.223 Case Length Variation - Trimming

[mkink]

I am just starting to reload .223 and started with a Dillon 650XL and the RT1500 case trimmer. I set up the case prep toolhead with the Dillon sizing/decapping die and the case trimmer. After setting up the trimmer for 1.75", and I ran some brass through the process. I measured the first few cases and the case length was fairly consistent at 1.748"-1.751". After running several hundred case through the process, I decided to measure the case. The case length varied significantly; ~1.738-1.750". The trimmer dies is fairly tight and so is the locking nut for the trimmer. I find it difficult to tighten the trimmer too much because when you tighten the trimmer, the trimmer dies get loosened. So, my questions,

1. Will these shorter cases (1.738" or so) be alright to load? Or, should I scrap the short case? How short is acceptable? I am shooting an AR rifle.

2. Is this variation normal for the trimmer? Or, is there something that is not right with the setup?

Thanks again for your help!

[TonytheTiger]

I can't answer your questions regarding trimmer variation but I've loaded plenty of brass that short. Actually all the Freedom Munitions reman ammo seems to be trimmed right around 1.74 or slightly shorter.

[z40acp]

Could the bigger variation be because of not sizing a case or were there too many of them?

[Religious Shooter]

I would say that's a normal variation for mixed fired (1x, 2x, 3x, ... etc.) brass with different head stamps.

If you want less trimmed OAL variation with the cases you would need to sort with the same head stamp and if you want it to be tighter even more try using brass with also the same amount of firings.

You can also try trimming/holding it a fraction of a second more and see if that helps.

With my hoser ammo I wouldn't even bother with the above.

[Religious Shooter]

Also if the lube wasn't consistent (in a given range) that could also cause an increase in the variation. If some were harder to take out because of the amount of lube... from what I've seen those tend to be longer than the rest. If it's tight either the body or the neck is being stretched out to more than normal when they are taken out.

[mkink]

Thanks for the replies. These casings were once fired LC and FC head stamped. It did seem like there was more variation with the FC head stamp than the LC. This is just for hoser ammo as well. It sounds like these will be fine to load, and it is expected with the case trimmer. I did move fairly quickly when trimming, so that could be cause for some of the variation.

[Lazr111]

Probably already looked into it, but how tight is your shell plate?

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

[RiggerJJ]

Lubing consistently is important...but more so is to hold the handle down for a one potato, two potato. It will give you more exact trims with same headstamp.

jj

[loaded605]

What brass are you using and what were the lengths before resize and trim? Is it mixed once or twice fired or new? If it is mixed brass there will be mixed lengths. Not all of them will resize and stretch over 1.750.

[RDA]

Some of your brass could have been shorter than 1.750" (hence never trimmed further).

If you want consistency, you need to sort your brass and all of it has to start out longer than your trim length.

[dauntedfuture]

Its also possible that you picked up some brass that was already reloaded and trimmed short. .012 is a lot of variation.