.223 trim length to 1.740?

[uberpeck]

Speers manual says 1.750" is trim-to length; however, I bought 1000 pieces of Once fired FC brass of which a majority are around 1.740" after sizing and expanding, some above this and some below this length as well.

Question is: do I trim all pieces down to the shortest case or set the trimmer to Speers recommendation and give the short cases a "pass" on trimming? I would like a uniform batch but don't want to trim too short.

 

[red_zr24x4]

I'd set it to 1.750 and run them through. Especially if its for range/ plinking ammo.
I personally would do it for my bolt gun also,and I have.

 

[Savage99]

Just trim the long ones to 1.750 and don't worry about the shorts ones. They will stretch so you can trim them later.

 

[Leo]

Just trim the long ones to 1.750 and don't worry about the shorts ones. They will stretch so you can trim them later.

+1 I agree, have done this for many years.

 

[Yeah]

Trim them all to 1.740" and go.

Consistency matter more than absolute when it comes to case OAL.

 

[jcj54]

Years ago I had a benchrest shooter tell me "Trim up to .030 under max length, just make sure they are all the same." Followed that advice and have gone as much as .025 under max case length and as long as I held them the same the results were consistent on the target.

 

[billybob44]

Same thing here on F-C cases..

The F-C range brass that I get from my local PD is the same.
I sort 1.740"-1.745'-and 1.50" and bag up. Over 1.750" get trimmed to 1.750".

I do this with the loads that I assemble that have a cannlure on the bullet only. These loads also get a VERY LIGHT crimp on the cannlure. If no cannlure on your bullets, then I would say that no sort is needed.

To me, this is for 'Looks' only-will not affect the performance of the load

Now, if you are looking for 1/4 MOA, then the above does not apply, but for most AR loads this will work..Bill.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Just trim the long ones to 1.750 and don't worry about the shorts ones. They will stretch so you can trim them later.

This^^^

 

[U.S. Patriot]

Lyman manual states 1.760". I toss anything under 1.740", and trim anything over 1.760". I can crimp any brass between those lengths.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Lyman manual states 1.760". I toss anything under 1.740", and trim anything over 1.760". I can crimp any brass between those lengths.

I'm curious, why would you toss the brass over it being .010 short?

 

[Jarhead77]

I'll take the 1.74's from you...they're fine for plinking.

 

[red_zr24x4]

I'd like to know also. Only brass i throw away is split necks, smashed, or loose primer pockets.

 

[xM3RC1L3SS1x]

I'd like to know also. Only brass i throw away is split necks, smashed, or loose primer pockets.

Me too. This is honestly the first time that I've heard of someone throwing them out because they were 1.740

 

[U.S. Patriot]

I'm curious, why would you toss the brass over it being .010 short?

I can't crimp them. It's not like it's a considerable amount.

 

[billybob44]

I can't crimp them. It's not like it's a considerable amount.

^^Why can't you crimp them?? I sort out the F-C cases and adjust my seat/crimp die as needed for length..Bill.

 

[Robert Richardson]

The Lee Factory Crimp die will crimp them.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

No, the way I have it adjusted, it's just enough to crimp cases that are 1.740" OAL. I don't see the point of adjusting it for an occasional case. By occasional, I mean maybe 4-5 out of 1,000.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Understand.