Warning

 

Close
Confirm Action

Are you sure you wish to do this?

Cancel Confirm
AR15.COM
Armory Sponsor
7/13/2013 11:18:40 AM EDT
Ok, starting my first batch of .223rem. I know published trim length is 1.750 but what do you guys use for a min and max length?
7/13/2013 11:35:41 AM EDT
[#1]
Any .223 brass that grows to over 1.760 is tossed in a bucket to be chopped down for .300blk.
7/13/2013 11:56:56 AM EDT
[#2]
1.750" is the "trim-to" length.

1.760" is the "time to trim" length.

1.740" is the "oops, I'm glad I didn't cut it any shorter than that" length.
7/13/2013 1:41:07 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
1.750" is the "trim-to" length.

1.760" is the "time to trim" length.

1.740" is the "oops, I'm glad I didn't cut it any shorter than that" length.
LOL, yup :)

Much of the once-fired brass I have gotten is shorter than 1.750 to begin with (eg Federal, PMC once-fired by me). So, here's what I do . . .

After firing, cleaning, lube, decap, and resizing . . . each piece goes into the trimmer set for 1.750. Brass that actually gets trimmed goes into the box market "1.750" for deburring and chamfering. Brass that does not get trimmed goes into the box marked "Short". The boxes get tumble-cleaned separately to remove the lube.

The "1.750" brass is separated by headstamp and used for "accurate" loads. The "Short" brass gets used for 55gr BTHPw/c that will use an OAL of ~2.200" after the bullet is seated mid-cannelure. With a small crimp from the Lee FCD die, these rounds are accurate as well.

I like to think this approach gives the short brass something to look forward to if/when it grows up :)

New brass (eg Lapua) usually comes to me at 1.750 and is kept as separate batches for its entire lifespan.
7/13/2013 2:25:48 PM EDT
[#4]
+1 to twoboxer. I do just about the same thing.

FYI- I had an "oops" and trimmed 100 PCs of 1x LC to 1.73".

Used for plinking loads till it grew up. Somebody correct me if

I'm wrong, but I think spec is 1.73"-1.76"..
7/13/2013 5:55:03 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
... I think spec is 1.73"-1.76"..


You are correct!

Still, once they are 1.740" they are already starting to look weird... functional,... but weird.  

Link to SAAMI 223 Rem cartridge drawing
7/13/2013 6:48:54 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
1.750" is the "trim-to" length.

1.760" is the "time to trim" length.

1.740" is the "oops, I'm glad I didn't cut it any shorter than that" length.


+1 for this post.

I personally trim to 1.750 +/- .003

Any shorter and It gets turned into 300 AAC.
7/13/2013 7:09:05 PM EDT
[#7]
Ill accept any brass from 1.730 to .1.750 for use.   I set a Dillon 1200 to 1.753-1.755 once its warm.   It changes a little as it heats up.
7/13/2013 7:44:13 PM EDT
[#8]



Quoted:


Ok, starting my first batch of .223rem. I know published trim length is 1.750 but what do you guys use for a min and max length?


Depends on what kind of trimmer you have.

 



I have a Giraud and trim every loading to 1.755.




When I had a manual trimmer, I trimmed to 1.750 and didn't have to trim for 2 cycles before cases needed trimming again (1.760)
Armory Sponsor