres my ? would it be safe to take this measurement (i did 3 times) push the bullet in another 20 thousands placeing the rim of the case dead center of the canalure (good visual refrence not crimping) and have a .020 jump to the lands? also on the factory hornady cases if i load to the cannalure i copy there load they shoot good.but if theese other shoot better can i load them the same COL or seating depth and still be safe even though the case is shorter or should i save em or trade em for regular cases to be conistant? input andsuggestions would be appreciated thanks.

[manatee1947]

as long as the case is long enough to firmly grip the bullet, it should make no difference. In cases that headspace on the rim, OAL can be important, but small variations in case length probably wont. I would try them and unless they show some discrepancies in performance, I would not worry about it.