.223 brass length

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Reservecop

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My manuals say that the trim length for .223 should be 1.750. i have 60 once fired brass that i shot in my rifle. the lengths of these brass have a range of 1.732 to 1.745. i am using the lee deluxe die set for .223 with the full length sizer,collet neck sizer and the dead length bullet seating die. i want to try to make my brass last as long as i can so i want to skip the full length sizer if possible. can i just neck size these brass and load or should i full length size and trim to the 1.750 considering they get sized to more than the 1.750? i have loaded hundreds of pistol rounds with great success but this is my first time loading rifle and im getting a bit confused. i made a dummy round with a once fired brass that was 1.740 and it chambered fine.the cartridge OAL was 2.200 . how would you more experienced loaders treat these brass. :confused:
 
I would full-length size and trim at least once.
Maybe trim to the shortest of the bunch, unless it is really an odd-ball, shorter then 1.750"

That will insure they are closer to all the same neck tension.

rc
 
If you are not crimping, go ahead and use it. The 1.750 trim to spec is the recommended saami spec.
As you have found out, not all brass meets that spec, but is safe to use. The brass will usually "grow" after a few firing.
If you want to crimp, then all your brass should be the same length. Pick your shortest length and trim everything to that length to crimp consistently.
undersized neck length has nothing to do with headspace, as long as you do not push the shoulder of the case back too much when sizing.
You can still maintain your COAL.

NCsmitty
 
Have you measured your chamber to know the length of the cartridge portion? It may be different than the "standard of 1.750." If you are only loading for this particular .223 that may affect your decision as to the trim length you want to use. Sizing all of the cases to the same length in relation to your chamber will go a long way to maintaining a more constant tension and extend case life. Sizing with the RCBS "X" die can also help minimize case growth.

RCBS also has an item call the Precision Mic. You can use this to minimize how much you work the brass (shoulder set back) on each sizing. This can help extend case life.

Good luck.
 
The Maximum safe Length is 1.760" Most people FLRS before trimming as the case will get longer after FLRSing. The minimum trim to length is 1.750" Brass that is shorter by a small amount after FLRS is still OK to use. Crimping is not needed IMO, but if you must crimp, all brass must be the same length to crimp.
whats the simplest way to measure the chamber. im not familiar with how you do this.
Click to expand...
The chamber is not important if you trim your brass as needed. This would be for more advanced reloaders that want to live dangerously. There are 2 chamber measurements to be taken of the neck area, length & diameter. This is done by making a cast of the chamber using Cerrosafe. http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/Store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=384
 
Most people FLRS before trimming as the case will get longer after FLRSing.
Click to expand...

Which trimmers allow trimming after resizing? My Forster can only be used after firing and before resizing. Otherwise, the pilot won't go in the case mouth. I'm not familiar with other trimmers that work differently.

To answer Reservecop, you say that your brass begins at 1.732" in length so I'd trim all of my brass to that length. The .223 has a short neck by design but consistency is the key to accuracy. Having all of your brass at the same length will help. All the same headstamp will help to eliminate variations too. I have 100 LC 75 cases that I use at present and all have been trimmed to the same length.
 
Which trimmers allow trimming after resizing? My Forster can only be used after firing and before resizing. Otherwise, the pilot won't go in the case mouth. I'm not familiar with other trimmers that work differently.
Click to expand...
Lyman. You need to have the expander button open the mouth of the case so the pilot fits after FLRSing.
To answer Reservecop, you say that your brass begins at 1.732" Reservecop said "can i just neck size these brass and load"
Click to expand...
Yes if he keeps the maximum OAL of the brass under 1.760" I think he is taking measurements of fired cases OR neck sized only cases. Not FLRS cases. FLRS brass will grow on sizing.
 
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O.K., I full length sized a few of these different length brass and still have different lengths. the longest is 1.747 and the shortest is 1.737. am i right in thinking that this normal since they were different lengths to start with? also should i now trim to my shortest length. i pulled a bullet from a new unfired round from the same batch that these brass came from and the brass measures 1.735
 
Which trimmers allow trimming after resizing?
Click to expand...
I thought all of them did?

Trimming before sizing is an exercise in frustration, because after sizing, it will be all different lengths again.

Pilots should be an exact slip-fit in a sized case neck to insure squareness and prevent chatter.

If mine didn't, I would make it so.

rc
 
Reservecop,

Sinclair makes a Chamber Length Gage Insert. Take a full length resized case, trim the case .100 shorter than the published minimum and chamfer both the inside and outside of the case neck. Next, drill out the primer hole a little larger. This step is necessary to remove the inset when done. Insert the gage in the case so the overall length of the case and gage is at least .100 greater than the maximium trim length. Insert it in the chamber (without feeding it through the magazine) and close the bolt. Slowly open the bolt and remove the case with the gage. Measure with a caliper and the result is the true chamber length of the rifle.

Another way is to pour cerro metal (I think this is the correct spelling) from Midway.
 
The obvious question we haven't ask Reservecop is what rifle he is loading for?

All this Sinclair products & chamber casting is good for bench-rest & tight chambered bolt-action varmint guns.

Maybe a moot point for a 5.56mm AR-15.
Just trim them to something under 1.760" so they are all the same after FL sizing and gofer it!

rc
 
Well, you may find that you need to FL size for a semi-auto gas gun, whether you want too or not.

Again, I think you are over-anel-izing the case length thing.

Trim them all the same length, whatever that is, and they will shoot just fine.

rc
 
I currently load two "standard loads" for three .223 rifles.
(Two semi-autos, and a CZ bolt gun.)
One using 55 grain FMJ-BT for blasting.
One using 55 grain V-Max or Nosler B-T for maximum accuracy & varmint hunting.

I FL size in standard RCBS dies for zero headspace on the tightest chamber, which luckly happens to be the CZ.
I trim to 1.750" one time, the first time I load it.
I seat to standard OAL length that will work in the magazines with no attempt to "seat to the lands" etc.

The CZ-527 and the Colt AR will both shoot sub-3/4 MOA on a good day.

The Ruger Mini-14? Not so much.
But I don't think it is the case length doing it!

I have a lifetime supply of empty GI brass, and don't push my luck by seeing how many times I can reload it.
I usually lose it before I wear it out.

rc
 
I FL size in standard RCBS dies.
I trim to 1.750" one time, the first time I load it.
I seat to standard OAL length that will work in the magazines with no attempt to "seat to the lands" etc.
Click to expand...
Same as i do. Always FLRS for an auto. Set the trimmer to cut to 1.750" Chamfer the case mouth after trimming. The cases that are shorter, chamfer and load.
 
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