New reloader here. Successfully loaded 9mm and now moving to .223. Prepping some brass of different headstamps; LC, Rem, PMC. Brass is once fired. Using RCBS die set on a Lee Classic Cast Breach Lock single stage press. Trimming brass with the Lee case length gage. Using the gage, shellholder, cutter and lock stud by hand. My manuals say the trim length is 1.760 for 223 Remington. After trimming, my case lengths are 1.7475 to 1.748. Is this the length I should see or should I see 1.760? What is the tolerance for too short or too long? Should all brass be exactly the same length to proceed with the reloading process?
Trimming brass, what's too short? Too long?
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jwrowland77
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Is the 1.760 the max length or the trim to length?
I think all mine are trimmed to 1.750 which I believe is the Trim To length in most manuals.
I think all mine are trimmed to 1.750 which I believe is the Trim To length in most manuals.
1.76 is the max case length for .223. IE when it gets that long it needs to be trimmed. The "trim to" length I believe is 1.75. Lengths slightly below that should be fine, they will stretch out during the firing process. Don't measure and trim your brass until they'be been through the sizing die
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cwbys4evr covered it mostly.
A few thousandths short of 1.750" will not hurt anything.
As said, do your measuring after you have resized the case. The case will actually be short after firing and then grow during the resizing process.
I measure cases for being too long and only trim those that are too long. It limits the amount of trimming that I do in one sitting. Trimming is not my most favorite reloading task although my WFT trimmers have made trimming less drudgery.
I do not crimp my rifle loads and I am not ADD about case length being exactly the same case to case.
If you do crimp, and I really do not recommend it, having the cases the same length will make the case to case crimp more uniform.
I trimmed handgun cases when i got into reloading but learned to not bother quickly. But, magnum handgun cases like 357 Magnum or 44 magnum do benefit from a good roll crimp and trimming the cases to a uniform length can be a benefit for a uniform crimp.
Hope this helps.
A few thousandths short of 1.750" will not hurt anything.
As said, do your measuring after you have resized the case. The case will actually be short after firing and then grow during the resizing process.
I measure cases for being too long and only trim those that are too long. It limits the amount of trimming that I do in one sitting. Trimming is not my most favorite reloading task although my WFT trimmers have made trimming less drudgery.
I do not crimp my rifle loads and I am not ADD about case length being exactly the same case to case.
If you do crimp, and I really do not recommend it, having the cases the same length will make the case to case crimp more uniform.
I trimmed handgun cases when i got into reloading but learned to not bother quickly. But, magnum handgun cases like 357 Magnum or 44 magnum do benefit from a good roll crimp and trimming the cases to a uniform length can be a benefit for a uniform crimp.
Hope this helps.
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243winxb
Member
1.760" to 1.730" Trim to is 1.750" http://www.saami.org/PubResources/CC_Drawings/Rifle/223%20Remington.pdf
gamestalker
member
Actually, the trim too length is 1.750", so if your getting 1.747 your fine. I use those Lee case length gauges also, and some have been a little short. But it's really easy to adjust the case length gauge to trim longer just by shimming it between the cutter and the base of the gauge rod. You can also spread the threads on the case length gauge so it will stay at the length you want.
And I assume since you've been doing this a while that trimming is only done after resizing, right?
GS
And I assume since you've been doing this a while that trimming is only done after resizing, right?
GS
Hondo 60
Member
Just to throw a fly in the ointment, there are a whole bunch of us reloaders that have NEVER trimmed any handgun caliber brass (including 9mm).
I did in the very beginning because the book said to.
After hangin around here for a bit, many said they didn't trim.
So I stopped, & can tell you it really hasn't made any difference for me.
I DO trim rifle brass though.
If you get Lyman's 49th Reloading Handbook, they list a standard length & a "Trim To" length.
It says 223 "Trim To" length is 1.750"
I did in the very beginning because the book said to.
After hangin around here for a bit, many said they didn't trim.
So I stopped, & can tell you it really hasn't made any difference for me.
I DO trim rifle brass though.
If you get Lyman's 49th Reloading Handbook, they list a standard length & a "Trim To" length.
It says 223 "Trim To" length is 1.750"
That is a very good spread, and is perfectly safe.
I have never trimmed a 9MM case in my life. I have sorted cases, but I am not good enough to shoot any difference in them and mixed brass, so I do not do it any more.
I was shooting a 12" square steel plate at 100 yards last Saturday and I could get up to 6 hits out of 9 rounds in the mag with my Colt Series 80E (.38 Super with a Storm Lake 9MM barrel.). Could I have gotten 7 or 8 with sorted brass? Don't know or care, I was having a blast.
I never could get more than 4 out of 6 with my 586 and light target loads either, but it was all me, not the loads or the gun.
ranger335v
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Book "trim to" length is 10 thou less than max as a reasonable practice, there's nothing special about it.
Thanks everyone. It all makes sense now. I have Lyman's 49th and Modern Reloading second edition. Read both cover to cover but missed the 'Trim to Length' in Lyman's. Hah, there were words below the pictures. Who would have thunk it? 
Good thing I read this forum everyday.
Good thing I read this forum everyday.- Status
