Cartridge Cap Lengths

[shoughton]

Why is it that different cartridges have different cap lengths? I have some Kent velocitys that have quite long brass caps and some Eley firsts that have have short brass caps.

 

The more expensive cartridges tend to have longer caps, I think? What does it acheive?

 

Steve

[Zapp]

IMHO a lot of the time, the "high brass" is there to look good. As you have mentioned, you see it mostly on more expensive carts, generally to advertise the fact that they are expensive.

 

One of the cartridge gurus on here (Floating Chamber perhaps) should be able to tell you if there is a specific "utility" reason for the long brass.

 

I wonder if it could be a historic thing, whereby in the earlier days of self contained cartridges high brass = high pressure = quality shell, and that this association has been passed down.... I dont know, I am thinking out loud now.

 

As a side note, it is interesting that since the recession hit, the brass on lower end carts has got shorter and shorter, leading me to believe that it is a cosmetic thing. There comes a point though where it gets too short for the ejectors on some guns and leads to jams.

 

ZB

[Blunderbuss]

I think you're bang on Zap, mainly cosmetic. Unlike a metallic rifle or pistol case where the brass expands to obturate (form a gas tight seal) on firing, before contracting sufficiently to allow extraction, this function is performed by the plastic in a shotgun cartridge. It might have been necessary to provide structural strength in paper or very early plastic cases, but modern plastic cases are very strong, and shotgun ammo is (relatively) low pressure compared to rifle ammo. There have been several all-plastic shotgun cartridges. Us shooters are a conservative bunch, so we'd probably be hard to wean off the traditional look of brass. The "brass" that is there is usually brass plated steel these days, to further reduce costs.

 

Edited August 4, 2009 by Blunderbuss

[MJN]

 

 

 

Smaller brass = cost reduction IMO,

Edited August 4, 2009 by MGMan

[yanibaby]

I've found some old empty cartridges that are entirely made out of brass, looks like they've been fired a few times, and I guess they're for reloading or something... Anyway, what I'm wondering is what would usually be put on the end where the shot comes out? I've never seen any like these before.

Some are by Kynoch, some by Nobel, and some from Eley. All 12gauge.

[RossEM]

I remember finding a load of Rottweil cartridges in a wood when I was a kid, they were green & red coloured and had no brass at all - anyone remember these?

[v-max]

The higher brass used to mean that there was more pressure build up when fired. Basically the high brass carts can be bigger/heavy loads or loaded with a powder that producess higher pressure.

[Edward]

I have some old gamebores with no brass, I also have a box of kynoch brass cartouche and there is a small paper insert and its rolled over a small disc of card (like most .410 or large loads)

[clayman]

Yes, its a historic thing going back to black powder days. Modern powders are compact, and any cartridge will contain the powder volume in even the shortest brass, but in bygone days long brass meant lots of powder volume = bigger faster superior cartridges. Its hung on and is just a marketing trick appealing to the gullible males who think bigger is better, but just to remind you guys its not the length, its how you use the equipment that matters!

Edited August 5, 2009 by clayman