Trimming brass

brandonwiles · January 17, 2017, 12:16 PM

Hello,
I'm new to the site and new to reloading, had a quick question. So, I bought new federal .223 brass. I'm on my 2nd reload on them and I've noticed that my brass hasn't grown in length at all yet. It was concerning to me because I've read other places that guys have to trim their brass after every fire, and yet I haven't had to touch mine yet. Am I doing something wrong or is this normal?
-Brandon

jackstrawIII · January 17, 2017, 12:43 PM

You're fine. Trimming brass down to length is an "as needed" step... so if you don't need it (yet) then just count yourself lucky and keep shooting.

Ps. It's a good idea to check length between each firing. Keep doing that, but don't address a problem that doesn't exist.

cdoc42 · January 17, 2017, 01:18 PM

I agree with Jackstraw. It may be all of your brass was already at the minimum length to begin with. Did you happen to measure the virgin brass? Once you have to start trimming, you'll reflect on this as an enjoyable, but short-lived,experience. Have fun reloading!!

T. O'Heir · January 17, 2017, 02:19 PM

Yep, trimming is an 'as required' thing only. As long as your cases are under the max case length given in your manual(1.760"), you don't need to do anything.
Brand new brass will need checking for length(rarely needs trimming), FL sizing and chamfering and deburring.

nukeandjuke · January 17, 2017, 02:24 PM

If u wanna trim brass, I can send you some

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

brandonwiles · January 17, 2017, 04:30 PM

I did measure the virgin brass. It measured to be 1.740. Which is at the very low end from what I've seen. Thanks for the help!

cdoc42 · January 18, 2017, 09:30 AM

You may want to look into RCBS's "X" dies - when set up properly they are supposed to limit brass growth and reduce the trimming frequency.

JeepHammer · January 19, 2017, 08:58 AM

Brass 'Bloats', the sides bulge out when fired making the length shorter, not longer.
This is particularly the case with 'Semi-Auto' chambers since they are 'Loose' to facilitate the auto-loading process.

Two things to remeber here,
1. Neck length isn't important as far as accuracy goes.
The primary function of the neck is simply to hold the bullet more or less centered with the barrel.
Secondary function is a gas seal, but the shoulder does most of that work.

2. As you push the case sides back in where they belong, and he shoulder/Datum Line back where it belongs to headspace properly,
The brass has nowhere to go but 'Up' into the top of the die.

The higher pressures you run, and the softer brass you use will determine how much the brass 'Grows' (how much brass from the side walls migrates forward) with repeated sizing/loading/firing.

With .223/5.56 'Range' brass, I trim to MINIMUM while I'm swaging primer pockets etc on he second loading and never touch it again.
Since I'm not loading super hot for a bolt gun the brass never needs to be trimmed again.

The one thing that precise trimming is needed for is CONSISTANT crimps when you use the seater/crimp dies.
Collet style 'Factory Crimp' dies don't care what length the brass is within reason,
But a seater/roll crimp die MUST have the same length cases to work properly.
(Hense the popularity of the 'Factory Crimp' collet dies, nobody likes trimming!)

January 17, 2017, 12:16 PM	#1
brandonwiles Junior Member Join Date: January 16, 2017 Posts: 2	Trimming brass Hello, I'm new to the site and new to reloading, had a quick question. So, I bought new federal .223 brass. I'm on my 2nd reload on them and I've noticed that my brass hasn't grown in length at all yet. It was concerning to me because I've read other places that guys have to trim their brass after every fire, and yet I haven't had to touch mine yet. Am I doing something wrong or is this normal? -Brandon

January 17, 2017, 12:43 PM	#2
jackstrawIII Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2016 Location: Upstate NY. Posts: 912	You're fine. Trimming brass down to length is an "as needed" step... so if you don't need it (yet) then just count yourself lucky and keep shooting. Ps. It's a good idea to check length between each firing. Keep doing that, but don't address a problem that doesn't exist. __________________ In God we trust.

January 17, 2017, 01:18 PM	#3
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,772	I agree with Jackstraw. It may be all of your brass was already at the minimum length to begin with. Did you happen to measure the virgin brass? Once you have to start trimming, you'll reflect on this as an enjoyable, but short-lived,experience. Have fun reloading!!

January 17, 2017, 02:19 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Yep, trimming is an 'as required' thing only. As long as your cases are under the max case length given in your manual(1.760"), you don't need to do anything. Brand new brass will need checking for length(rarely needs trimming), FL sizing and chamfering and deburring.

January 17, 2017, 02:24 PM	#5
nukeandjuke Member Join Date: January 1, 2017 Posts: 17	If u wanna trim brass, I can send you some Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

January 17, 2017, 04:30 PM	#6
brandonwiles Junior Member Join Date: January 16, 2017 Posts: 2	I did measure the virgin brass. It measured to be 1.740. Which is at the very low end from what I've seen. Thanks for the help!

January 18, 2017, 09:30 AM	#7
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,772	You may want to look into RCBS's "X" dies - when set up properly they are supposed to limit brass growth and reduce the trimming frequency.

January 19, 2017, 08:58 AM	#8
JeepHammer Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2015 Posts: 1,768	Brass 'Bloats', the sides bulge out when fired making the length shorter, not longer. This is particularly the case with 'Semi-Auto' chambers since they are 'Loose' to facilitate the auto-loading process. Two things to remeber here, 1. Neck length isn't important as far as accuracy goes. The primary function of the neck is simply to hold the bullet more or less centered with the barrel. Secondary function is a gas seal, but the shoulder does most of that work. 2. As you push the case sides back in where they belong, and he shoulder/Datum Line back where it belongs to headspace properly, The brass has nowhere to go but 'Up' into the top of the die. The higher pressures you run, and the softer brass you use will determine how much the brass 'Grows' (how much brass from the side walls migrates forward) with repeated sizing/loading/firing. With .223/5.56 'Range' brass, I trim to MINIMUM while I'm swaging primer pockets etc on he second loading and never touch it again. Since I'm not loading super hot for a bolt gun the brass never needs to be trimmed again. The one thing that precise trimming is needed for is CONSISTANT crimps when you use the seater/crimp dies. Collet style 'Factory Crimp' dies don't care what length the brass is within reason, But a seater/roll crimp die MUST have the same length cases to work properly. (Hense the popularity of the 'Factory Crimp' collet dies, nobody likes trimming!)