Do you trim after each firing?

S

sure as shootin

Regular
Rating - 100%
23   0   0
It's always been a habit of mine when checking fired brass to see if it needs to be trimmed. If it does, which is usually the case, I'll trim. Just wondering if other reloaders are only trimming once it gets to certain length that's well off the optimal? How long would you let it get before you'd trim it?

For example my trim length for my .308 is 2.005. What length would you let it get to before you'd consider trimming it if you were one of those that doesn't trim after each firing, like me?
 
For a bit of time I had no trimmer so I didn't do it for my 30-30. After 2 or 3 reload I could not chamber the round because the excess brass would get caught in the chamber. Now that I have a trimmer I trim all the brass all the time.
 
I find uniform length helps accuracy....or maybe it's all in my head. Usually trim new brass uniform, then after first firing, after that it's neck sized and rarely needs a trim
 
I hate trimming and do it as seldom as possible. I set my calipers to the max case o.a.l. listed in the manual and use it as a snap gauge. If the case fits in without force, even if it brushes it, I don't trim. If I'm getting many that don't fit then I trim the lot of them.
 
with hunting rounds I measure a few and see if they're getting close to the max length listed in the book. For target rounds I try and leave my trimmer set to the same setting and trim every firing. It really doesn't take that long to trim if the trimmer is set up and you're just taking a skim off
 
Ammo for my pistols or lever guns I trim in big batches just so I get a consistent crimp. I spent several hours trimming a bunch of once fired .45 ACP range brass just because the lengths were all over the place due to the brass being from a bunch of different manufacturers. Since it started off uniform, I have spot checked, but none of it has required trimming.

Rifles I shoot for accuracy get checked every firing but only neck sizing my brass hasn't led to much need for trimming either.
 
I always trimmed my brass for my target,long range rifle(6.5 - 06)
Max length was 2.494 and always trimmed it to 2.490 just to give me that warm fuzzy feeling that my brass was always the same length.
Hunting rifles not so much just when they need it and as long as there is not to much difference.
I have read it is best to try to be consistant all the time so I try to be.
 
sure as shootin said:
It's always been a habit of mine when checking fired brass to see if it needs to be trimmed. If it does, which is usually the case, I'll trim. Just wondering if other reloaders are only trimming once it gets to certain length that's well off the optimal? How long would you let it get before you'd trim it?

For example my trim length for my .308 is 2.005. What length would you let it get to before you'd consider trimming it if you were one of those that doesn't trim after each firing, like me?
Click to expand...
It depends on several things. Soft/hard brass, min./med./max. loads, standard cartridge, magnum cartridge, slow/fast burning powder, standard/magnum primers. From my experience it varied from cartridge to cartridge. I'll trim after one firing with one cartridge and four from another. I start at .010 below case length and observe it from there after each firing. Some stretch little, some lots.
 
Last edited:
My brass is always very organized. I keep records of how many times loaded and trimmed. That said for my .223 plinking brass if any trim bag gets around 50 i'll trim them but it's not often and I measure every case. .308 target rounds it's almost every time if there is not consistency in the numbers just to even them up. And the numbers depend on what generation the brass is.
 
track said:
It depends on several things. Soft/hard brass, min./med./max. loads, standard cartridge, magnum cartridge, slow/fast burning powder, standard/magnum primers. From my experience it varied from cartridge to cartridge. I'll trim after one firing with one cartridge and four from another. I start at .010 below case length and observe it from there after each firing. Some stretch little, some lots.
Click to expand...

...this ^^^^^
 
I load .308 as well and prefer to maintain 2.005, however if I have a batch that is 2.007, or 2.008, I will load that batch with my goal being consistency. Good brass doesn't need trimming very often in my experience such as with Lapua.
 
sure as shootin said:
It's always been a habit of mine when checking fired brass to see if it needs to be trimmed. If it does, which is usually the case, I'll trim. Just wondering if other reloaders are only trimming once it gets to certain length that's well off the optimal? How long would you let it get before you'd trim it?

For example my trim length for my .308 is 2.005. What length would you let it get to before you'd consider trimming it if you were one of those that doesn't trim after each firing, like me?
Click to expand...
Length of case makes absolutely no difference to accuracy or function in a .308 between 2.005" ( minimum) and 2.015" ( Maximum) if not crimping bullet into a cannelure. I normally use new brass as-is and trim after 1st firing, just to make the whole lot start out the same. Same thing with factory loaded brass. Shoot off the factory loads, trim 1st reload to set a standard. After that I check against a caliper or a fixed case gauge set at maximum length. If more than a couple in the lot hit that max., I generally trim the lot. Usually happens after 3-4 firings.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom