Recently traded for some 275 pcs. of mixed headstamp 308 brass and after FL sizing, did a 10% sample mic on OAL.......90% were less than published trim length of 2.005", almost all about 1.992" or so. My question is, if I have 2,000 pcs. of 1X brass all trimmed to 2.005" dare I co-mingle this short brass and call it good? I know it will reload, go boom just fine but uncertanties aris re. OAL. Thanks! r in s.

I never "co-mingle" any brass. Especialy diferent head stamps! Every thing is in same lots of 20 pieces and each lot is trimed, aneled, sized and loaded the same way and amount and records kept of how many fireings, anelings, trimings etc

Thats just how I do it just because I like to keep track of how my Lapua, norma, ww brass lasts.

I would sort it to head stamp then to length.
It will stretch some. you will not have to trim for a while.
Keep it in lot as stated.

there is nothing seriously wrong with the 1.992 long brass.....I'd sort to head stamp only and just make sure all brass is trimmed to 2.005.

If it was my brass, I'd have trimmed it all to 1.885......03 under max. I then discard it when it needs trimming again.

At todays copper prices I just may start saving it however.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
If it was my brass, I'd have trimmed it all to 1.885......03 under max. I then discard it when it needs trimming again.

At todays copper prices I just may start saving it however.

I agree with Vapo,

Vapo, why would you start saving your brass cause copper prices are up?????

Short tale on case sorting, which is very important.
One of my geriatric shooting buddies up here has a Tikka 22-250. A couple of years ago, he was at the range shooting some loads to find the best one while I was there. He showed my his groups, and they were hovering around 1 1/2" at 100 yards for three shots. I didn't say anything about the groups cause the guy was having fun. A month ago, He drove me in to the hospital where I was getting a new lens installed in my eye. I live alone and needed a ride to and from the hospital. On the way in, he said, Hey Buck, you should see how well my 22-250 is shooting. I'll show you the groups. So, on the way home after the new lens installation, he showed me three groups he shot. All three were less than 1/4", for three shots at 100 yards. I about fell off the seat. I said Dick, what the hell did you do to get such good groups. He said, I decided to sort my brass. I was shooting a mix of Win and Rem brass, and now I am shooting all the same headstamp. I never dreamed the guy was shooting mixed brass to begin with.....

Don

quote:

If it was my brass, I'd have trimmed it all to 1.885......03 under max. I then discard it when it needs trimming again.

At todays copper prices I just may start saving it however.

Most of my wildcats end up .05 short to begin with. On factory I trim new brass that much short as well. Then it is either ready to retire or lost by the time it needs trimming again.