Too much trimming? .308 question

[FireInTheHole]

I've tried searching the topic... no luck.

What happens if you under trim a case? I hate trimming, so I was guessing that if the case was cut back enough (~2.005" vs recommended 2.015") that I would basically save having to trim the (milspec) brass every firing. Maybe shoot em twice before they stretch enough to warrent a trim.

Is a potentially dangerous technique?

 

[Steve Smith]

If you trim too much, the neck goes away and you seat the bullet in the shoulder.

Duh.


No, seriously, that's what happens.


Also, if you trim in-between the min trim length and the too-much distance where the neck ends and the shoulder begins, then you lose neck tension, which could do several things, increase or decrease accuracy, allow bullets to move around under recoil, increase or (more likely) decrease velocity, and a number of other things. It may also increase throat wear as the flames will start cutting earlier...chicken little crap right there.

Experimenting with neck tension and trim lengh isn't something new, but is best reserved for those who have wasted their time with everything else they can do in handloading short of neck turning. By all means, play to your heart's content.

BTW, if you use the search function now you will find an answer.
FWIW, I trim about .010" shorter than the "minimum" for my match brass and it never goes over max...I have 7 loadings on my match brass (fired in a semi-auto btw) now and it is still under max. If your brass is growing a lot you are looking in the wrong place. You SHOULD be looking at die setup, not shortening your cases more.

 

[FireInTheHole]

You SHOULD be looking at die setup, not shortening your cases more.

I tried the xdie thing with my fal, but the brass near the head always stretches too much and the bolt wont slam shut. Currently using indian brass and RCBS FL dies. Maybe I'm expecting too much from my POS indian brass?

Guess I just stick to the 2.015. (and my manual trimmer )

 

[Steve Smith]

Indian brass, what on earth is that? Those folks can't even make a decent pocketknife and you expect good brass? Go to www.scharch.com and get yourself some Lake City. Then get yourself a Redding S type full length bushing die, and get the bushing that makes your necks barely brush the expander, set that puppy up so that it sets your headspace back .003" and no more. Shouldn't have to be trimming so much after that.


Other (better) alternative is to change brass and try the X die you already own.

 

[FireInTheHole]

I picked up 500 rds of cheap indian surplus for $50 , burned through it and now I'm playing with the brass. It's a real pain to process this stuff. We shall see.

$67/1000 for sized and trimmed... free shipping... that might well be worth it. Thanks for the heads up.