The 2 1/2" measurement is the overall length for the fired (that is to say, uncrimped shell) because this is the longest length the shell will attain, and this is what should fit in the chamber which is that 2 1/2" length. Some folks are said to use longer shells in short chambers, but I do not do so since it's not too tough to cut the shells to length. I have used one of the 2 1/2" loads with all Winchester components from the Hodgden manual and found that it fit properly in a folded-crimp configuration and gave a well-crimped shell (shoots well too). Good luck on rigging the Lee Loader for a short shell; I went with a MEC press and their spacer kit. Skiving the shell mouth after trimming it to length will probably help to make a good crimp. If you choose to use a rolled crimp, it will give a tad more room for components in the shell since the rolled crimp requires less of the shell's material than a folded crimp; this could be an advantage or it could require extra wads to fill the extra space in the shell to make things come out even.
Last edited by Golfswithwolves; 11/16/08 10:06 PM.
