Best Way to Cut Down Cases

[crandall crank]

I am going to try and load some shot shells for a 45 LC Ruger, with a stepped cylinder. I have options right now, fire form some 303 British and/or use some 460 brass (which a fellow member supplied). Either one I use, I am going to have to shorten the overall length of the brass and probably anneal the mouth.

What is an easy way to trim it? I have seen the "mini chop saw", but really don't want to buy it for just a few shells. However, I don't want to use something that will cause me to damage/throw the brass out.

Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated.

[triggerhappy243]

303 brit brass is too small for the 45. look at a stock 45 cal. round that is longer. I use 303 brit for my 44 mag loads.

[Nueces]

For making 45 Colt cylinder length shotshells, the parent case you want is the 7.62x54R Russian. Plan to reduce and perhaps thin the rim. If thinning is required, it can be done from the end, which will also reduce the rifle primer pocket depth to pistol primer spec.

[Plate plinker]

Could a pipe cutter so this to rough length and then use a proper case trimmer to finish?

[skeettx]

I would use a trim die for 45 Colt and back it off for the desired length
Use a jewelers hack saw and done
Mike

[triggerhappy243]

I am going to try and load some shot shells for a 45 LC Ruger, with a stepped cylinder. I have options right now, fire form some 303 British and/or use some 460 brass (which a fellow member supplied). Either one I use, I am going to have to shorten the overall length of the brass and probably anneal the mouth.

What is an easy way to trim it? I have seen the "mini chop saw", but really don't want to buy it for just a few shells. However, I don't want to use something that will cause me to damage/throw the brass out.

Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated.

crandall crank, If you have not already read this, Please do so:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?329681-Stretching-that-44-mag-case

[Grmps]

UPDATED

separate 2 pieces of wood with a 1/16th-inch spacer/cardboard and clamp together
drill holes (centered on the spacer) 2/3's of the way through with a bit the size of the case
https://i.imgur.com/Wxtgiww.png

remove spacer and screw/clamp cases into jig
https://i.imgur.com/g9FGtEY.png
https://i.imgur.com/M0Ax0jT.png
https://i.imgur.com/Jagfvmc.png
https://i.imgur.com/BtFF3vm.png
https://i.imgur.com/W8Ns4Ur.png

chuck grit metal cutting disk into the drill press and adjust to desired height + a couple thou

https://i.imgur.com/P6rbXoh.png

cut brass
https://i.imgur.com/Ftu4DzS.png
https://i.imgur.com/rZY6qlp.png

trim to the desired length with a case trimmer

I used this to create Tokarev brass from 223

Being a grit metal cutting wheel, you'd have to be extremely stupid to get any serious damage from it.

If you use longer pieces of wood your fingers will be well out of harm's way.

Notice 2 pieces of wood clamped to the table acting as a guide.

I used 18" pieces of wood fasened together by T-nuts on one side and flat-headed machine screws from the other.




You can also use a mini tubing/pipe cutter.

[Shawlerbrook]

Harbor Freight mini chop saw around $25 bucks with coupon.

[country gent]

A fie and trim die works well and one can be made in a lathe or mill from a length of 7/8 14 bolt. It can be done in a drill press also. Mke it so when the shell holder is locked to the bottom its at the desired height +.010. Run case into the die cut with jewelers saw. Form and then trim to finished length in a case trimmer. Deburr and chamfer then load. The wood block fixture works also. If I was to make the trim die up I think I would fit a o-ring in the base of it to help hold case down consistently in the shell holder and to keep it from spinning. A simple groove 3/8" in and cut to width and depth for o-ring. this would provide some "grab" for the case when inserted. The trim die may need a extended shell holder to get above the press though

[triggerhappy243]

separate 2 pieces of wood with a 1/16th-inch spacer/cardboard and clamp together
drill holes (centered on the spacer) 2/3's of the way through with a bit the size of the case
https://i.imgur.com/b8Gl7cv.png

remove spacer and clamp cases into jig
https://i.imgur.com/wOGhY8C.png

chuck metal cutting disk into the drill press and adjust to desired height + a couple thou

https://i.imgur.com/RUpuC1r.png

cut brass
https://i.imgur.com/bynPprN.png

trim to the desired length with a case trimmer

I used this to create Tokarev brass from 223

THIS............ is a slick idea.:drinks:

[MUSTANG]

Really going to be a slick and red idea if one does not keep that finger out of the path of the open blade!

Other than the danger in the pic; I may set up for something similar later this spring to cut down split neck .223 brass to size down for making .30 caliber Jackets to swage for 160 to 180 grain .308's. I have a Corbin die set for making .308's out of 9mm, but they come out at a little over 130 grains and I'd like to get 147 Grains and above out of the old rejected .223's in my old bras bucket.

[adcoch1]

Bandsaw or a hacksaw would work for a few.

[trapper9260]

I have use a mini pipe cutter.Then finish on the trimmer.

[jmorris]

The best way won’t be worth it for just a few cases.

A dremel with a cutoff wheel will do it.

[jmorris]

The best way won’t be worth it for just a few cases.

A dremel with a cutoff wheel will do it.

What kind of cutting tools do you have that you can use?

[crandall crank]

I have a good assortment of hand tools for various trades, including carpentry and framing, plumbing and electrical. I have a couple pipe and tubing cutters, dremel, hacksaw. However, I DO NOT have a metal lathe, mill or drill press. I also do not currently have a trim die.

I know, I know, it would be nice to have all that, but space, time and money is limited.

[OldBearHair]

+2 on the dremel tool with cutoff wheel. I can envision a dremel tool in a holder with a shell holder on a swing track and a lever to move it across the cutting wheel. My opinion of the tube cutter. It will leave you a pretty deep crimp, and on a tapered surface, the cutter will not track a complete circle. Grmps' seems to have it all covered. yeah

[Tracy]

Of what you have, I would use the Dremel. I've done it that way before.
But since you did title the thread "Best way"...
Mini lathe. It's what I use now, and I would not want to go back to not having one in my reloading shop.

[3006guns]

That idea of wood "clamps" and a grit cut off wheel appeals to me. I've tried several tubing cutters, but they all gave me the same problem....wandering, because the cases are tapered. This resulted in some pretty weird cases that required major trimming to length afterwards.

I was considering a quick release shell holder for my little drill press, with a standard trimming bit, but the idea of the wood clamps would be far easier to build and faster to use. The only thing I would do differently would be to drill the holes all the way through so the bases slide on the press table. That would keep the OAL pretty uniform. I heartily approve!

[Mytmousemalibu]

Tubing cutter works pretty well on cases big enough to get a grip on. Makes s nice uniform cut that is ready to trim and deburr.

[metricmonkeywrench]

Got one of those mini tube cutters in my tool box for brake lines is small spaces in cars. Made short work of a some 5.56 cases for a home made comparator. As stated pretty much clean square cut from the get go. Definitely a low cost option for a limited run.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200396089_200396089

[Mr_Sheesh]

Mostly shortened 308 & 30-06 cases; I've used tubing cutters and fine toothed hacksaw blades mainly, they work. Bandsaw'd work too, basically anything that would cut brass :)

[jmorris]

This is the best way I have come up with. It will cut over 2000 cases per hour and all I have to do is keep the collator full.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNXz97yWp2w

[frkelly74]

For just a few, a tubing cutter will work. For a tapered case to avoid marking a spiral , make one turn, tighten and reverse the turn for one turn, then tighten and reverse again to turn the case the original direction. Repeat until separation occurs. You will have to trim off the mouth end to square up the mouth.

[mazo kid]

......The only thing I would do differently would be to drill the holes all the way through so the bases slide on the press table. That would keep the OAL pretty uniform. I heartily approve!
+1 on drilling through holes, that would give very consistent length.

[Grmps]

SEE updated post #7

Holes are drilled on a drill press with the depth top set at the desired height so all holes are a uniform depth.

[Mr_Sheesh]

A plunge router wsould do, if you don't have a drill press, also. (I need a drill press, but do have the other :))

[OldBearHair]

Hey Mr Sheesh, I have a cheap drill press that I need to replace as soon as the chuck quits completely. I bought it @120.00 40 years ago. HF has one almost like it with some upgrades for $67. +, but I still don't want to part with the old one. I didn't think it would have ever lasted this long.

[Mr_Sheesh]

Yep, once I move I'll have space for a shop, apartments SUCK for those into multiple hobbies tho!

[Jedman]

I use to cut down brass with my table saw with a fine toothed carbide blade. make a wood block with holes that you can push the brass into with your thumb and run it down the rip fence slowly .
I did 6 at a time and it worked well for me.

Jedman

[mold maker]

A freshly sharpened cutter in a 70s tubing cutter made short work of the first 50 pieces.

[WRideout]

I have used a tube cutter, but it is a little tricky on tapered cases. Also it is hard to hang onto the case while turning it. Can be done, though.

Wayne

[dverna]

This is the best way I have come up with. It will cut over 2000 cases per hour and all I have to do is keep the collator full.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNXz97yWp2w

Mr Morris,

You never cease to amaze me

That is slick!!

[Pb Burner]

The knowledge, tips, ingenuity , and experience from posters like Nueces, Grmps and jmorris(and others) is why this site is so great. The knowlege and experience and willingness to share is amazing and greatly appreciated!

[bob208]

when forming 7.63 mauser out of .30-06 I used a tubing cutter. when cutting .223 to make .30 mauser I ground my own parting tool and did them in the lathe.

[jmorris]

If you have a lathe, I took a section of bar stock and drilled a hole in it the diameter of the case. Then drilled and tapped a hole in the side for a thumbscrew that’s was tapered on the end to hold it in the extractor grove.

Insert the case, saw it off a bit proud then touch the end against a belt sander until the brass is flush with the holder.

Quick and easy.

It’s the thing with the 308 case sticking out of it at the bottom.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=258158&d=1583594460

[CBH]

Harbor Freight has a mini chop saw that can work.

[Drm50]

I make vblock jig from 2x scrap and cut cases with cut off wheel in dremil. Cut a tad long to square up in case trimmer. Block made to index the cut.

[Jedman]

I once had a wildcat that was formed on 30-30 brass and the neck would need about a 1/2" trimmed off.
I took a block of hardwood and drilled a row of holes about the size of the necks then opened up the backside to where the large part of the case would slip in and the rim would keep the cases all at the same depth.
To cut them I used a old fine tooth plywood table saw blade on a table saw with the rip fence set up where there would only be about .010 - .015 left to trim and pushed them through slow and it cut the brass easily.
It took more time to poke the cutoff cases from the block of wood than it took to push them in and cut them but doing 6 at a time they went quick enough.

: Sorry for not rereading the old posts as I answered this 2 years ago. :rolleyes:

[beagle]

I've hogged back a bunch of cases to make .458 X 2" cases. Small tubing cutter to make a rough cut, then, expand and I use my Lyman case trimmer to take an electric drill to take them down to the correct length. Picked up one of the old Forester attachments for the drill press and it's great for making 9mm Specials (.38 Special cases cut down to 9mm length for use in the Ruger 9mm convertible)./beagle

[lightman]

What little case forming I have done I used an RCBS trim die and a fine tooth (32 TPI) hacksaw. I cut them a little long and used a case trimmer to smooth up the mouth. Trim dies are a little expensive and they make a mess if used at the loading bench.

[Wolfe]

I like the little pipe cutter idea. can I use .308 or 30-06 cases for a .45ACP Case? Should I cut it exactly the length of the revolver chamber or a tad shorter? Do they cycle thru semi autos ?

[owejia]

Wolfe the 308 work great, the commercial hs work better than the military brass for me. I cut some to use in a S&W 37 Brazilian. Floating around some where on the internet is a set of plans to make the shot shell dies for the 45 acp. Made a set several years ago and yes they will cycle in my 45 acp autos. For the revolver after sizing down the 308 case to fit the throat ,I cut them just short of the cylinder length. I also use 410 shot shell wads for these and a clear plastic wad over the shot to seal and keep the shot in, with a slight roll crimp to contain everything.

[GONRA]

If yer gonna be into the "Reloading Hobby" for looong time just BIT THE BULLET and get a small metal lathe. (HF will do!)
Use it (forever) for all sorts of odd case prep-trimming / reloading tasks.

GONRA's definition of a "small metal lathe" means its a SCREW CUTTING metal lathe with a LEADSCREW!
(I.e. NOT a slick-glossy-ad expensive Feels Good HOBBY LATHE without a leadscrew!)

(Watchout - probably will turn into a Great New Basement Hobby - MACHINE SHOP - that you missed in High School!)

[Alferd Packer]

Clamp a portable jigsaw upside down in a bench vise and make a simple hand held jig out of a six inch length of two by four wood.
Drill a hole thru near the end to accommodate your cartridge.
Drilling across thru the nominal four inch dimension.
The case is then inserted to full depth and the cut is marked on the outside.
The wood and case are then both cut on the saw from the end grain and the cut is stopped when the saw blade severs the cartridge.
Poke out the two pieces and insert another cartridge to be cut.
A hacksaw with a 32 tooth blade can also be used by clamping the wood block in the vise instead to hold the case.
If the case spins, you can also make a cut lengthwise thru the end grain and the center of the bored hole to split the wood. A clamp can be applied to squeeze the wood to hold the cartridge from spinning while being cut.
My first jig was tight enough to hold the case. The second jig wasn't as tight for another caliber so needed a clamp.
YMMV.


The wood clamping/holding jig keeps vise jaws from buggering up what you need to securely hold to cut or file.
I hope my explanation is clear enough.
A metal jig is more accurate and longer lasting, but not everyone has the metal or is used to making jigs.
Everyone has some wood.
Its quick and if you don't get in a hurry it will suffice.
Wear eye protection when cutting metal.Little pieces fly everywhere when you cut.Especially they are thrown into the eyes.
.

[Drm50]

Have simple method. Cut V block from 2x scrap about 10-12” long. Mark where the rim needs to be in relation to length of case you want. Run block across saw to relieve for rim. You just hold case with thumb pressure and cut off with wheel in Dremil. I alway give a devils share so can square up on trimmer.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

For 45 Colt shotshells, I start with the brass Magtech 410 shotshells. They use a large pistol primer. ballistic products.com

[Baltimoreed]

I’ve used my small band saw by clamping a stop on the table and putting a dowel in the case and turning it but I also built a fancy rig to trim 223 into 300blkout with a HF mini chop saw. And the hacksaw/file/cut off die on the reloading bench which does make a mess.

[owejia]

Will the little Harbor Freight metal saw blade cut nickel cases? Mine cuts brass very good but was thinking about some nickel 223 cases for 9mm and 380 shotshell loads. Maybe a thin cut off wheel would be better than the metal saw blade. Nickel plating is tough to grind or cut.