FC .223/5.56 brass

[bigjake]

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]

to save brass?
I dunno, they like to make the primer pockets big too.

[dkf]

I have found a lot of them are 1.740". That suits me fine since I trim to that for my X-die.

[GabbyM]

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]

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]

They go straight to the scrap bucket for me. I hate crimped primer pockets.

[Bonz]

They go straight to the scrap bucket for me. I hate crimped primer pockets.

LOL, they are only crimped one time

[Dusty Bannister]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/arch...p/t-23965.html

Might be of interest to some.

[dkf]

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...0Remington.pdf

[dale2242]

Haven`t we been here before?
Maybe it needs to be said again.....dale

[GabbyM]

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.