400 .223 cases below minimum, can I load them?

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ACES&8S

ACES&8S

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.223 case length is minimum = 1.750" & max 1.760"
I just measured about 100 cases from about 600 FC cases a pal just brought me.
Fired one time, they are right out of the box & measure short on average!
About 60 of them measure 1.740" to 1.748".
About 10 are as low as 1.738".
The rest are right at 1.750"
That will be about 70% wasted if I can't use them.
They don't look like what I call scorched, where they were in hot chambers, they
all look ok.
What's going on here & is there a recipe for short cases?
What would you do?
 
I believe SAAMI has the length of the 223 Rem case as 1.760" and a tolerance of -.020" and +0.
So, at 1.740", you should be good.
 
I bet they are Lake City (Federal). I’ve got a 5gal bucket full of them!
All about 0.01” short (1.740”)

They load/shoot just fine. It’ll be 3-5 loadings longer before you have to trim them.

Buck in my avatar fell to a Hornady 60gr Spt loaded in one over 26.0gr RL15.
 
GooseGestapo said:
I bet they are Lake City (Federal). I’ve got a 5gal bucket full of them!
All about 0.01” short (1.740”)

They load/shoot just fine. It’ll be 3-5 loadings longer before you have to trim them.

Buck in my avatar fell to a Hornady 60gr Spt loaded in one over 26.0gr RL15.
Click to expand...
That's what they are, thanks for info.... nice buck.
 
I trim all of my .223/5.56 brass to 1.740 and that is the first and last time I have to trim it. Trimming brass is not my favorite part of brass prep, so l do it once and never have to do it again. Some have been reloaded with midrange loads a dozen times and they seem to quit growing around 1.755 - 1.758.
 
They are fine. I've seen the same in once fired. They won't be that short after a couple more firings.
 
GT1 said:
They are fine. I've seen the same in once fired. They won't be that short after a couple more firings.
Click to expand...

That's what I figured, I will just keep the o.a.l. safe & the loads below max.
Thanks so much.
This place is a blessing & so is everyone here.
 
ACES&8S asked:
What's going on here
Click to expand...

Federal's quality control is less than stellar.

is there a recipe for short cases?
Click to expand...

No. Just use regular load data. If you're currently loading near the maximum, I would back off somewhat because these cases are out of specification in a minor (but easily measurable) way. They're probably okay in other respects, but as the attorneys would say, the fact one thing is out of specification suggests proceeding "with an abundance of caution".

Also, keep your seating die set where it is; don't try to seat the bullet deeper to get the cannelure (if the bullet has a cannelure) to line up with the case mouth; neck tension will be sufficient to hold the bullet in place.

What would you do?
Click to expand...

I would load them. I would use orange (a color I don't already use) fingernail polish to paint a ring around the annulus of the primer. This would mark them in a way I could later identify. I would then load them and shoot them following the cautions mentioned above and afterwards segregate them and thoroughly inspect them to make sure they are performing as they should.
 
Short is not going to hurt any thing. Load them like you would any other 223R and go.

I'm surprised there short, since all mil has crimp bullets and primers. All LC once fired I have are normally 1.760"+ that has not have the brass trimmed the first time. Check to see if the primer pockets need the crimp removed, will tell you if they are actually once fired.
 
I purchased two hundred Lapua cases before I knew they were made shorter. Literally all but one measured one and seven hundred fourty three thousandths. The one was longer and also an extra, it was cut down the neck to make a seating depth comparator.

All worked as advertised. My chamber is a touch longer than usual, so the shorter cases leave a bit of residue that can build up in front of the neck. The carbon ring is scrubbed out after every two hundred round cycle with a bit of Flitz.

As long as they are all consistent they should work fine. May I inquire what you are shooting them though?
 
The amount of length variation you are getting is not dangerous. But if you crimp your ammo obviously they will all have to be uniform. So don't crimp & you'll be okay.

Before brass was so easily attainable & military .30-06 brass was surplussed really cheap, shooters sized it to make their .270 & .280 cases. Left the chamber neck a little dirtier but no ploblems.
 
hdwhit said:
Federal's quality control is less than stellar.



No. Just use regular load data. If you're currently loading near the maximum, I would back off somewhat because these cases are out of specification in a minor (but easily measurable) way. They're probably okay in other respects, but as the attorneys would say, the fact one thing is out of specification suggests proceeding "with an abundance of caution".

Also, keep your seating die set where it is; don't try to seat the bullet deeper to get the cannelure (if the bullet has a cannelure) to line up with the case mouth; neck tension will be sufficient to hold the bullet in place.



I would load them. I would use orange (a color I don't already use) fingernail polish to paint a ring around the annulus of the primer. This would mark them in a way I could later identify. I would then load them and shoot them following the cautions mentioned above and afterwards segregate them and thoroughly inspect them to make sure they are performing as they should.
Click to expand...

You are correct in every detail.
I do not load to max anyhow.
I realize case capacity has changed & seating deeper would increase pressure.
Again, you are right, thanks for the sanity.
 
Blue68f100 said:
Short is not going to hurt any thing. Load them like you would any other 223R and go.

I'm surprised there short, since all mil has crimp bullets and primers. All LC once fired I have are normally 1.760"+ that has not have the brass trimmed the first time. Check to see if the primer pockets need the crimp removed, will tell you if they are actually once fired.
Click to expand...

Yes they were once fired, the crimp was still in the primer pocket.
 
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