When is it trimed to short

bill k · December 11, 2004, 12:14 PM

I'm a new fairly new reloader so I ask lots of questions.
When is the brass trimed to short?
My Speer manual says to trim my 22-250 brass to 1.902 in.
I just checked my first case and it's trimed to 1.893 in. Not a big deal, right? But if that's OK, when is it too short?

Edward429451 · December 11, 2004, 03:15 PM

It's trimmed too short when there's not enough neck left to afford a secure hold on the bullet. Seat a couple bullets in the short cases and measure the OAL, then hold them down against a bathrrom scale and push against the bullet until you get 30 lbs and remeasure the OAL to see if it seated it deeper if it didn't they're ok to use.

pearson1662 · December 14, 2004, 04:44 PM

Why 30 pounds?

Edward429451 · December 14, 2004, 07:03 PM

Why 30 lbs? Uh, because that's what one of the fine people here on TFL (or was it THR, can't remember) told me when we was discussing similar issues awhile back. I had bought a Lee trimmer kit for use with a cordless drill and some of my .223 brass came out a little short so I asked the same question as Bill K.

I've been using 30 lbs ever since to test my loads and it works for me. Certainly sounds high enough to ensure no bullet setback. I use it as a minimum, my digi scale takes a moment or two to give a reading and if its above 30 I call it good and measure the OAL again. Kind of hard on the palm to do this, I found that if you use a chunk of 2 X 4 on top the bullet to push with its a lot easier. Especially with those pointy .223's.

30Cal · December 14, 2004, 07:12 PM

30lbs sounds reasonable. M2 and M80 ball ammo requirement is 60lbs.

December 11, 2004, 12:14 PM	#1
bill k Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2004 Location: Dog Creek, CA Posts: 457	When is it trimed to short I'm a new fairly new reloader so I ask lots of questions. When is the brass trimed to short? My Speer manual says to trim my 22-250 brass to 1.902 in. I just checked my first case and it's trimed to 1.893 in. Not a big deal, right? But if that's OK, when is it too short?

December 11, 2004, 03:15 PM	#2
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	It's trimmed too short when there's not enough neck left to afford a secure hold on the bullet. Seat a couple bullets in the short cases and measure the OAL, then hold them down against a bathrrom scale and push against the bullet until you get 30 lbs and remeasure the OAL to see if it seated it deeper if it didn't they're ok to use.

December 14, 2004, 04:44 PM	#3
pearson1662 Member Join Date: June 4, 2004 Posts: 52	Why 30 pounds?

December 14, 2004, 07:03 PM	#4
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Why 30 lbs? Uh, because that's what one of the fine people here on TFL (or was it THR, can't remember) told me when we was discussing similar issues awhile back. I had bought a Lee trimmer kit for use with a cordless drill and some of my .223 brass came out a little short so I asked the same question as Bill K. I've been using 30 lbs ever since to test my loads and it works for me. Certainly sounds high enough to ensure no bullet setback. I use it as a minimum, my digi scale takes a moment or two to give a reading and if its above 30 I call it good and measure the OAL again. Kind of hard on the palm to do this, I found that if you use a chunk of 2 X 4 on top the bullet to push with its a lot easier. Especially with those pointy .223's.

December 14, 2004, 07:12 PM	#5
30Cal Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2002 Posts: 1,264	30lbs sounds reasonable. M2 and M80 ball ammo requirement is 60lbs.