How often/when do you trim 223/5.56 brass?

[Rule3]

I trim all my 223 to the trim to length of 1.750. I full size for the semi auto and neck size for a bolt action so those do not grow much.

Do you wait until the brass is almost at max 1.760 or do you trim if it is just a tad over the 1.750? Say 1.754 or about?

 

[cfullgraf]

I still do not understand what you must full size for a semi auto if it's going in the same gun??

I dropped my fired cases in the Wilson case gauge and they fit the same as a full sized case. (other than the neck size for the bullet. but that's not measured on the case gauge)

Wilson case gauges are not chamber gauges. They measure shoulder position and over all case length. They are cut generously in the body diameter. Fired cases will fit the gauge in the body area.

Semi-auto rifles do not have the power to insert cases that are bordering on being too large. In the extraction process, the case can continue to expand after it has left the chamber and therefore does not spring back as much. So the spent case is a smidge larger than a case fired in a bolt rifle given all other things being equal.

You may get away with neck sizing once or twice, but you will jam a case at some point.

As far as trimming, I measure each rifle case after resizing and trim those that are too long. I machined a gauge that is a couple thousandths short of the max length and use it for measuring. A caliper can do the same thing but I have dropped and damaged a caliper doing frequent repeated measurements so I prefer to not handle my calipers any more than necessary.

Cases that will not fit my gauge get trimmed. I do not crimp my rifle cases so I do not need cases exactly the same length.

 

[Rule3]

So you are essentially you are saying you trim just before they get to max length? Yes?

Lets forget the full sizing for semi auto. I still do it. I just hate case prep.

I am removing that part of the question but thanks for the explanation. I sorta kind knew that but just trying to clarify and eliminate it if I could.

 

[cfullgraf]

So you are essentially you are saying you trim just before they get to max length? Yes?

Yes, anything longer than a little short of trim length gets trimmed. But, you could go to trim length if you want.

i just like a little leeway.

I find I generally have to trim only about 25% to 30% of the cases resized. A reasonable compromise in my book as I hate to trim cases.

Trimming is a necessary evil unfortunately.

Although, since I discovered the WFT trimmer, it is not so bad.

 

[243winxb]

223 rem When to trim.

Has to be over 1.760" after full length sizing to require trimming for me. If you look at chamber drawings or take a mesurement, you will see there is a "safety zone" where a little over maximum trim length is not a problem. http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/measuring-tools/case-gauges-headspace-tools/sinclair-chamber-length-gage-prod32925.aspx Save your money and just trim when over maximum. I have shot a few rounds.

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[Rule3]

I have a LC WFT which indeed makes things easier. Also have the RCBS with the three way trimmer but even connected to a drill it is slower the the WFT.

just that I had some previous trimmed to length (not reloaded yet) and a bunch that I just fired and re sized so they are few thousandths different. I want to just put them all in the same pot and reload them all.

My bolt action target rifle brass, I keep all the exact same length.

 

[Walkalong]

since I discovered the WFT trimmer

I just trim them every time, after sizing of course. then deburr and chamfer. It doesn't take long when driving the tools on a small lathe.

 

[Conservidave]

Im shooting a .223 bolt and all my cases go through the Lyman case trimmer
and about 20% will get a little shave. I hate trimming cases but it's just part of the deal.

 

[edfardos]

Before resizing I trim anything longer than 1.755. They never grow more than .006 during sizing. I trim all the way to 1.740 which will never grow longer than max during the remaining life of the brass. This method works well for progressive reloaders.

Edfardos

 

[rcmodel]

I trim once-fired .223 brass the first time I resize them.

Then I lose them all in the weeds & gravel before they need trimming again.

rc

 

[longhill]

223 case trimming

Trimming after sizing, run through a S1050 with an RT1200.
Cuts clean enough that I don't need to chamfer or deburr.
The PW Autodrive make it even easier!

 

[kwg020]

I check once fired Lake City brass before resizing as I have found it to be typically long. I use two trim dies in a Lee 4 hole turret press. Before I resize I check minimum length and after resizing I check max length. Most brass will not be resized by much so if the case is a little short in minimum length I skip the max length.

I don't have a digital caliper so I cannot tell you the exact length. I use a Tula steel case length as my dimensions. I used the Tula case because when I compared several cases they were all consistently the same length. I do some extra checking and resizing as I shoot the same ammo in several different rifles including one bolt action. Just the way I do it. kwg

 

[Rule3]

Has to be over 1.760" after full length sizing to require trimming for me. If you look at chamber drawings or take a mesurement, you will see there is a "safety zone" where a little over maximum trim length is not a problem. http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/measuring-tools/case-gauges-headspace-tools/sinclair-chamber-length-gage-prod32925.aspx Save your money and just trim when over maximum. I have shot a few rounds.

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Yes, you can probably chew up some ammo with that fine item!!

 

[Laphroaig]

Xdies!

I just went down and miked a batch of LC-92 that I have sized probably 7 - 8 times without trimming. They ranged from 1.750 to 1.760. Not very consistent but not too long either. I hate trimming brass.

Laphroaig

 

[RainDodger]

Like one of the guys above, I use a WFT also and it's very, very fast. So fast that I trim every single case, need it or not. I don't even measure after shooting. Friends give me brass (they don't reload) and sometimes things get mixed... so everything gets trimmed every time.

With a WFT (you can get one at Midway for $69) you can trim 500 cases in just a few minutes. No joke.

 

[zxcvbob]

I trim brass cases every time I reload them; to whatever length the Lee trimmer cuts. (I chuck it in a drill press and don't use the shellholder) I have also dabbled a little in reloading steel 5.56 cases, and those don't ever seem to need trimming.

 

[bluetopper]

With my Forster trimmer I can have a piece of brass trimmed as fast as I can measure it......so yes, I trim every time.

 

[Dr.Zubrato]

Use the Lee trimmer every other firing. Depends how hard you run the brass though. I sample a batch from a certain previous load to determine whether I need to trim. If its on the fence, I just use the Lee FCD, and trim the next time.

 

[Clark]

A trim is needed before firing a sized case when:
[the length of the case] + [the shoulder set back on the case] >/= [the length of the chamber to the end of the neck]

If that is too complicated, there is a shorter length [with lots of safety margin for the above variables] listed in your load book.

My experiments show that I can get 10 to 20 firings without trimming if I restrict the brass to one rifle and only push the shoulder back .001" when needed.

My experiments show that I get between 1 to 2 firings without trimming if I want to use the brass for any of my .223s and I set back the shoulder for the shortest chamber and fire it in the longest.

In the end I decided that if I am not shooting 100 shots per hour at ground squirrels for days and days, then I can afford to just buy new 223 brass.