So does the length of .243 rifle brass affect the POI? The reason I ask is I normally trim my brass to 2.038. I give it .001 variance in either direction, but try to get it right on 2.038. I usually have to trim it even if it's once fired brass. Anyway, I bought some Winchester never fired brass from Bass Pro a few days ago and decided to measure it today. I found the results shocking to say the least. It varies from 2.031 to 2.039 depending on which case I measure. Most seem to be in the 2.033 through 2.035. Some are over and some under though. I'd never let it vary this much if I was trimming them, but that's not fully what worries me. My book also says to trim them to 2.035 so some of them are shorter than that. If I load these up can I expect them to shoot to the same POI as the ones I trimmed to 2.038? I don't want to have to adjust my scope for these loads. Is it fine to go ahead and load them up? The next question is will I be able to expect these to be accurate and each of them shoot to the same POI? I don't want to have huge groups because of the brass being different lengths. So from you guys that have dealt with this am I fine in both cases? Or am I going to experience a headache here?
Brass length question?
- Thread starter slowr1der
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Ridgerunner665
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Did you run the new brass through the resizing die before you measured them?
That will lengthen them a bit sometimes...
Myself, I'm very particular about my load specs...if a case is too short, it gets tossed.
That will lengthen them a bit sometimes...
Myself, I'm very particular about my load specs...if a case is too short, it gets tossed.
Don`t sweat it.
New factory is almost always a bit wild on OAL in my experience, I run them through a neck sizer to make sure the mouths are round and shoot them. After the 1st firing I trim them all to the min recommended length to square the mouths and work up my next loads or load them with a favorite.
As Ridgerunner said they will grow from FL sizing and should be measured and trimmed after not before.
New factory is almost always a bit wild on OAL in my experience, I run them through a neck sizer to make sure the mouths are round and shoot them. After the 1st firing I trim them all to the min recommended length to square the mouths and work up my next loads or load them with a favorite.
As Ridgerunner said they will grow from FL sizing and should be measured and trimmed after not before.
hometheaterman
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I wonder if this is the case with all brand of brass you can buy.
Perfectly fine, although with more care it can be better.
That would be too much for me, although as long as it was under the max, you'll be OK and never see it on target in anything less than a full blown target rifle.
JimKirk
Member
When I purchase new brass, I trim them all to the suggested trim length(STL). Any that are shorter than STL goes into another pile. Those are then trimmed to a "set" length even though it may be shorter than STL. Those are kept separate from the STL ones.
The only time length matters is during crimping, which I rarely do unless it is a pistol round and maybe if you are shooting .5 or less, maybe. Over length is another story.
Jimmy K
The only time length matters is during crimping, which I rarely do unless it is a pistol round and maybe if you are shooting .5 or less, maybe. Over length is another story.
Jimmy K
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