Trimming Brass .308

[Williamb]

I know there's been some recent threads on .308 trimming but my question is a bit different and would appreciate some suggestions on what <span style="font-weight: bold">you</span> would do.

After fireforming I trimmed all my brass to 2.005. After the second firing and doing a full length resizing my brass now is anywhere from approximately 2.000 to 2.004. I was fully expecting that after full length resizing the cases would all exceed 2.005 and I would need to trim them back again to this length. Would you trim everything back to the minimum length of the shortest case for consistency?

Thanks,

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: Trimming Brass .308

.004" is nothing. Just load them up and shoot them til they get to 2.015", or whatever your max case length is in your rifle (which is proabably more than 2.015"). Worry more about a consistant powder charge and consistant brass prep.

 

[squirrelsniper]

Re: Trimming Brass .308

+1

Even if you trim them all to the shortest length, the next time you fire and size them, you'll likely have a few that vary by .002 or so anyway. If you had a variance of .01" then I might worry about it. In other words... Shoot more, worry less

 

[Williamb]

Re: Trimming Brass .308

Thanks for the replies.

 

[samnev]

Re: Trimming Brass .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: squirrelsniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">+1

Even if you trim them all to the shortest length, the next time you fire and size them, you'll likely have a few that vary by .002 or so anyway. If you had a variance of .01" then I might worry about it. In other words... Shoot more, worry less

</div></div>

+1

 

[Furtaker_.223]

Re: Trimming Brass .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Santo</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: squirrelsniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">+1

Even if you trim them all to the shortest length, the next time you fire and size them, you'll likely have a few that vary by .002 or so anyway. If you had a variance of .01" then I might worry about it. In other words... Shoot more, worry less

</div></div>

+1</div></div>
+1

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Trimming Brass .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChadTRG42</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.004" is nothing. Just load them up and shoot them til they get to 2.015", or whatever your max case length is in your rifle (which is proabably more than 2.015"). Worry more about a consistant powder charge and consistant brass prep. </div></div>

+1...

Listen to Chad.

It isn't uncommon for new brass to actually measure shorter the first 2 times it's fired. When the brass is fired the first time it has to fill out to fill your chamber. Usually that makes the brass shorter as it fills out the top of the chamber near the shoulder area. The second firing will do the same, but not to the same degree as the first firing. USUALLY, new brass doesn't start to measurable grow until the 3rd or 4th firing.

After that for bolt rifles I prefer to measure to fit the specific chamber. Shooting a lot of "trimmed too short" brass will cause premature wear on the throat area of the chamber.

Good luck.