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[SpaceMan]

I have about 1200 - 1600 .223 casings all once fired. I really don't feel like trimming deburring and chamfering all these casings if I don't have too. Obviously I don't want to put my firearms or my self in harms way so how much do these things stretch after being fired once? What's the standard case length? I remember reading in here that 5.56 casings have a longer neck than .223 so if I have a 5.56 chambered rifle and the casings aren't stretched much (a few 10,000ths) is that safe?

I know the case length can be found in my books but they're currently being loaned to a buddy.

[GunNut1980]

It's very important. If your cases are too long, it can create excessive pressures because the very small amount of headspace present needed for the brass to expand is gone. The case will have no choice but to expand forward and cause grater tension on the bullet. Trimming is crucial in all rifle brass. It operates at far higher pressures than pistol.

How much a case will stretch is subjective to say the least. Hotter rounds will lead to more stretching than lower to middle charges. If your rifle has excessive headspace that will cause stretching.

If your're not willing to spend the time to reload correctly, then please dont bother. It could be your life or the person next to you that pays for your laziness.

According to the Hornady 8th edition:

Max Case length is 1.760" or 44.70 MM
Case Trim Length is 1.750" or 44.44 MM

[GeoffLinder]

If they are at or under 1.760" then they are OK for one more firing at most. If they are over 1.760" then they need trimming before loading (1.750" is trim length spec for .223).

Typically, 1x brass can be re-sized and loaded one more time without trimming but after that you need to check length (after re-sizing) each time to see if they need trimming.

Myself, I use a Gracey power trimmer so I trim all cases after re-sizing, every time

[ocabj]

If you're a high volume reloader and shooter, then get a Giraud: http://www.ocabj.net/?p=683

[grant22]

Spaceman, no one said reloading was all fun and games. There are a few poop sandwiches you have to eat especially with rifle brass. Two of those poop sandwiches that come to mind are trimming and military crimp removal.

On both of those items, you can go cheap and keep eating the poop sandwich, or do what some of us have done: get the good stuff that makes those two tasks more like a poop sandwich with chocolate sprinkles.

Giraud, Gracey, and Dillon's trimmer all are examples as well as the Possum Hollow and WFT trimmers.

As others have mentioned, you gotta do it. You might also consider buying a case gauge so you can tell instantly if they need to be trimmed. MY once fired stuff tends to stretch and need trimming. But I also trim after every resize.

[Coyotegunner]

What Gun nut said.Really,prep of the brass is like sanding and doing body work on a car before paint.It is the worst and monotonous job.It has to be done to have a proper job when complete.I ended up buying a RCBS power trimmer,and since bought the trim/chamfer/debur cutters for 223 and 308.It is a little expensive,but has paid for itself to me,the first time I used it.Talk your friend that has your books into splitting the cost of one.I do like Geoff and run them through the trimmer every time.

[bubbapug1]

Sounds like you need a case gauge too. How can you size and trim brass without a case gage...you can't..

Or you can wing it and blow up your gun and or hand eventually, no biggie there right?? On some things you need to pay the piper. Brass prep is one of them unless you take your brass to a brass prep guy like mattman.

[rsrocket1]

If you want to reload without trimming do this:

• Resize/deprime your brass.
• Lock your calipers to 1.760"
• Sort your cases
• Load the ones less than or equal to 1.1760" and save your trimming drudgery for the others later.
• Keep reloading those cases and sort until you have no more, then "bite the bullet" and trim.

[bubbapug1]

Sounds like you need a case gauge too. How can you size and trim brass without a case gage...you can't..

Or you can wing it and blow up your gun and or hand eventually, no biggie there right?? On some things you need to pay the piper. Brass prep is one of them unless you take your brass to a brass prep guy like mattman.

[rspar]

If you want to reload without trimming do this:

• Resize/deprime your brass.
• Lock your calipers to 1.760"
• Sort your cases
• Load the ones less than or equal to 1.1760" and save your trimming drudgery for the others later.
• Keep reloading those cases and sort until you have no more, then "bite the bullet" and trim.

Might start doing that myself

[CSACANNONEER]

No need to trim if you don't mind loosing a hand, an eye, part of your face or dying. If you happen to enjoy coming home from the range with all the fingers that you went there with, you might want to trim your brass.

[Fyathyrio]

Even if you don't consider the safety aspects, you will not have good quality accurate ammo with case lengths all over the place. A Possum Hollow trimmer and a drill press or other rotary power tool can make it a relatively painless process. Here's my method, quick and easy, and relatively inexpensive as I was able to utilize many tools I already owned.

[thenodnarb]

Very.

Its part of reloading rifle rounds. Get used to it or get a power trimmer.

[SpaceMan]

If you want to reload without trimming do this:

• Resize/deprime your brass.
• Lock your calipers to 1.760"
• Sort your cases
• Load the ones less than or equal to 1.1760" and save your trimming drudgery for the others later.
• Keep reloading those cases and sort until you have no more, then "bite the bullet" and trim.

That's more the answer I was looking for.
Thank you!
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I'm using a WFT at the moment and also have a dillon case guage. From what I can tell alot of the brass is within spec but I'll be double checking with my calipers.

I understand the process of reloading and have been doing so for some time. I have always used my uncles setup (single stage) which is for low volume production. Obviously I didn't have as much to process so it wasn't a big deal. I've recently gone progressive so yes I have questions that may seem out of line.

[grant22]

Spaceman, if you have a WFT (I'm not sure how they work) and it's quick and easy, it may be quicker to send ALL your brass through it. That's how I use my Giraud. ALL brass goes in, only those that need trimmed get trimmed.