221Fireball Case Trimming

[ASbobcat]

How often are you Fireball shooters having to trim your cases?

Can you tell any difference among different brass brands?

 

[Rick in Oregon]

As mentioned in an earlier post to you, I shoot both the 221FB and 20VT on a regular basis. I seldom have to trim cases with up to 7 firings on them, and when needed, the removal is very light.

I'm using Lapua, Nosler and a bunch of old R-P FB brass for those rifles, and of course, I/we all wish Lapua would run more. No issues with any of the brass brands mentioned, can't tell any difference.

 

[ASbobcat]

As mentioned in an earlier post to you, I shoot both the 221FB and 20VT on a regular basis. I seldom have to trim cases with up to 7 firings on them, and when needed, the removal is very light.

I'm using Lapua, Nosler and a bunch of old R-P FB brass for those rifles, and of course, I/we all wish Lapua would run more. No issues with any of the brass brands mentioned, can't tell any difference.

I'm sorry if I asked the same question again. I thought I had asked about 222Rem before.

I'm old, and didn't do well on a recent cognitive ability test.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Gabe22BR]

I trim mine .003” short of max chamber length - every loading- I use Giaurd- too easy not to-

 

[ASbobcat]

The reason I have been asking about trimming 221 and 222 is I'm tired of trimming my 223 with the same 23deg shoulder.
I'm trying to understand why 221 and 222 don't require frequent trimming, while my 223 LC NATO brass needs a trim every third firing. And I'm using modest loads.

Maybe one of you engineers can 'splain it to me.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Most reamers cut the chambers maybe .020 LONGER than "max trim length". Know that going in and you may not need trimming for a LONG TIME!!
And the type of sizing die makes a big difference.
Shoulder bump dies will resize without making the neck longer.
Got BR brass with 20 to 30 firings and so far, NO trimming needed.

 

[ASbobcat]

Most reamers cut the chambers maybe .020 LONGER than "max trim length". Know that going in and you may not need trimming for a LONG TIME!!
And the type of sizing die makes a big difference.
Shoulder bump dies will resize without making the neck longer.
Got BR brass with 20 to 30 firings and so far, NO trimming needed.

Yes, I discovered the extra neck a long time ago. I had over 100 firings on Lapua 6BR brass (actually, I just stopped counting at 100). Maybe had to trim once.
But that still doesn't explain the difference in case growth between the 3 cartridges with the same 23deg shoulder. And I only bump shoulders .001-.002.

 

[Oso]

The extra growth in 223 could be function of larger loads resulting in greater movement/flow of brass as compared to 222 and 221.

The other possibility is chamber is more generous in 223 resulting in greater case expansion and then greater amount of FL sizing, which results in gradually extending the case neck as brass is squeezed back to the die’s spec.

That’s my Caveman Science…