I am new to reloading .223 I just bought 400 rounds of once-fired military brass. I noticed on my measurements that the OAL of the brass was 1.770-1.780. Is this normal for military brass. I know that the SAAMI max for them are 1.760. Do military brass really strech that much when fired or do they just make them that long? I trimmed them all to 1.750.
? about 223/5.56 differences
- Thread starter Randy1911
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Hopefully you measured & trimmed them after sizing?
Yes, it is not uncommon to find GI brass with wide swings in length.
Sometimes this is machine-gun brass that stretched more then normal.
I'd check them all inside for stretch riings with a bent paper-clip just to be safe.
rc
Yes, it is not uncommon to find GI brass with wide swings in length.
Sometimes this is machine-gun brass that stretched more then normal.
I'd check them all inside for stretch riings with a bent paper-clip just to be safe.
rc
wgaynor
Member
I have been working with about 1k pieces of LC once fired military brass. I saw a post about not needing to trim them after resizing them, so I tried it out in my bushmaster. I measured them at around 1.77 and they all chambered, fired, and ejected without problems. Brass looked great also. I wouldn't take that as a green light to do it, but you can make a dummy round first and see if it will chamber (that's what I did). I did keep my loads on the low side for what its worth.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Chambered, fired, and ejected will not be affected by a too long case.
What will happen is, the rifles action will force the long case into the chamber, kicking & screaming all the way.
And you won't notice it at all!
But when fired, the too long case is jammed into the shoulder at the end of the chamber, and that leaves no place for the case neck to expand to release it's grip on the bullet.
It can cause a considerable pressure increase that could prove dangerous.
Max length of the .223/5.56 is 2.260", and if they are longer then that, you should trim them!
rc
JimKirk
Member
rcmodel
COL 2.260
Trim length 1.750
Fingers crossing paths?
Jimmy K
COL 2.260
Trim length 1.750
Fingers crossing paths?
Jimmy K
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Brain passing gas while I was typing!
Thanks for catching that!
rc
Thanks for catching that!
rc
JimKirk
Member
Thats what happens when my fingers don't listen to brain or brain no good, not sure which!
JK
JK
wgaynor
Member
In that case, would the brass show signs of distress?
RainDodger
Member
Something to note, if you're not aware: some manuals (Hornady in specific) have both .223 Remington loading data, AND 5.56 Nato data. Just something to check, depending on what you're loading for. (Of course, any of the .223 loads can be used in a 5.56-specific barrel.)
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