.223/5.56 trim question

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lostchild

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I was gifted about two gallons of once fired mixed brass all cleaned and sized. Most is good for length, do I need to chamfer the brass if it doesn't need trimming? About a quart needs trimming and decrimping . Thanks in advance lost...
 
Chuck R. said:
Nope on need to chamfer IF not trimming.

Invest in one of these, you'll thank me later:

https://www.giraudtool.com/giraud-tri-way-trimmer.html

With my bulk .223 processing for my 3Gun ammo I don't even measure any more. Just FL size and run it into the Giraud mounted on a drill press. Saves time in the long run.
Click to expand...

I have the Giraud bench model and this is what I do. I set it to the suggested trim to length and start trimming.
 
Thanks that's great. I only have about a quart that needs trimming and primer pocket swaging/reraming Is the giraud worth getting for that much brass? I've got a franklin platinum that was at a good price that I've been using. Thanks again lost...
 
Thanks for all the replies. I've sized all of them, just haven't had this much brass at one time. This brass was picked up after a leo qualification, my bud from the range collected it for me (used a tarp to catch it), he reloads too so he shared with me.
 
Chuck R. said:
Nope on need to chamfer IF not trimming.

Invest in one of these, you'll thank me later:

https://www.giraudtool.com/giraud-tri-way-trimmer.html

With my bulk .223 processing for my 3Gun ammo I don't even measure any more. Just FL size and run it into the Giraud mounted on a drill press. Saves time in the long run.
Click to expand...
This tool saves more time and finger pain than any reloading tool I own. Best investment ever. It does all 3 steps in 3 seconds.
 
lostchild said:
No usually I use peanutbutter jars (lid stays on better) lol I label each jar to keep up with what stage of processing the brass is in. For me this a big lot of brass I'm more used to 50 pieces at a time.
Click to expand...

I'd sort, to find the largest numbers by make, but that's me. I basically have two types of .223 brass:

Precision
Practice/3Gun ammo

I have 5 different headstamps that I sort out of my bulk stuff; R-P, PMC,LC (I use for 5.56 Loads), FC and WIN that goes towards my precision ammo and varmint hunting ammo. The rest get's called "mix" and goes to practice/3gun as the odds are I won't get it back.

My normal procedure:
Decap
Wet tumble using SS pins
Inspect and check primer pockets with a gauge, sort good/bad, and crimped (to be swaged).
Anneal ( I have a BC1000 it does 500rds in about an hr. I just finished annealing about 1K a few minutes ago)
Sort by headstamp

The mix/3Gun ammo gets FL sized through a Dillon 550 with just sizing die. It then get's cleaned using corn cob, then run through the Giraud. Later it's loaded on the Dillon.

The other brass sorted by make follows what ever process I use for that rifle. With six .223s, I find it easier to keep them separated this way.
 
With the exception of one friend who has been reloading with me since 1977/78 and who I know follows the same procedures I do, all "new to me" brass is treated as an unknown and is processed the same as any other previously-fired brass.
 
All brass gets chamfered and deburred in my process. My goal is consistency in down range results, therefore, my process must also be consistent. This is true for brand new brass as well. It all gets the same treatment
 
lostchild said:
Thanks for all the replies. I've sized all of them, just haven't had this much brass at one time. This brass was picked up after a leo qualification, my bud from the range collected it for me (used a tarp to catch it), he reloads too so he shared with me.
Click to expand...

He must be a darn good friend. You can never have too many of those.

lostchild said:
No usually I use peanutbutter jars (lid stays on better) lol I label each jar to keep up with what stage of processing the brass is in. For me this a big lot of brass I'm more used to 50 pieces at a time.
Click to expand...

So I save all square plastic jars these days ... peanut butter pretzels, cashews, salsa, etc. They're all roughly the same size and they store and stack so much better than any round jars or cans. Plus, imho, the brass stays nicer in plastic with a sealed, screw-on, lid. I process brass by the bucket loads and then store it in plastic until reloading time comes. I use blue tape to label the square plastic jars.

If I didn't have these square jars ... I believe I woukd store brass in plastic bags and then inside square boxes before I'll ever go back to coffee cans or any sort. Metal coffee cans will corrode and the plastic coffee cans deteriorate too quickly. They get brittle, especially the lids.

Chuck R. said:
I'd sort, to find the largest numbers by make, but that's me. I basically have two types of .223 brass:

Precision
Practice/3Gun ammo

I have 5 different headstamps that I sort out of my bulk stuff; R-P, PMC,LC (I use for 5.56 Loads), FC and WIN that goes towards my precision ammo and varmint hunting ammo. The rest get's called "mix" and goes to practice/3gun as the odds are I won't get it back.

My normal procedure:
Decap
Wet tumble using SS pins
Inspect and check primer pockets with a gauge, sort good/bad, and crimped (to be swaged).
Anneal ( I have a BC1000 it does 500rds in about an hr. I just finished annealing about 1K a few minutes ago)
Sort by headstamp

The mix/3Gun ammo gets FL sized through a Dillon 550 with just sizing die. It then get's cleaned using corn cob, then run through the Giraud. Later it's loaded on the Dillon.

The other brass sorted by make follows what ever process I use for that rifle. With six .223s, I find it easier to keep them separated this way.
Click to expand...

I actually tumble with corn cob first, to clean it enough for decapping and resizing. Then I'll trim, deburr and chamfer if necessary ... especially if I have some really good brass in the batch that'll be used for competition or self defense reloads. Next, anneal, especially if it's a big batch of LC or Radway Green (RORG) brass. Then I'll wet tumble with pins to get the resizing lube off and to clean inside and out. Then it's reload time while wearing nitrite gloves ... my bare hands will never touch the brass again until I load it in a magazine. When I'm done, except for the occasional ejector marks still barely visable, my loaded ammo looks brand new.

I omitted my flash hole and primer pocket prepping practices above because it goes without saying, you get it, and I only do it for brass that is going to be used for precision work. But I do work those flash holes and primer pockets when I luck-up and get my hands on some really nice once fired brass .... which I occasionally do from friends running private contractor ranges around MacKall, Eglin and Stewart and one buddy with an LEO range down in Tampa. They all keep me knee deep and squared away in brass. Can't wait for All American week at Bragg in May to get resupplied.
 
Airborne Falcon said:
He must be a darn good friend. You can never have too many of those.



So I save all square plastic jars these days ... peanut butter pretzels, cashews, salsa, etc. They're all roughly the same size and they store and stack so much better than any round jars or cans. Plus, imho, the brass stays nicer in plastic with a sealed, screw-on, lid. I process brass by the bucket loads and then store it in plastic until reloading time comes. I use blue tape to label the square plastic jars.

If I didn't have these square jars ... I believe I woukd store brass in plastic bags and then inside square boxes before I'll ever go back to coffee cans or any sort. Metal coffee cans will corrode and the plastic coffee cans deteriorate too quickly. They get brittle, especially the lids.



I actually tumble with corn cob first, to clean it enough for decapping and resizing. Then I'll trim, deburr and chamfer if necessary ... especially if I have some really good brass in the batch that'll be used for competition or self defense reloads. Next, anneal, especially if it's a big batch of LC or Radway Green (RORG) brass. Then I'll wet tumble with pins to get the resizing lube off and to clean inside and out. Then it's reload time while wearing nitrite gloves ... my bare hands will never touch the brass again until I load it in a magazine. When I'm done, except for the occasional ejector marks still barely visable, my loaded ammo looks brand new.

I omitted my flash hole and primer pocket prepping practices above because it goes without saying, you get it, and I only do it for brass that is going to be used for precision work. But I do work those flash holes and primer pockets when I luck-up and get my hands on some really nice once fired brass .... which I occasionally do from friends running private contractor ranges around MacKall, Eglin and Stewart and one buddy with an LEO range down in Tampa. They all keep me knee deep and squared away in brass. Can't wait for All American week at Bragg in May to get resupplied.
Click to expand...


I'm curious as to why the corn cob, before the SS pins and wet tumble? The rest is exactly how I do it.
 
I sometimes skip the trimming of known once fired brass ( meaning I fired it once) but chamfer everything. I put about as much faith in “once fired brass” as I do “ the motor was just rebuilt!” - none.
 
Thanks for all the advice. All the brass was sized by me, 3/4 of it was known once fired ( crimped primer pockets ). To me this a large amount of brass, I only shoot a ruger american in 5.56 and a PSA ar pistol in 5.56. I may have to invest in another ar and mags that hold more than 10 rounds, lol . Thanks again. lost
 
lostchild said:
Thanks for all the advice. All the brass was sized by me, 3/4 of it was known once fired ( crimped primer pockets ). To me this a large amount of brass, I only shoot a ruger american in 5.56 and a PSA ar pistol in 5.56. I may have to invest in another ar and mags that hold more than 10 rounds, lol . Thanks again. lost
Click to expand...

Be careful. It's a rabbit hole. Soon you'll catch black rifle disease and they will suddenly overtaking your house. Then you'll be burning through ammo left and right. Then you'll have to explain to the wife what that new Dillon 1100 in the garage is. Then...then...then........
 
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