Trimming Once Fired Brass

[FTRRookie]

I apologize for what I'm sure is a newbie question, but I've just gotten back from the range and now have 80 cases that have been fired once, in my rifle, and I'm wondering if trimming is an absolute must at this point.

I've measured them, and all are less than the maximum case length of 2.015" (they are 308s), and they don't appear to have stretched at all from the sampling of brand new cases I have compared them to.

I have already deprimed and neck sized them, and if it matters, it's Lapua brass.

Thanks for any advice you're willing to share.

Scott

 

[acrashb]

If you have already sized them (which you have) and they are under the max length, you are good to go. You would only trim if you wanted to uniform the length for uniform grip, which makes only a small difference in load quality for most purposes, or if you were crimping and needed consistent lengths to get a consistent crimp.

 

[BCboy]

Size first and trim if they need to be trim

 

[Machinist]

Trimming

I use the same brass in my .308 Ftr rifle and I put 5 firings on them before I trimmed them if they are MIT over max length and cycle properly don't bother .

 

[BCboy]

I use the same brass in my .308 Ftr rifle and I put 5 firings on them before I trimmed them if they are MIT over max length and cycle properly don't bother .

are you neck sizing ? cases grow very little that are fireformed to your chamber

 

[fiddler]

I use the same brass in my .308 Ftr rifle and I put 5 firings on them before I trimmed them if they are MIT over max length and cycle properly don't bother .

X2

Maybe not always five loads, but they grow small when you load them light. Max length is more important for crimping, actually its critical, but I only crimp for hunting loads that get banged around alot in the magazine and such. For target loads, I never crimp and they seem to shoot better without it.

 

[Machinist]

Trimming

Yes I neck size my rounds . I maintain a .002" neck tension on my loads , I anneal the necks after five firings so I totally recondition the brass after annealing , re form the primer pockets / bump the shoulders / trim all of them
To the same length.

 

[hk33ka1]

Machinist how can I reform my primer pockets?

 

[Machinist]

Sinclair

I use a Sinclair pocket uniformer tool , if you have a look on their website you can have a look at the tool it comes in a kit with a large and small
Primer pocket tool , it works quite well

Machinist how can I reform my primer pockets?

 

[hk33ka1]

Oh ok, you mean uniform. Yeah I have the Sinclair, much better than the Lyman and the collar/set screw that is supposed to keep depth standard.