SmallCaliberCentral

In the manuals the "max case length" is 1.85 for the 204, but if I do not have a precision barrel why couldn't the length be longer and how long do you or can you determine the max case length in your barrel will except?

If the bolt is hard to close or won't close your to long. find one that is to long trim just alittle at a time till it works smooth. But i wouldn't think it would be much over 1.85 but you never know.

i used a sinclair chamber length gauge on both my 204 and my 223. my 204 is a factory howa 1500. i found out that my chamber length is 1.868 on this particular rifle. i never let my brass "grow" to that length, but i could. i use the book standard of trim to length of 1.840, and anything over 1.850, definitly gets trimmed. i do trim all my cases in the same batch, back to 1.840, if i find one close to the max length, no matter if they are only say .003 over my trim to length. this is, imho, the best way to keep my brass at a uniform length, for more consistent accuracy.

i trim mine to 1.840 every time i reload .yes they do stretch not all but some but i still check them all .if your going for top notch ammo .case prep is the only way to go ..

As has been pointed out, if you measure your chamber length you could conceivably let your brass grow out if you have a long chamber. What you don't want to do is crank the bolt closed if the neck is making contact with the end of the chamber as that may put a bit of a crimp on the bullet and possibly cause a pressure spike. If you’re loading near or at the top of the scale that could be a real bummer.

WW