PDA

View Full Version : FC .223/5.56 brass



bigjake
11-15-2014, 08:47 PM
Does anyone know why FC .223 cases are so darn short? I want to trim them to 1.750 but they run way shorter than this.
why does federal make them so short?

runfiverun
11-15-2014, 10:03 PM
to save brass?
I dunno, they like to make the primer pockets big too.

dkf
11-15-2014, 10:15 PM
I have found a lot of them are 1.740". That suits me fine since I trim to that for my X-die.

GabbyM
11-15-2014, 11:51 PM
I have found a lot of them are 1.740". That suits me fine since I trim to that for my X-die.

FYI, RCBS x die directions call for an initial trimming to -.02" . Which would be 1.740" on a 223 Rem case.

For new brass. I've learned to tumble the nice pretty shinny brass in corn cob media before neck sizing. Else you get a galled up neck collet or die body. Your FC brass will get longer soon enough. Especially if you're shooting a 5.56mm NATO chamber then FL sizing.

bigjake
11-16-2014, 02:40 AM
All reloading books call for .223 brass to be trimmed to 1.750" I'vr never seen anything saying to trim to 1.740".

tomme boy
11-16-2014, 09:11 AM
They go straight to the scrap bucket for me. I hate crimped primer pockets.

Bonz
11-16-2014, 09:12 AM
They go straight to the scrap bucket for me. I hate crimped primer pockets.

LOL, they are only crimped one time ;-)

Dusty Bannister
11-16-2014, 01:27 PM
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-23965.html

Might be of interest to some.

dkf
11-16-2014, 02:34 PM
All reloading books call for .223 brass to be trimmed to 1.750" I'vr never seen anything saying to trim to 1.740".

What is posted in reloading manuals are not set in stone. Matter of fact they are just a ballpark figure. I am more concerned with what the SAAMI specs are. FYI SAMMI specified brass length for .223 is 1.760" -.030". A trim length of 1.740" is well within spec.

http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Rifle/223%20Remington.pdf

dale2242
11-17-2014, 05:47 AM
Haven`t we been here before?
Maybe it needs to be said again.....dale

GabbyM
11-17-2014, 10:37 AM
All reloading books call for .223 brass to be trimmed to 1.750" I'vr never seen anything saying to trim to 1.740".

That's only because you've not read the directions that come with an RCBS X die set in 223. X dies are the specialty dies with a mandrel that holds the neck while full length sizing to help prevent case stretch. You trim to - .020" then after sizing a time or two they'll stretch a bit then stabilize at under the max length. If all goes well you don't ever have to trim them again. Plus the cases last a long time. It's aimed at auto loader rifles or others who feel the need to full length size every time.