Cartridge length for .223

[calvados.boulard]

load it
Federal cases are notoriously short but lengthen on each firing

Case neck length is not the issue. Neck tension or the variation in neck tension is the factor. Gross difference in neck length could alter neck tension but things like work hardening of the brass and neck thickness or consistency are more likely to degrade accuracy.

Thanks guys. Those short cases has me a touch concerned, but glad to hear my concerns were unfounded.

Thanks,
Cal.

 

[scott_r]

Reading and comprehension not so high with you? The OP is talking case length, not OAL. Case length has ZERO effect on pressure.

I was mixed up with the with the title of the post, thought he was asking OAL specs., but thanks for the kind words on your post.

To the OP..sorry for the mix up.

 

[MCP]

No problem....funny thing, I caught myself writing cartridge in the body of the post and changed it to case. Guess I missed the title.

 

[Ganderite]

I used to laod 223 for accuracy in a target rifle. i shot the Sierra 80MK back to 1000 yards.

I used new Winchester brass and reloaded it a number of times, before trimming it.

I load 1000s of range pick up brass to shooting my AR-15s for CQB competition (short range) Accuracy is not a big issue.

I have never measured a single case for length. I just size and load them.

Too short is not much of an issue. If you are shooting a AR-15 (not a benchrest rifle) you could trim all your brass to the same length as your shortest brass and go from there. it probably would never need trimming again.

Too short would not affect accuracy or pressure.

 

[Lyallpeder]

Again.....I appreciate the help however all the loading manuals have the max length....but none have minimum length. So when I go and pick up range brass, and I measure something that is 1.25 (don't worry I am just exaggerating the shortness) as opposed to 1.770 (that needs to be trimmed) I need to know if I should toss the short case.....or load it.

Oh I thought you were looking for the maximum safe length. Myself, as long as it's close I'd load it. I have picked up range brass and my cheap trimmer hasn't cut anything but I didn't worry, just loaded it up.