Case length?

[Iggy]

I just measured my case length using the a spare case and plug tool. It averaged about 2.045 for .308 5R.

Is this normal for there too be this much room out of a factory Remington?

Should I now trim my cases longer or keep trimming them to 2.015?

If I trim the cases longer will this increase the amount of friction holding the bullet?

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Case length?

Trimming the cases to the max length -.010" will help extend the life of your chamber throat. Or you can trim them all short and loose your throat in 1/3 of the rounds.

 

[Iggy]

Re: Case length?

So I should trim to 2.035?

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Case length?

That's what I would do. But I can't tell you what YOU should do. If you have two rifles chambered for the same round, it can make troubles.

 

[Iggy]

Re: Case length?

It's only for 1 rifle. I'll give it a try.

 

[918v]

Re: Case length?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Iggy.</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just measured my case length using the a spare case and plug tool. It averaged about 2.045 for .308 5R.

Is this normal for there too be this much room out of a factory Remington?

Should I now trim my cases longer or keep trimming them to 2.015?

If I trim the cases longer will this increase the amount of friction holding the bullet? </div></div>

Yes. My LTR measures the same. If you wanna trim after every firing, then let the cases grow. The longer the neck, the more friction on the bullet, but the additional amount we're talking about here is negligible.

 

[Iggy]

Re: Case length?

Thanks for the replies!

 

[RTH1800]

Re: Case length?

Iggy,
I find that most chambers are on the long side. I think that is likely for safety. I am always in a delimma about trimming. I want them uniform, but not too short. So, what I do is to trim min amount to near uniform all cases in the lot and "let them grow to the chamber". I do not think you will get only 1/3 the rounds if you trim short. I would guess that most all of us are shooting far short of chamber length, which is what you were measuring, not case length, with that gauge.
RTH

 

[Iggy]

Re: Case length?

That's what I was thinking. Am I going to run into problems if have my case length close to chamber length?

 

[tnichols]

Re: Case length?

I've been following this thread and as a relative newby to rifle reloading, am I an idiot for trimming my brass to what the loading manual(s) recommend which is 2.005? I've reloaded 100 doing ladder tests and such with the brass trimmed to 2.005 and have had good results so far. Looking for opinions.

 

[RTH1800]

Re: Case length?

You seldom are an idiot for folling the rules. IF you wish to really fine tune a load, you can purchase from Sinclair International a chamber lenght gauge or make one. They cost about 5.00 and work in a case with a shortened neck. You cutoff about 50% of the neck and insert the guage. You often need to put a dent in the neck to hold it more firmly. Close the bolt on it and remove and mike, repeat a few times and get the nominal # that you can reproduce. That is your chamber length. Then you can trim to .010 of that lenght if you wish. You are doing nothing wrong now. If you have a tight neck chamber you might find the guage needs a bit of "dressing down" to go in. Hope that is clear.

 

[Iggy]

Re: Case length?

^
What he said.

I'm a new to all this as well, but I have been trimming to book max on the 308 which is 2.015. It works fine right now and I produce some really nice groups, but now that I have a good "base" load I'm trying to find what my rifle likes. I just got a gauge to measure headspace and the overall length to get close to the lands.

 

[tnichols]

Re: Case length?

Thanks for the advice!I'm always trying to learn more about this crazy game.