got a .223 ruger mini 14 ......please help with case length.

[mozeppa]

book says trim to 1.750 and max is 1.760

i find that most of my once fired brass is 1.747 down to 1.742 to start with.

any harm in cutting them all back to 1.738 to 1.740 ?

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Seems as though...if I'm reading your measurements correctly...the once fired is already shorter than the "trim to" spec. So why trim them at all? I'd shoot them once more and then measure again, as they'll probably grow a little.

DG

[Bazoo]

You are measuring after sizing right? Sorry for the newb answer if you know this. It's easy to forget though.

[gpidaho]

I wouldn't trim them at all. I use the Dillon 223 taper crimp die when loading for an autoloader. Gp

[Lloyd Smale]

book says trim to 1.750 and max is 1.760

i find that most of my once fired brass is 1.747 down to 1.742 to start with.

any harm in cutting them all back to 1.738 to 1.740 ?

nope. i trim them all to 1.740 and by the time there to long the primer pockets are to loose to use anyway so i just toss them

[1006]

I am with GPIdaho. I would not trim them. The mini will never know the difference.

[sigep1764]

I made a mistake with my digital calipers when I started loading for 223 and I trimmed 2000 cases to 1.738. Most have been fired 6 or 7 times and have only grown to 1.741 or so. I crimp with a Lee factory crimp die for 223 which is a taper crimp. It hasn't seemed to hurt anything. I have bought more brass and trimmed to 1.750 and did not need to adjust the crimp when loading them. Considering this experience, I would say if you wanted uniform brass with uniform neck tension, you should be fine with trimming them all to the same length. Don't go too short, it could adversely affect neck tension, as in there not being enough neck to provide tension on the boolit.

[onelight]

Loading piles of ammo for semi auto rifles is what got me started with the Lee factory crimp dies . Since case length does not impact crimp , if case does not exceed max length your loads can be worked up to deal with untrimmed brass . If you are not looking for the tightest groups .

[sigep1764]

Exactly, onelight. When I get a 223 bolt gun, it might change, but for now its bulk plinking ammo.

[Blindshooter]

Measure the length of the chamber you are loading for. Lots of factory .223-5.56 chambers are long enough to never trim for.
Loading for more than one gun? Go with shortest one.

[Three44s]

Make sure you are reading your case length right and if it is indeed 1.74x then leave them alone and shoot them. The shortest I trim any of my .223” is 1.747” and that is your longest.

Three44s

[Burnt Fingers]

I've got a five gallon bucket of FC 223 brass and it's all in that 1.746-1.741 range.

I don't think I've seen a piece of FC brass that was longer than "trim to length".

[Dapaki]

I have a 186 series Mini and the throat is long enough to take most everything I can put through her. I too trim to 1.7400" and call it "good.

Burnt Fingers: I have a bunch of LC brass that after full length resizing (once fired) comes in at 1.68!! Will not fit my AR but I can schoot it in the Mini, no problemo! All my FC has been "short" too.

[Burnt Fingers]

I have a 186 series Mini and the throat is long enough to take most everything I can put through her. I too trim to 1.7400" and call it "good.

Burnt Fingers: I have a bunch of LC brass that after full length resizing (once fired) comes in at 1.68!! Will not fit my AR but I can schoot it in the Mini, no problemo! All my FC has been "short" too.

Wow! I haven't seen any LC that short.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Here's the hot tip for this round on New Years Day!. Use a Lee Factory Crimp Die as your final operation. It is not case length sensitive.

If you set up your bullet seat depth so the average case is pushed in to about half way up the Cannelure on the bullet, the die will crimp it in place perfectly.

Also small variations in case length will still crimp perfectly as the die is crimping in the cannelure of the bullet and doesn't care if the case is there or not. It is a "dead length" type of operation.

Believe me this die fixes this problem for good.

Also a Mini 14 won't care.

Randy

[nagantguy]

Trim or not to trim? If already below OAL I wouldn’t and save the time for another project, another thought someone already mentioned above- every mini I’ve ever owned shot or played with has a “generous “ chamber as far as length and I’ve never had a round fail to feed except do to magazine issues- and rarely a issue ejecting a spent case- with authority you’ll lose the brass most likely before it ever needs to be trimmed or pockets are loose.
Save the time trimming brass for a part time job so you can afford to buy factory magazines cause ruger sure is proud of them.

[Gator 45/70]

I use these https://sheridanengineering.com/product/223-rem-ammunition-gauge/

No guess work and you get to see what ya got