Case trimming the neccessary evil...

[Mk42gunner]

I do not like trimming cases, in fact I have posted in the past that I loathe and detest case trimming.

I don't like doing it with run of the mill standard rifle cartridges, and don't usually bother with normal handgun rounds.

However, I don't mind doing it when making wildcat or otherwise unobtainum cases, like my current attempt at making .380 shotshells from 5.56mm brass. Weird huh?

Anybody else like me that doesn't like to trim normal, easily available cases; but finds it somewhat enjoyable to make oddball rounds?

Robert

[trails4u]

I can see where you're at with that... The mission is different.

[Bazoo]

I enjoy trimming cases. I enjoy making 30-30 the most. Trimming is just part of it. I've not done in wildcatting yet.

[Texas by God]

I enjoy it enough that I recently sold my trimmer.[emoji16] I never trim handgun brass and all my rifle brass got trimmed in a marathon session last year. I have a chop saw and jig for making .300 BO; but after doing one batch I will buy them already formed, thank you very much.

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[sparkyv]

Dr. Seuss, is that you?

I do not like trimming cases,
I have posted in the past
I loathe and detest case trimming.
I don't like doing it
and don't usually bother
Sam I Am.


I do not like trimming cases, in fact I have posted in the past that I loathe and detest case trimming.

I don't like doing it with run of the mill standard rifle cartridges, and don't usually bother with normal handgun rounds.

However, I don't mind doing it when making wildcat or otherwise unobtainum cases, like my current attempt at making .380 shotshells from 5.56mm brass. Weird huh?

Anybody else like me that doesn't like to trim normal, easily available cases; but finds it somewhat enjoyable to make oddball rounds?

Robert

[lightman]

Electricity is your friend when it comes to case prep.Especially trimming! My Wilson trimmer works great for 100 or so cases. But for more than 100 I'll change cutters and use my Giraud.

[EDG]

I have the same feelings about trimming and here is what I do.
1. For any cartridge that I shoot a lot I check the length of the chamber. Most of the time the chambers are .015 to .040 longer than factory brass, so I often skip trimming until the brass stretches a lot.
Most metric chambers seem to be .040 (1mm) longer than the case lengths.

2. When I do trim it is often minimal to just square up the mouths of the cases that have stretched the most.

3. In the case of neck sizing and precision FL sizing brass stretching is reduced and trimming can mostly be eliminated.

4. I will define precision FL sizing as FL sizing without pushing the shoulder back. I use the Hornady case gage to set my dies. It is tedious to get them set to the exact length of the chamber from head to the shoulder datum but cases do not stretch much after such sizing.
To get cases sized to exactly the same head to datum measurement they should be sized using 2 or 3 short strokes at the top of the ram motion. I also spin the case 1/3 of a turn to make sure the sizing is even.
5. I have a 6X47 Rem benchrest rifle that I use a straight line, bushing type neck die to size. I have never had to trim cases for that rifle since the necks are sized only enough to grip the bullet.


I do not like trimming cases, in fact I have posted in the past that I loathe and detest case trimming.

I don't like doing it with run of the mill standard rifle cartridges, and don't usually bother with normal handgun rounds.

However, I don't mind doing it when making wildcat or otherwise unobtainum cases, like my current attempt at making .380 shotshells from 5.56mm brass. Weird huh?

Anybody else like me that doesn't like to trim normal, easily available cases; but finds it somewhat enjoyable to make oddball rounds?

Robert

[dverna]

Agree with detesting it.

I will never trim handgun brass...been loading for 50 years and see no reason to change.

But I am anal with rifle brass and can justify it as I shoot so little. 5.56 and 7.62 Nato are the calibers I shoot the most in rifles and use the RCBS powered trimmer to process military brass.

I am looking at using RCBS X-dies for the above calibers as I understand no trimming is needed after the initial trimming. IIRC Larry Gibson did some testing with them and was impressed with how well they worked.

[largom]

I don't hate or love it! It's just part of making the best cartridge I can. I use the electric RCBS trim pro. I trim my brass to the shortest case in the batch before I weigh and then sort by weight. A lot of work that most loaders do not do but I enjoy handloading and my finished cartridge WILL be better than any factory can do.
Larry

[Hickok]

I positively hate to trim brass.[smilie=b:

[Texas by God]

I'm not that big of a fan of Shaving either....

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[country gent]

I have bought several trimmers over the years and made others. I do alot more rifle than handgun and trim as needed according to use and need. My easiest to use trimmer and also very accurate is one I made from a bench top drill press. reworked the spindle stop to a dead stop on the base carbide cutter with pilots and the drill press runs at 2500 rpm for trimming. The old stop has a 1" indicator mounted so I can visibly see 0 on each case. I can trim a bucket of 308 or 223 in no time. And with a different stop I can turn case necks as needed.

I also do wildcats and even then cutting the trim time down is a plus. The herrets removing 1/4" is at the mid point for removal not enough to justify a saw but more than a crank type trimmer is comfortable for. My dedicated drill press makes this easy. I also have gracey trimmer that works well for 223,308, and 243. But not good for the straight walled rifle cases.

In the past I have used RCBS, Lyman, lee, Wilson trimmers. When setting up for the summers high power match ammo they are slow. a couple thousand cases with them is a big chunk of time. With the gracey or my drill press its pretty quick. My drill press cutter uses carbide inserts and I think thy have been rotated once. so 3 edges on first fave and 4 on second side to go before replacing. And if needed I can change them mid batch and maintain size.

[Winger Ed.]

It ain't no big deal.
And it gives me something to do instead of going to one of those crooked BINGO parlors.

[EDG]

I have formed about 300 or 400 US military .30-06 cases to 7.65 Mauser and 8X57 Mauser. That leaves the cases about .300 too long.
.300 inch times 300 cases is 100 inches of brass that I have turned into shavings using a Forester trimmer and a drill motor.
That cutter is still sharp and I bought that trimmer in 1976.

[Dapaki]

I do not like trimming cases, in fact I have posted in the past that I loathe and detest case trimming...

Robert

I hear ya, I have 1500 .223 to trim and deburr this week. YUCK!

[dragon813gt]

I hate case trimming as a whole. Maybe a little less when making a wildcat case. But I still hate it. I have three way cutters and a bunch of Forster lathes that are setup. It’s not necessarily the trimming part that I hate. It’s putting the cases in and removing them from the collet. The design tears up the palm of my hand. W/ the amount of 5.56 that I need to process I’m going to get the Dillon trimmer or something like the WFT.

[AnthonyB]

A Giraud is your friend for 1500 5.56 cases. They are expensive, but worth the money.
Tony

[Dapaki]

A Giraud is your friend for 1500 5.56 cases. They are expensive, but worth the money.
Tony

Thanks brother, I have a powered setup already but its hard on the hands just handling all that brass.

[FISH4BUGS]

I got the new Lyman Case Trim Xpress Case Trimmer.
I have to say it works very nicely.
After full length resizing, it head spaces on the shoulder and allows adjustments to .001".
A bit rough on the fingers after a few hundred but hey....take a break and do something else while you rest your fingers.
I have done THOUSANDS of .223 brass on it.
Many .308's also.
After many years of the Forster Classic manual trimmer this is a great way to trim brass.
I REALLY looked at the Dillon Trimmer but couldn't justify the cost.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I measure the chamber length on my rifles - many ( most) have long chambers that will accommodate brass much longer than factory spec. Using an 'M' die and no crimp, bullet pull is the same. I do trim cases if a crimp is necessary for tube feeds. After the first firing of new brass, I will measure all and trim to the shortest length, with moderate loading cases are then good until worn out - 10, 15, 20 or more loadings depending on caliber and load. I do not use neck expanders that are pulled through the neck of bottleneck brass - a cause of brass stretching, as does excessive full length sizing. Little stretching with straight cases, no trimming unless I notice crimps getting 'ragged'. I've got a drill powered WFT trimmer for 223, 308, also to power trim 308 to 300 Savage, but mostly use a Wilson, have Forster and Lee but like the Wilson better

[stubshaft]

I'm with you! I enjoy making new wildcat rounds but HATE trimming the old standards. When I do get around to it I usually use the Lee trimmer and pilot mounted in a portable drill, sitting in front of the television!

[gunwonk]

I am looking at using RCBS X-dies for the above calibers as I understand no trimming is needed after the initial trimming. IIRC Larry Gibson did some testing with them and was impressed with how well they worked.
I like X-dies, and use them whenever possible. (They're not available in all calibers.)

If I have to trim more than once, I figure the brass I take off the front is really coming from someplace further down the case, and the lost brass would eventually turn into a weak point.

I have not yet had a case separation. (Knock on wood.) :)

[Petrol & Powder]

You can put me in the camp of dreading the task of case trimming.
Rifle brass gets trimmed and the amount of cartridges I trim at one time is small enough that a manual bench mounted trimmer works for me.
Handgun brass isn't worth the effort. I've trimmed handgun brass in an effort to squeeze the last little bit of accuracy out of the process and decided that it generally isn't worth the effort.

[Three44s]

How can anyone “like” to trim brass?

However, one can desire a result from it.

Call it a necessary evil or whatever you want, I trim!

For virtually all the autoloading hand gun cartridges, not very much if any but everything else? Yes!

I have noticed that Remington cut my 788 and a friend’s 700 both in 22-250 short on the neck and long on the ogive (my 788 magazine is short) so I take nothing for granted as to neck/chamber lengths.

In .223, I have bolt guns, semi-autos and a couple of Contender barrels thrown in for spice. I do not have the tooling to measure the bolt face to neck step in a chamber other than observing brass markings on fired cases. That’s how I figured out those 22-250 chambers were short (bright marks on the case mouth) and when I say short, I mean SHORT as in cases trimmed to minimum or trim length, it still was not enough. Also these were cases that were collet sized, not neck sized and trimmed to get a full stop on excessive lengthening.

With revolver I want a consistent roll crimp and also do not want my seating depths all over the place. One trim and you will not be re-trimming anytime soon with straight walled brass.

To country gent’s point about drill presses I could not get a consistent length. I would like pictures how he created a positive depth stop but I realize he is a heck of a machinist but not in love with posting pictures.

Three44s

[444ttd]

I do not like trimming cases, in fact I have posted in the past that I loathe and detest case trimming.

I don't like doing it with run of the mill standard rifle cartridges, and don't usually bother with normal handgun rounds.

However, I don't mind doing it when making wildcat or otherwise unobtainum cases, like my current attempt at making .380 shotshells from 5.56mm brass. Weird huh?

Anybody else like me that doesn't like to trim normal, easily available cases; but finds it somewhat enjoyable to make oddball rounds?

Robert



i'm with you brother. i hate trimming cases. but i luv wildcat rounds!!!!!!!

[mattw]

I really detest case trimming for anything but rifles. I will trim 41 and 357 mag, need to trim 380 and will never trim a 9mm, will throw it away first.

[dogmower]

check out the new lyman trimmer
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1020728567?pid=258707

this thing is the bomb. I never trim straight wall cases (rifle or pistol) so it works for about everything I need it for.
for the REALLY mass production, though, it's hard to beat the dillon trimmer. pricey, but worth every penny.
CH4D (ch4d.com) also makes dillon trim dies for calibers that dillon doesn't and for about the same price.

[NoZombies]

I do not like trimming cases, in fact I have posted in the past that I loathe and detest case trimming.

I don't like doing it with run of the mill standard rifle cartridges, and don't usually bother with normal handgun rounds.

However, I don't mind doing it when making wildcat or otherwise unobtainum cases, like my current attempt at making .380 shotshells from 5.56mm brass. Weird huh?

Anybody else like me that doesn't like to trim normal, easily available cases; but finds it somewhat enjoyable to make oddball rounds?

Robert

Sounds exactly how I feel.

For my .380 shotshells I was trimming to .985 and that worked in my Sig... I found that for some guns .975 worked better, so now that's the length I use.

[Mk42gunner]

Good to know, I was going to start at .980", but .975 won't lose too much shot capacity. I swear I think .380 pistols breed faster than .22 rifles, I have three at last count to try to get the loads to work with.

Now if it ever gets cool enough for me to try making my die inserts, something about working in a tin roofed shed in 95+ degree days doesn't sound fun anymore.

Robert

[ebb]

Thank you fish for bugs and dogmower!!! I looked for the Lyman trimmer and saw it was on sale a Midway USA for $119, so I ordered one. I had just finished 300 223s , but when it came I ran about 50 cases just to see how well it works. It is just like sticking a rifle case into an electric pencil sharpener. I have been used to really running through the sizing of 223 cases as fast as I can. Well it shows up when indexing on the shoulder to trim with this trimmer. Not the trimmers fault. So in the future I will slow down on 223 cases as I do with bigger cases and have even read that a 2-3 second pause in the die will assure that the shoulders will all be in the same place. I had been using a lee tool with the pin that goes through the flash hole and I like this method as I can get all my cases to the same length .001-.002. but the lee tool is so slow. I have a Wilson trimmer and could not get even close to the same length but I suspect it needs a new sharp cutter. The lyman is my go to from here on out.
.

[toallmy]

My right hand has been cramping for days after finger wrestling with a case trimmer , drill , and a pile of 308 brass . In the end I won the battle , and got the whole lot trimmed , but there were casualties . Thank goodness its for a bolt gun and I won't lose it in the grass .

[panhed65]

worst trim job for me was 30-30 to 357 Herrett. I ended up cutting a chunk off with my dremel, then onto the case trimmer. only needed to make a few boxes, so not so bad. dremel saved a lot of time.
Barry

[kayala]

I have Dillon trimmer, so no problem at all - size and trim one a single pull of the handle.


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