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9/19/2009 5:42:51 AM EDT
I am getting ready to load my test loads for my Colt HBAR. Its my first go at rifle loads. I have 100 cases sized & ready to be trimmed. I know that the ideal trim to length is 1.750.
In the cases I have ready to be trimmed, none of them are longer than 1.750Most of them are much shorter. Out of the 15 I recorded they were 1.735 - 1.748 with 1 at 1.752
Does that mean they werent sized correctly? Do I have to discard them? Do I need to start over?
They are Federal mil cases that were swaged already with the Dillon Swage tool. I was prepared to load Sierra 69gr BTHP, but the OAL will be varied due the starting case length
9/19/2009 7:06:15 AM EDT
[#1]
FC cases are short until they stretch.

Just debur them and load.

If you use another brand of brass, they would most likely need trimming.
9/19/2009 8:30:09 AM EDT
[#2]
Deburr and load like he said.   Since you are using match bullets sans cannelure I would not crimp them.   The OAL of the loaded round has nothing to do with case length so you are good to go.
9/19/2009 8:43:59 AM EDT
[#3]
Thanks Guys. Just what I needed to know.
9/19/2009 10:20:02 AM EDT
[#4]
Consider yourself blessed. I have the opposite problem with a bunch of brass. A batch of remington brass from some of their bulk packs are all way over length. I have noticed that the Prvi Partisan stuff tends to start short but in spec and have pretty much settled on their 69grn 223 match load as my factory ammo of choice for general use. Shoot that, reload brass with no swaging or trimming (at least at first)... Saves time and energy and it's well priced ammo these days. So far Prvi, both the 223 match stuff and M193, has been 100% in my MP15 so it works out nicely.
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