Homemade Trim Die???

[Doc_Stihl]

I'm looking to move trimming to the progressive press for some calibers and I had an idea. Rather than shell out 30 bucks for a trim die, can't I take an old 44 size die and cut it into a trim die? I'd like to do this for 223, 308, 357 and 44.

Anyone ever tried it? Anything I should consider other than getting the length corrent?

[1hole]

I did it, once, just for kicks. Mine was .243. It worked fine using an extra FL sizer donor.

A carbide cutter in the lathe did the job nicely and the remaining hard case still controls the trimming file very well.. I mostly use it when reforming .30-06 to .243.

One thing, if you cut the die body a tad short you can then use the die lock ring to adjust for any final case length you may wish.

You will need an extended shell holder for short rounds like the .357/.44 to work, maybe the .223 too.

File trim dies are normally overlooked and that'S a mistake, IMHO.