.223 Trim length before resizing?

[Dark Mod]

Resizing first ads alot of pain to the whole .223 loading process, first you have to run 1000 rounds through a resizing die then the flash holes get media stuck in them when you tumble...

Anyone trim before resizing? if so what do you trim to?

[ocabj]

http://www.ocabj.net/?p=1896

[killshot44]

Anyone trim before resizing?

NEVER do this. The cases get longer only AFTER sizing and the length must be checked/trimmed after sizing.

The standard post-sizing trim-to length is 1.750" but generally, 1.750" to 1.760" work in most chambers.
I use to set my Possum Hollow trimmer to 1.755" for all .223 cases. A happy medium.

Ditch the Corn and use Walnut media instead. No sticky.

[FLIGHT762]

You can do your own experimenting. Take a measurement on a fired case. F/L size the case. Take a measurement. This will tell you about how much the case lengthens when resized. You can then determine what to trim fired cases to. I've found to cut them about .004" shorter than SAAMI recommended minimum.

The downside to trimming cases before sizing is cases mouths that are dented or out of round may not be trimmed properly or index on a pilot when trimming on a lathe type trimmer. When using a Gracey , Giraud or WFT type of trimmer, the cases have to be F/L sized to properly index on the case shoulder. I suppose it depends on what style of trimming you are doing.

I F/L size my cases prior to trimming, but for curiosity, I trimmed some cases prior to sizing and it worked fairly well on a lathe type trimmer.

Regardless, you still have to tumble after resizing and remove any media from the flash holes.

[damndave]

I never trim before resizing. Brass will grow when resizing. I don't see how it bring more pain the the process. You do the same steps, but just in a different order.

[Dark Mod]

I never trim before resizing. Brass will grow when resizing. I don't see how it bring more pain the the process. You do the same steps, but just in a different order.

I would have to run 1000 rounds through the press twice, once to deprime/resize then once to prime/charge/seat/crimp. I was just thinking that it grows by a certain amount when you resize, and by anticipating this you could just trim it by that much, tumble it, then run it through the press.

Plus i dont need to add an extra step to remove the media in the flash holes

[rsrocket1]

I was just thinking that it grows by a certain amount when you resize, and by anticipating this you could just trim it by that much, tumble it, then run it through the press.

Plus i dont need to add an extra step to remove the media in the flash holes

Yes it does grow by a certain amount. Do you know how consistent it is between manufacturers and age? If so, you are good to go. If you know that if you trim to a certain length and resizing will never stretch the neck beyond the max length, you solved your problem.

If you overestimate the stretch, the case is a little too short, no problem if it's not too short. If you underestimate the stretch, you might or might not blow up your gun when the case mouth gets trapped between the chamber and the bullet.

[thomashoward]

Size THEN trim
Do not try to shortcut the process. There are certain things you must do
and there are no shortcuts no matter how (lazy) easy you want it

[GeoffLinder]

Size THEN trim
Do not try to shortcut the process. There are certain things you must do
and there are no shortcuts no matter how (lazy) easy you want it

+1, this type of shortcut is not worth taking IMHO

[SpaceMan]

Like it was previously stated, it is almost completely unpredictable how much a case will stretch after resizing. I've never had media stuck in my flash holes though with corn cob or walnut. Do you let you're polish run in the tumbler with media for about 30 seconds to 1 min without casings 1st before you put them in? I have never used treated media but it looked a little bigger than untreated. As I've been told before and understand, reloading rifle casings is a pain and all the steps aren't always "fun" to do. But these steps are necessary and can cause damage, injury or even worst case be fatal if neglected. Do it properly or don't do it at all for not only your safety but the saftey of the other people around you.

[Arcaporale]

In addition to all the great info shared above its also worth noting that when brass grows during the sizing step it tends not to grow evenly. Look closely at your brass after resizing and some areas of the brass at the mouth will not be even.

Trimming evens out the case mouth in addition shortening it's length. This at least is an observation I have made in my short time reloading .223.

Do it right, don't try and cut corners. Not even sure how reversing this process would save you any time.

[17+1]

NEVER do this. The cases get longer only AFTER sizing and the length must be checked/trimmed after sizing.

The standard post-sizing trim-to length is 1.750" but generally, 1.750" to 1.760" work in most chambers.
I use to set my Possum Hollow trimmer to 1.755" for all .223 cases. A happy medium.

+1...the brass gets pushed up towards the mouth during sizing. I've never heard of trimming before full length sizing...

Ditch the Corn and use Walnut media instead. No sticky.

Yep. Walnut with a couple spoon fulls of brass polish, every couple thousands cases works great for me.