Case length once fired brass?

[Rickyrebar]

I am venturing into reloading and have a question regarding once fired case length for 300 WSM.
The reloading manuals show the length of this case should be 2.100.
I have checked 2 of my once fired brass & nickel cases and found them to be 2.098 (WIN,Nickel) & 2.099 (FC,Brass), this is before resizing.
I am confused, I thought the cases were stretched when fired. What I am seeing is they either have shrunk or they were much shorter to start with.
Is what I am seeing common, or an I screwed up?

[carpsniperg2]

allot of time the brass you get virgin is a little shorter than the max length because if it is longer they will not chamber right my 270wsm is bad about that allot of once fired brass such as your does not need to be trimmed after the first shot as you have seen usually my 270 wsm brass gets trimmed every 2 times it is fired some cases go 4 or 5 times before it gets close to the max case length. but trimming also help keep your brass uniform which for precision re-loaders like myself it is a must for accuracy as well. hope this helps

[Rickyrebar]

That's what I figured, thanks for clearing up the confusion!
Another question if you would be so kind... the Nosler manual I am reading mentioned that for hunting, "a full length die should be used instead of just case necking". Why?

[carpsniperg2]

i have reloaded for years and always used a full length die. once brass is form fitted to a gun and only fired in one gun well there is no need to resize them as long as they stay inside the brass specs it is also easier to just neck size i just always full length my stuff. but there is no prob with either one as long as the brass in under the max specks at the shoulder and etc.

[Rickyrebar]

Thanks for the info!!

[carpsniperg2]

no prob like to help when i can just my  and you will find i have allot of it 

[Jamieb]

Check case length after resizeing.

[Red Dawg]

  doesnt matter what your case length is after shooting, always check after full resize.