Trimming FL sized .223?

Scotty454

Scotty454

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With the cost of .223 staying relatively high, and my stash of .223 dwindling, I'm considering finally loading it. I bought all the components I'd need years ago, but just never got around to loading it due to the fact that a case of Federal bulk .223 could be bought for $350 at the time, hardly seemed worth it. I have piles of bullets, powder, brass, etc. I have dies, conversion kit for my 650, primer pocket swager, etc.

I think the thing that has me dreading it the most is case trimming. Seems like a PITA. Realistically, how often does one have to trim a once fired, full length sized .223 case? Can you get away with loading them once without trimming? Do you have to do it every time? Does it vary based on brand and what it was shot out of?

I reload a lot of pistol, and the rifle I've reloaded has been with virgin Starline brass. So haven't had to bother trimming any cases yet.
 
I haven't loaded 223, but with all my other rifle and pistol loads I have found that I can get 2 for sure, and sometimes 3 go rounds before trimming is required.
 
I would get a Sinclair 'Chamber Length Gauge' or make your own - and then you'll know exactly what length to trim to - if you trim too much, you risk getting the dreaded carbon ring....ask me how i know! Depending on your load, it may require trimming every 2-3 (hot load) to 4-5 (moderate loads).
Trimming is easy peasy with a multitude of tools out there for the job. I use a Forster trimmer just because its what I have, and can do necks too with it too.
 
It all depends on the individual case. Some you can get a couple sizings, others need a trim after the first size.
The max case length is for your continued good health.
If the neck manages to get into the part of the chamber where only the bullet may go, upon firing you could literally crimp the mouth shut causing a catastrophic overpressure.
For the love of my grandchildren, I trim after each sizing. (Mind you, I small base size for semi, so I move more meat)
The worst that a too short neck can do is lessen the neck tension on an uncrimped bullet, or not get fully caught by a crimping die. No biggie compared to the other extreme.
Just buy the gear that makes it easy, and it won't seem such a chore.
(Hint: the more often you trim, the less meat you take off, the less lip to deburr)
 
For all the rifle cartridges that I reload - the routine is to lube, full length size, trim to length, chamfer and de-lube - every case, every time. I use the Lee case trim gizmo so I do not measure anything - it cuts to whatever length. Is 26 sets of dies on the shelf here. I suspect the chamfer part might be a bit less important for boat tail bullets, but I seldom use those - most all are "flat base" bullets. I use an L.E. Wilson chamfer tool "Made for RCBS" - about nothing to it, since the case is in the Lee spinner, already. I tend not to "reload" the cases in one go - usually several sessions - de-prime and wet tumble with stainless pins in one session - let them dry at least overnight, then prep the cases and prime them in another session - say 200 at a time - then dispense powder and seat bullets in a third session. Although I have done, say, 20, from start to finish in one sitting (no tumbling). I am using a single stage RCBS Rockchucker press.
 
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If you have been using Federal bulk FMJ ammo and you want to use the brass, I wouldn't worry about trimming it just yet. What is really going to annoy you is removing the aggressive crimp they use on the primer pockets.

Federal .223 brass is usually pretty short, trim every 4 -5 rounds. Or chuck it after that.
 
Gatehouse said:
If you have been using Federal bulk FMJ ammo and you want to use the brass, I wouldn't worry about trimming it just yet. What is really going to annoy you is removing the aggressive crimp they use on the primer pockets.

Federal .223 brass is usually pretty short, trim every 4 -5 rounds. Or chuck it after that.
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My experience was just he opposite, was at my range immediately after the local prison guards had a practice session and picked up a five gallon pail ( could've used a scoop shovel there) of gov issue Federal & Rem brass. Virtually every brass I picked up was "over spec" for length ( not "marginally" either, most were .008 or longer) and they were definitely once fired factory rounds.
 
fingers284 said:
My experience was just he opposite, was at my range immediately after the local prison guards had a practice session and picked up a five gallon pail ( could've used a scoop shovel there) of gov issue Federal & Rem brass. Virtually every brass I picked up was "over spec" for length ( not "marginally" either, most were .008 or longer) and they were definitely once fired factory rounds.
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It's always best practice to measure.
 
get a case length gauge and you'll know exactly which ones to trim
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wallz said:
I haven't loaded 223, but with all my other rifle and pistol loads I have found that I can get 2 for sure, and sometimes 3 go rounds before trimming is required.
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Agreed.



fingers284 said:
My experience was just he opposite, was at my range immediately after the local prison guards had a practice session and picked up a five gallon pail ( could've used a scoop shovel there) of gov issue Federal & Rem brass. Virtually every brass I picked up was "over spec" for length ( not "marginally" either, most were .008 or longer) and they were definitely once fired factory rounds.
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8 thou is hardly anything. It is certainly a long way from being dangerous. Case OAL spec has a ton of safety margin. I recently got into loading 303 Brit and when I measured fired cases, some once-fired were easily .050" over.



fiddler said:
Lock your calipers on max OAL. It's either go or No go. Trim the ones that are no go.
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This is def the way to go.
 
It is faster to trim and chamfer brass on a Giraud than it is to measure the brass with a set of callipers set to max. case length, never mind then sorting it into two batches and revisiting the stuff that needs trimming and chamfering.

 
Giraud is slick if you're sizing thousands, pretty spendy for a few hundred
Hand tools work good enough , Frankford Arsenal has a decent trimmer for a drill set-up
 
"8 thou is hardly anything. It is certainly a long way from being dangerous. Case OAL spec has a ton of safety margin. I recently got into loading 303 Brit and when I measured fired cases, some once-fired were easily .050" over."

Hmmm... I recently ran into an issue with some once fired (by me) brass in 22 Hi Power. I made the assumption that I could get away without a trim for the first reload. I noticed that most brass was tight to chamber, and several wouldnt chamber at all. I assumed that I had not sized them properly, and re-did a few. No luck. Got my verniers out and measured the case length. Sure enough, the offending cases were between 5 and 7 thou over. Trimmed them up and they chambered fine. Note to self (and the OP)...
 
Thanks for the replies. Just figured I'd ask in case the consensus was something like "Generally once fired cases are still under max length, you should be fine", buuut the responses were pretty much what I expected. Guess I'm just gonna have to suck it up and not be lazy, lol.
 
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