From: mfolenta@pica.army.mil
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: case specifications AND a Book Review (sort of)
Date: 22 Dec 92 23:47:46 GMT

In article  hes@unity.ncsu.edu (Henry E. Schaffer) writes:
# In article davep@hpfcpp.fc.hp.com (David Post) writes:
## ...
##Aren't there any specs on case dimensions from SAAMI or somewhere else?
			^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
			^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
## 
##Not one of these sources give a tolerance on case dimensions.  Only _Pet
##Loads_ even suggests that there is both a minimum and a maximum OAL or 
##variations on other dimensions.  
##
##Elsewhere, other dimensions simply have no tolerance at all.  For example!
a
##drawing on the 9mm parabellum case will show the mouth at nominal 0.380, no
##tolerance.  From this, you cannot even tell whether 0.380 is before or after
##a taper crimp.
# 
#   Some time ago I saw an ad for a book of the SAAMI specs.  My foggy
# memory is that it came from one of the major reloading supplies
# manufacturers (such as RCBS or Lyman or ...???) and was a large
# notebook.  Also that it was expensive enough that I lost all
# interest in buying a copy (which, as my long suffering wife will
# attest does indicate something.)
# 
# --henry schaffer


     OK, at least one reasonably priced reference has both case
 and chamber dimensions, including tolerances and metric dimensions
 and SAAMI pressure levels.  It may be slightly outdated and not
 have the newest cartridges such as the 10mm or .40S&W, but it has
 a whole lot of other ones.  It also has some loads for most of the
 listed cartridges, including approximate pressure levels for those
 loads.  What is this reference, you say?  It is .....

			__Handloading__ 
		by William C. Davis, Jr., NRA, 1981

     Fourth printing 1991 (hmmm, newer printing than the one I have)
	324 pages  Illustrated with tables/drawings (I'll say!)
	  NRA catalog number PB1N0042
	Retail  $12.95  softcover (I have an older hardcover copy)

	" One of the most complete works on the science of
	handloading cartridges.  A series of articles on
	handloading and related subjects and specific
	loading data."

     You can call the NRA Sales Department at 1-800-336-7402 (in Virginia
 call 1-800-535-9982) Monday to Friday 0900 to 1700 EST or write to

		NRA Sales Department
		P.O. Box 5000
		Kearneyville, WV  25430-5000

     You might also want to ask for the NRA Product Price Guide (their
 publications and products catalog).

     Anyway, the copy I have is an older hardcover copy (don't know which
 printing).  It has the front half of the book filled roughly with various
 articles on handloading, reloading, balistics, etc.  Then comes a section
 filled with about a page or so (depending on the cartridge) of some recipe
and some background information on the cartridge.  Then comes a section with
 both chamber and case dimensions, in English/metric units with tolerances.
 The book covers both pistol and rifle reloading (I don't remember if it
 covers shotshell reloading or not).

     All in all, this is one of those terrific reference books that EVERYBO(
should have.  It is worth the price just for the case and chamber dimension
 listings.  Look around in the gun magazines, because it will periodically be
 sale priced from either the NRA or another 'outdoor-type' book seller.

     Oh, when I said that it has case and chamber dimensions, I mean it!  T
section has complete engineering/manufacturing type drawings of the case and 
 the chamber.  Need to know the case head rim diameter?  It's in there.  Need
 to know the case head rim thickness?  It's in there.  Need to know the body
 taper on a case?  It's in there.  Need to know the datum reference locations
 to check the diameter on the bottle-neck of a case?  It's in there.
 The only thing I don't remember seeing would be primer pocket dimensions, but
 that is probably in a different section in there!

     Get this book, it's a terrific reference book!


       ***** These are my opinions.  Get your own. :-) *****
      Michael Folenta          | U.S. Army ARDEC
   Future Weapons Branch       | Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000
  email mfolenta@pica.army.mil | (201) 724-3880  [AV 880-3880]