hello all. i've recently started back reloading after years off. while i used to load handgun ammo and cast bullets, i never really got into rifle loading. that's what i'm doing, now - trying to fead the hungry new M4 i just finished building

i was hoping one of y'all could advise the minimum overall cartridge length for .223 / 5.56 also, while i was trimming cases, i found one or two that managed to get slightly under the minimum case length which i believe to be 1.750" what i'm wondering is how far under is worth throwing the brass away? if a couple of 1.749's made it through, would that be a big deal?

thanx.

I have shot both the mini-14 and Remington 700 BDL Bull barrel varmint rifle in .233. I have shot a lot of rounds with cases below 1.750 and had no problem with them. I ran into military rounds that were about 1.730 and they fired real good. Of course we would like to start at 1.750 but sometimes a few are below that. Where to quit, well don't know but I wouldn't get below the 1.730 anyway.

They will grow well past 1.750" after the first firing.

I didn't know there was a minimum cartridge length, as long as it feeds. Though I don't like it if the bullet base is down past the
sholder.
John L.

quote:

Originally posted by JAL:
I didn't know there was a minimum cartridge length, as long as it feeds. Though I don't like it if the bullet base is down past the
sholder.
John L.

that's what i've heard a few folks say, but then i've heard others say the amount of distance the projectile travels prior to encounter the resistance of the rifling (freebore?), drastically changes chamber pressure. so i wasn't sure.

i know max OAL is 2.260 my old loads were 2.258, these seem to be a little shorter 2.220 and i was just concerened with whether or not i was getting too short.

thanx

Wil,

Shorter is fine.
Some of us go as much as .020 shorter than max length to trim a little less often.

As far as OAL of the round, 2.250 is good for feeding from the AR mag.


Travis F.

quote:

Originally posted by injunwil:
that's what i've heard a few folks say, but then i've heard others say the amount of distance the projectile travels prior to encounter the resistance of the rifling (freebore?), drastically changes chamber pressure. so i wasn't sure.

More freebore does lower pressures a little (not drastically), but only when the OAL remains constant. If you decrease the OAL, then pressure will increase.

so is 2.220 safe?

It should be safe if your load was safe to beging with.