Triming .223 Brass

[Guest BobPayne44]

ok quick question

when trimming .223 brass does everyone trim down to 1.750? like every book says Trim To Length?

reason asking if you trim to 1.750 the Chanfur and debur you may go below the minimum 1.750

thanks

[Dolomite_supafly]

I wouldn't worry about going below the minimum as the case headspaces on the shoulder. It is the excessive headspace that will cause issues.

I routinely have brass that measures at 1.745 and never gave it a second thought. As long as the brass will hold the bullet there is nothing to worry about.

Dolomite

[R_Bert]

When you chamfer (inside) and debur (outside), there is no need to do more than 1-2 turns. In my case,I use a RCBS prep station, and with one turn, I see no noticable difference in case length.

RCBS Prep station - RCBS Trim Mate™ Case Prep Center, Tools & Accessories, Reloading, Shooting : Cabela's

Setting up the prep station for trimming brass -

This example is for .308, but I do the same for a number of other calibers also (including .223 Rem).

If I really want to get precise (the RCBS adaption has +/-~.0005 wobble but is *very* fast), I use a Wilson-Sinclair Ultimate, which has a very nice micrometer and stand adapted to the reliable and well known Wilson trimmer - Sinclair Stainless Ultimate Trimmer - Sinclair Intl . This thing is pricey, but it really works well. (I got it because Lee does not make a case length gage for .204 Ruger that I can use with the RCBS).

B.

Edited September 19, 2011 by R_Bert

[Guest BobPayne44]

yea the RCBS Prep station - RCBS Trim Mate™ Case Prep Center, Tools & Accessories, Reloading, Shooting : Cabela's

is the one i ordered and tracking shows its out for delivery today

[broylz]

i use a Possum Hollow manual trimmer and place my brass in a cordless drill chuck. the PH trimmer trims to minimum length. then i use the Lee deburring tool. i dont think the deburring tool would take much, if any off of the length but ive never measured before and after. i just take off the burrs. dont really take much off.

[R_Bert]

yea the RCBS Prep station - RCBS Trim Mate™ Case Prep Center, Tools & Accessories, Reloading, Shooting : Cabela's

is the one i ordered and tracking shows its out for delivery today

Great. Now set up your RCBS Prep station for trimming to length.

Order one of these - Lee Case Trimmer Cutter and Lock Stud - MidwayUSA . Center drill and tap the base for a 8-32 thread. It is hardened steel, so yes, it is tough. Use carbide tools or get a machine shop to do it. Insert and locktight (on the base end, not the prep station !) a 8-32 stud (cut off a screw). Leave about 3/8" sticking out, and about 3/8" threaded inside the base.

Order one of these - Lee Case Length Gage and Shellholder 223 Remington - MidwayUSA . Insert the length gage into the face of the cutter, just barely flush with case. Be careful, the cutter *will* shave the gage if you twist it in too hard, and you will end up with cases trimmed too short. Use the shell holder with the lock-stud that comes with the cutter above to complete the shell holder, which slips into a magnetic screw driver.

Thread the modified cutter/gage assembly onto a prep-station shaft.

You are ready to trim !

B.

[Guest BobPayne44]

already have both of them on the way too. was wondering how i could fasten it to the prep station.

got a big blister on right thumb from about 1000 223 cases at one sitting using the lyman case trimmer

[R_Bert]

Great. Now set up your RCBS Prep station for trimming to length.

Order one of these - Lee Case Trimmer Cutter and Lock Stud - MidwayUSA . Center drill and tap the base for a 8-32 thread. It is hardened steel, so yes, it is tough. Use carbide tools or get a machine shop to do it. Insert and locktight (on the base end, not the prep station !) a 8-32 stud (cut off a screw). Leave about 3/8" sticking out, and about 3/8" threaded inside the base.

Order one of these - Lee Case Length Gage and Shellholder 223 Remington - MidwayUSA . Insert the length gage into the face of the cutter, just barely flush with case. Be careful, the cutter *will* shave the gage if you twist it in too hard, and you will end up with cases trimmed too short. Use the shell holder with the lock-stud that comes with the cutter above to complete the shell holder, which slips into a magnetic screw driver.

Thread the modified cutter/gage assembly onto a prep-station shaft.

You are ready to trim !

B.

BTW, I keep handy a small pair of channel lock pliers with the jaws wrapped in rubber tape (Scotch 130C at Home Depot, etc). It is a useful finger saver for easily snugging down and releasing the .223 case in that shell holder/mag driver. Just snug. Don't ape it, and it will greatly reduce the number of times the case gets ejected during trimming on the RCBS prep station.

[LngRngShtr]

I tend to go lightly on the chamfering after trimming just enough to break the edge and remove any trim flash (?) not to make a razor ring out of it..

I also tend to trim long so the calipers read to the fat side of a trim to length, a thou or so.

John

[dlm37015]

i tend to trim my 223 cases a little short that way i can usually get 3 reloads before trimming again .i only trim 223 thats shot in my ars 2 times then throw away.i made a trimmer out of and old press and a table top drill a few years ago but now use a gracey