Looking for a way to trim Pistol Brass

[-Mischief]

I finally received my die sets from BT so now I can make some 40 and 45 cal bullets from spent brass. What is everyone using to trim / cut their brass? Are there any jigs out there like the one for 300 blk out brass?

[-Mischief]

I need to cut them to exact lengths each time.

[WallyM3]

I use a Lyman trimmer. I've installed a carbide cutting head on it, and have made a couple of other mods that I found necessary. Will post pics if wanted.

I have found that any trimming beyond 0.025" or so with any cutter other than with a trim die really needs a cut-off operation, unless the cutting heads are of an odd number or not spaced evenly. Otherwise, the results produce a sort of "hole saw" shape on the case mouth, if that conveys the image. Even at that depth of cut, a sympathetic vibration establishes itself and the process gets ugly.

Having a lathe (and I don't know how people get through life without a machine shop! [LOL]) is a mighty resource for the reloader. I make Delrin collets with stops and lock the carriage and away I go.

Except for the last coupla' paragraphs, there's a bit of decent advise offered.

[-Mischief]

No, no, no....I am cutting brass to use as jackets for swaging bullets using BT's dies. I am looking for the fastest and best way to cut a lot of pistol brass to specific lengths.

[WallyM3]

A lathe or cutoff tool would serve you best, I think.

[Bullshop Junior]

He wants to trim them for making bullet jacket, so that they Are all even when the bullets are finished.

[Weaponologist]

No, no, no....I am cutting brass to use as jackets for swaging bullets using BT's dies. I am looking for the fastest and best way to cut a lot of pistol brass to specific lengths.

Ok...lol....Sorry. None of what I wrote will help you..I deleted it.....Sorry I misread....

[-Mischief]

Ok, let me be a bit clearer than I was in my original post....

I am cutting 40cal and 45 cal brass to very specific lengths in order to use them as jackets for swaging bullets using BT's swage dies.

There is a jig available for cutting 223 brass down to blk out length. It is supposably a very fast, efficient way to cut 223 brass to a precise length everytime, safely. I have a 2" mini chop saw from harbor freight. I was wondering if, for those who are already cutting pistol brass to SPECIFIC lengths, this is the best way to cut them. Also, if there was a jig already available to do this. If not, I will start designing one.

I'm not trimming brass to clean it up and unify it, I'm cutting them to very specific lengths and they need to be the same length every time.

Hopefully, this is a little clearer than what I originally posted.

[Bullshop Junior]

Any standard brass trimmer should cut exactly the same every time. Some of the electric ones are pretty fast.

[sprinkintime]

I've used BT's 40 to 45 and I use a lathe to cut the brass with a bored collet that has a stop in the back, I have been cutting the 40's to .700 & .725 for the 45's they hold very good tolerance if you bore the collet and undercut the stop where its going to seat. If your lathe has a collet closure you should be able to do them as fast as any fixture.
MY 2 cents worth. Sprink

[Wayne Smith]

I use the Lee 3jaw chuck and have trimmed a Lee 40 cal. spud to the length I want. Goes quickly with a drill motor.

[bedbugbilly]

I'm not familiar with what you are doing but if I understand it correctly, you need to cut accurate lengths of brass from the cases? If I remember correctly, someone was looking for a device to do this a while back and someone mentioned that Harbor Freight has what is basically a miniature cutoff saw. if that would do it, perhaps you could make a jig to use with something like that which would give you the lengths you need?

[-Mischief]

The mini 2" saw you mention is exactly what I have on its way to me...I'm trying to find out #1 - what others are using to do this and #2 - is there anyone who already has a jig for this saw I'm going to use. Thank you all, by the way, for your opinions and comments!

[GRUMPA]

This is what I use and it takes me longer to put the brass in the trimmer than it does to trim it.