243 case trimming

[blade]

Hey y'all,
I got some 243 cases and some are trimmed and some not trimmed.

My question is, what is the minimum case length for a 243 and what is the maximum amount you could/should be able to trim and still use the cases?

Thanks,
B

[Love Life]

My Lyman 49th manual says....

[Love Life]

Then there is this:

http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Rifle/243%20Winchester.pdf

And this:

https://www.google.com/#q=.243+winchester+case+length

[Artful]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.243_Winchester Case length 2.045 in (51.9 mm)

The standard 243 trim to length is 2.035

[Artful]

Wow - SAAMI is showing 0.020 off 2.045 - so that would be 2.025 as minimum trim length?!

What I would do in your case is measure the cases you have - if the trimmed ones are over 2.020 and under 2.035 I'd just find the shortest length and trim them all to match.
If the cases you have are not trimmed to 2.035 or under, I'd trim them all back to 2.035.

[Love Life]

I like to trim to 2.040.

[Artful]

I'm lazy so I trim to minimum and don't trim again until it get's to max - the shorter I trim the fewer times I have to do it.

If I wasn't so cheap and bought RCBS X dies I probably would also. :drinks: