Nitro:
I use two pieces 1" long in my .500 BPE and usually find one piece pretty well chewed up and one good enough to load again. Am guessing the chewed up piece was the one next to the powder.
Prices on any of the 3 1/2" cases are much higher than the 3 1/4" brass, that last 1/4" must take a lot more steps and/or dies to produce. Dave