Anyone ever measure shells?

[Bowguy]

This morn was my first attempt at loading tss. I've reloaded for many years. This is basically assembly as opposed to traditional reloading but I wanted to keep checking things as I went. Everything went well until the roll crimp. Jrrodc told me I needed to heat up crimper more. That def was it but I was measuring finished product. I was shocked it was so short.
I went and got other manufactured shells both 2-3/4 and 3" in multiple gauges.
It's closer to 2-1/2 and 2-3/4. Some low as 2-1/4
Idk bout you all but I'd never measured one til today.
Seems to hold true among all shells and gauges.
I don't typically have many factory shells on hand but I was given a whole boatload to use in mentoring

[Bowguy]

Had to move to post a pic but this is a factory federal game load


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[Gooserbat]

You don't realize that the length of the "shell," applies to the hull not the finished shell.  Typically a shotgun shell finishes about 1/4+ short. In fact when roll crimping it's common practice to trim the hulls for certain load recipes.

[Bowguy]

I def realize it now but across the board about 1/2" is the norm. All my life I've messed w shotgun shells and I'd never known that one

[Kygobblergetter]

This is something I didn't notice until loading my own as well. I actually started buying 2 3/4 inch shells because I was having to trim my 3 inch shells for the roll crimping


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[Gooserbat]

I def realize it now but across the board about 1/2" is the norm. All my life I've messed w shotgun shells and I'd never known that one

I didn't either until I started loading my own. 

[showme99]

A standard (2 3/4") 12 gauge shell box is 2 1/2" wide - that is an indicator.

[Bowguy]

A standard (2 3/4") 12 gauge shell box is 2 1/2" wide - that is an indicator.

Who would measure that? I work w measurements all the time. I thought I was pretty good figuring lengths of anything but somehow that one got away from me til I measured which is a practice from reloading brass.

[showme99]

A standard (2 3/4") 12 gauge shell box is 2 1/2" wide - that is an indicator.

Who would measure that? I work w measurements all the time. I thought I was pretty good figuring lengths of anything but somehow that one got away from me til I measured which is a practice from reloading brass.

I started thinking about it when I purchased a dedicated trap gun about 10 years ago (for the first time). I was pondering why they all came with 3" chambers. That led me to think about shell lengths in general (fired and unfired). My Lyman's 5th edition loading guide had all the 2 3/4" hulls at exactly 2.75 inches (fired). I have to admit that seemed a bit odd to me so then I thought about the unfired length. Measured shells and boxes at that time.
It was a long and winding road...