Minimum length

[Battis]

In the Vetterli .41, the maximum cartridge overall length to use the mag is 2.2".
What is the minimum safe overall length to use in the rifle?

[Chicken Thief]

With mag: use 2.2"

Without: use whatever you fancy

Remember as you shorten the case you should seat the boolit further out. (Not must but should!) That way you hold the gap the boolit have to jump to a minimum.

Try trimming one case so far back that you "have" to crimp in the lube groove and still get 2.2".

If possible try to get some PRVI 8x50R Lebel brass. Mine mics .002-003" thinner wall thickness. That will cure your probelms.

My 69 has a tight chamber and uses (1.66") 8mm brass, whereas my 79/81 has a larger chamber and uses long ( 1.75") 348 brass.

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Skydning/Vetterli/R0011357_zps5bbe0f28.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Skydning/Vetterli/R0011358_zps8e281c9f.jpg

[Battis]

The bullets I'm using are .835 long. I seat them so .540 is protruding from the case. That leaves approx. .295 in the case. If I shorten the case and seat the bullet further out...
I need longer bullets.
At 1.60" the sized and formed .348 Winchester cases measure .4540 diameter at the mouth, and hang up when I try to eject them. If I take that section down to approx. .4500 they chamber and eject perfectly. The longer the case, the more I have to file down at the mouth.
Back to the longer bullets.

[Chicken Thief]

As i said.

Start by making one case fit, ie. it will enter and extract fron the rifle with a boolit and at the same time the boolit is hand fit in the case.

Just had a http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Blandet/Smilere/Brainfart.gif what if you size the neck enough to seat the cascheck shank of the boolit. Like a 22LR. Will it feed and can you get to 2.2"?

[Battis]

I think someone switched rifles on me during the night. I've been cutting the cases to approx. 1.60", then filing down the neck just below the mouth from .4540" to just under .4500", and with .54" of the bullet sticking out, they work well single shot. For the heck of it, I cut a case to 1.66" and measured the neck - it was approx. .4480". No filing needed. With .54" of bullet showing, the overall length is 2.2". I expanded the mouth slightly with a .44 mag expander die, seated the bullet with the 10mm socket bit, resized the neck and bingo, they work in the magazine at 2.2".
I know I tried that 1.66" length before and it was too long.
Now, if I can figure out how to crimp without changing the overall length, I'll be in business.

[Chicken Thief]

If you stoke BP the boolit wont disappear into the brass.
I newer crimp and shoot from the mag just fine.

[Battis]

As far as safety goes, is there a point where the overall length is too short? A few of the rounds I loaded measure out at approx. 2.09".

[Chicken Thief]

The short answer is no!
The case headspaces on the rim so you can cut way into the shoulder without getting in real trouble. A little gas blow by maybe bot nothing else.

If it works/functions for you then shoot it and be happy.

[Battis]

I misunderstood the concept of headspace. Now I see the comparsion between shooting a shorter .41 cartridge and shooting a .38 or .357 round from my Ruger.