.223 case prep
- Thread starter cormann2
- Start date
2x
the dimensions (length) of the brass will change ofter you resize.
try it.
measure length of one brass before and after you resize.
best to resized and then trim.
abd you've been at this how long?- how are you CLEANING your cases- me , i tumble b/c i don't want to damage my dies and the ar uses a "dirty chamber to begin with- ie direct impingement- i've always tumbled even back to the 70's when i started- i cannot percieve how you believe it could potentially damage your cases, given the media is softer than brass
I use a lee load master and this is my check list for preparing .223 brass I use in AR’s and other semi’s
Case prep
Tumble and clean Brass (initial clean for about 45min to an hour)
Full length sized/de-primed on a single stage press
Trim to length
De-burred and chamfered Inside and outside neck
Swag primer pocket (Military type Brass, with crimped primer pocket)
Tumble and clean Brass again
I Prime off the bench with a hand primer, as the priming system on the lee can be problematic.
As I inspect each case before priming I will;
Clean primer pocket if required
De-bur flash hole inside the case if required
Load with my favourite recipe
Case prep
Tumble and clean Brass (initial clean for about 45min to an hour)
Full length sized/de-primed on a single stage press
Trim to length
De-burred and chamfered Inside and outside neck
Swag primer pocket (Military type Brass, with crimped primer pocket)
Tumble and clean Brass again
I Prime off the bench with a hand primer, as the priming system on the lee can be problematic.
As I inspect each case before priming I will;
Clean primer pocket if required
De-bur flash hole inside the case if required
Load with my favourite recipe
45 years or so. I just wipe the cases off with a clean cloth, and they are good to go. Tumblers do nothing for cases except make them look pretty. If the cases bang too hard against each other you can damage the mouth of the neck.
Not trying to sound like a prick but ......You are jokeing right?
I think you should let the ammunition companys in on you secret so they dont damage all there brass ,because thats what they do
- Location
- Kumankissmyass, BC
Sorry to the Op for the hijack...I did not want to start a new thread.
What is the trim to length for .223? I have it at 1.760.
What is the trim to length for .223? I have it at 1.760.
But I like my brass to look "pretty" Now my feeling have been hurt. Never had any damaged cases because of my tumbler.
Here's what I do:
1. Put my brass in a screen and shake the heck out of it to get any range debrees off it
2. Tumble it for 4-5 hours to make it "pretty"
3. Resize
4. Trim etc.......
i have a friend thats been reloading longer than I have and he doesn't own a tumbler. I just upgraded to the stainless media because I hate cleaning primer pockets and like em shiny inside and out. To each his own
To the doubters, I'm curious what you think tumbling does for the cases, other than make them look pretty, require chamfering of the neck mouths, and waste some time? I will admit that I'm not adverse to "pretty", but would rather spend my time getting pretty targets and not bother with the pretty cases.
Three consecutive groups at 100 meters, using, plug your ears, words not for the faint of heart!, scuzzy, dirty, cases...
Three consecutive groups at 100 meters, using, plug your ears, words not for the faint of heart!, scuzzy, dirty, cases...
It cleans the outside of the cases so your dies don't get scratched up. When I do 50 cases for a precision gun, I just use Nevr-Dull. When I do 1500 cases, you can bet the tumbler comes out.
As for damaging case necks, not going to happen unless you are tumbling thin-wall 6mm PPC cases for a benchrest gun. Which you would not do in the first place.
Some guys like a shinier case, so they use media additives and so on. That's okay too.
