Does brass need to be all trimmed to the exact same length? Or do they just need to be under max trim length? How do you determine how far under max trim length to trim to?
Just trim to the trim to length. As long as it’s below that length, I don’t trim at all.
Depending on the shoulder angle, it’ll likely be like your 3rd firing when you have to trim.
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Mine has a trim to length but not a max trim length. Its for barnes bullets
Okay thanks! Are hand trimmers fine like the rcbs pro? Or do you need an automatic one?
I use the RCBS Pro and like it
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Good to hear!! Thanks
I used a Lyman hand trimmer every since I Started reloading in 1983. 4 years ago went to Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Prep and Trim Center Wow what a difference. Hand trimming makes intro to reloading a good learning curve.
Just don’t let brass exceed max length. When you trim you just need to get it close to trim length.
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Good to know, trying to make this as easy of a process as possible!
I just starting reloading. The first brass I used was Hornady box ammo that I saved. I used brass from 3 different types of Hornady ammo, but it was all Hornady. I had some brass over the max case length and some very close to the trim to length. Most was right at the max case length. All measurements were taking after i ran them through the full length resizing die.
I’ve heard several people say you don’t have to trim until the 2nd or 3rd shot. Is this just inconsistencies in the Hornady brass? I’m sure my resizing was not 100% perfect since it was the first time I did it. Could that have affected the case length?
Carey, I shoot 308 a lot, and I have never trimmed new brass of any brand. What you are doing is fine, and good for learning some things about brass prep, but, up to you how much time you want to invest. Really, the only reason I size new brass is to uniform the case mouth, and I chamfer the inside to make seating bullets easier, but that is it.
Carey, I misread your post, thought all was new brass, if it is fired, and you resize it, and it is over max length, then you need to trim it. How much brass will streache with each firing depends on a couple variables but yes, depending on the chamber and the pressure in the load, normally 3-4 firings before you need to worry about trimming. If you are talking a magnum then the stretching can be greater, especially with the belt magnums, headspace, die settings, should bump, etc. In a 7 Rem Mag, I buy once fired brass from Gunwerks, full length size it, load it and shoot it. Don’t check the overall length or trim till I get to the 4-5 firings point. I shoot Hornady new brass also in the 7RM and use the same process.
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I’m talking about 308 brass. There just seemed like a lot of variation in length, but it came from Hornady Superformance, American Whitetail and Precision Hunter. Not sure if there is variation from line to line.
Well, mixed brass fired across different rifles with different chambers is gonna give you varied measurements. If you want to sleep easy, and it seems like you dont mind doing the work, then I would full size them all and trim to length before you reload them; from that point you have a known start point, and if you keep them separated by which rifle you fire them in, it will help you on figuring out how many firings you can go before worrying about it again.
They have all been fired from the same 308. I just ordered some lapua brass from midway, but will not touch it for a while. I’ll shoot the 50 i started reloading and then play with the brass again. Once I feel like I’m not going to screw it up I’ll start trying the lapua brass out. Not even comfortable I’ve got the resizing down yet. lol
Lapua is good stuff. I would look at the mouths for uniformity, most will be good but not all. I have Lapua cases I have fired 15 times and never had an issue, but you should easily get 1000 rounds loaded out of 100 pieces of new brass. Basically, load shoot and measure at about 5 reloads for trimming, don’t weigh them as they are usually uniform enough. The necks will be thicker than the hornady or winchester so they will feel like more resistance generally when you load them, especially the first ones. They do chamfer the inside of the necks I seem to remember, if not still a good thing to do. I use a .335 to .337 bushing if you are doing those for my lapua brass.
Good luck
What make of 308 rifle are you shooting, if you dont mind telling me.
Bergara B-14 Ridge.
Ok, good gun…just wondering so I would have a feel for the chamber you are dealing with for sizing. Let me know how it goes.
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If you are getting into loading the 308, and you want some fun, economical loads to shoot great in every 308 I have ever had, then consider the Speer 125 TNT, loaded with Ramshot TAC or IMR 3031 / 4064, or Varget.
Tac is pretty affordable; those little bullets will give you solid groups out to 600 and you learn something about wind shooting them. The 125 Ballistic tip is great also with the same powders, easy to tune, and solid killer on deer if you hunt.