AF_Reloader
Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2008
- Messages
- 31
Avid THR reader, first time poster.
Got a two-part question about trimming cases (as you can guess from the title):
1. I've looked in my Nosler and Speer manuals, and although they both mention case trimming, I'm trying to pin down exactly when to trim cases. I separated 50 .270 Federal cases into a lot for reloading, and after full-length sizing there were a few that were above the 2.540 maximum cartridge limit (2.544 average). The trim length in my book says 2.530. Well, I didn't know if I should trim the majority of the cases that were 2.535-2.538 down to 2.530 as well, but they're just Federal cases, so what the hell I trimmed them down. I know brass I trimmed off has to come from somewhere, and I know you don't trim cases every time, so I'm looking for guidelines on when to trim. Instead of the trim length, should I just cut them down to 2.540? If I do trim them, do I trim the ones that are under the max length, or just the long ones? Is there an average length I could shoot for instead of them all going down to 2.530? Just FYI, about half of these cases were given to me, so not all are fired by my own Ruger Mark II.
2. Okay, this one is easy. I got a little overzealous on a few cases, and several are down to 2.528-2.529. Are these gonna be okay, or do I get rid of them?
Sorry about writing a book, but this is one of the last questions I'm stuck on before building my first loads. Thanks!
Frank
Got a two-part question about trimming cases (as you can guess from the title):
1. I've looked in my Nosler and Speer manuals, and although they both mention case trimming, I'm trying to pin down exactly when to trim cases. I separated 50 .270 Federal cases into a lot for reloading, and after full-length sizing there were a few that were above the 2.540 maximum cartridge limit (2.544 average). The trim length in my book says 2.530. Well, I didn't know if I should trim the majority of the cases that were 2.535-2.538 down to 2.530 as well, but they're just Federal cases, so what the hell I trimmed them down. I know brass I trimmed off has to come from somewhere, and I know you don't trim cases every time, so I'm looking for guidelines on when to trim. Instead of the trim length, should I just cut them down to 2.540? If I do trim them, do I trim the ones that are under the max length, or just the long ones? Is there an average length I could shoot for instead of them all going down to 2.530? Just FYI, about half of these cases were given to me, so not all are fired by my own Ruger Mark II.
2. Okay, this one is easy. I got a little overzealous on a few cases, and several are down to 2.528-2.529. Are these gonna be okay, or do I get rid of them?
Sorry about writing a book, but this is one of the last questions I'm stuck on before building my first loads. Thanks!
Frank