How do you trim cases?
Forum rules
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.
Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.
Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 9357
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:05 am
- Location: Sweetwater, TX
How do you trim cases?
I absolutely hate this aspect of handloading more than any other.
I have used file trim dies and prefer them over ll other methods, but the darned things are spendy. Wish Lee would make some.
I have had the lathe-style trimmers from both Forster and Lyman and found them fiddly and wanting in every case.
I don't want to pop for a Gracie power trimmer.
Tried the cheap Harbor Freight cutter and had a hard time getting a clean cut perpendicular to the base.
I am looking to trim some 8mm Lebel brass to fireform for the .41 Swiss Vetterli.
What do you use?
I have used file trim dies and prefer them over ll other methods, but the darned things are spendy. Wish Lee would make some.
I have had the lathe-style trimmers from both Forster and Lyman and found them fiddly and wanting in every case.
I don't want to pop for a Gracie power trimmer.
Tried the cheap Harbor Freight cutter and had a hard time getting a clean cut perpendicular to the base.
I am looking to trim some 8mm Lebel brass to fireform for the .41 Swiss Vetterli.
What do you use?
Re: How do you trim cases?
Forster
Kind regards,
Tycer
----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.saf.org - https://peakprosperity.com/ - http://www.guntalk.com
Tycer
----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.saf.org - https://peakprosperity.com/ - http://www.guntalk.com
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 4441
- Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:33 pm
- Location: Wyoming and Arizona
Re: How do you trim cases?
I have used RCBS and Forster. If you get a Forster, you will throw rocks at the RCBS. Never a problem.
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 4296
- Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2010 12:57 pm
- Location: Vinita, I.T.
Re: How do you trim cases?
I have RCBS and an old Herters that are almost the same but now I use the Lee trimmers and put the cutter in my drill press and the base holder in a drill vise. Very quick and accurate.
M. M. Wright, Sheriff, Green county Arkansas (1860)
Currently living my eternal life.
NRA Life
SASS
ITSASS
Currently living my eternal life.
NRA Life
SASS
ITSASS
Re: How do you trim cases?
I've always used the RCBS and thought it worked pretty darn good, but dang, sounds like I need to look at a Forster.
NRA Life Member
- Griff
- Posting leader...
- Posts: 20967
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:56 pm
- Location: OH MY GAWD they installed a STOP light!!!
Re: How do you trim cases?
+1. I recently converted my RCBS to the "new" lever clamp affair and the son trimmed approximately 2,000 .223 cases... I didn't find the task onerous or particularly tiring. But... he might disagree!TedH wrote:I've always used the RCBS and thought it worked pretty darn good, but dang, sounds like I need to look at a Forster.
Griff,
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93
There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93
There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 6972
- Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:52 pm
- Location: Ridgefield WA. USA
Re: How do you trim cases?
I use the RCBS Trim Pro with a Makita cordless drill to power it. It is as fast as any trimmer I have ever used or seen.
I trim my .223 cases after every shot just to make sure an odd one don`t slip through (range pick up?). It barley touches most but an occasional one does need it. I have found my ammo is much more accurate that way and I have zero feed or extraction issues. I am using RCBS small base dies with the taper crimp.
I trim my .223 cases after every shot just to make sure an odd one don`t slip through (range pick up?). It barley touches most but an occasional one does need it. I have found my ammo is much more accurate that way and I have zero feed or extraction issues. I am using RCBS small base dies with the taper crimp.
- Shasta
- Senior Levergunner
- Posts: 1559
- Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:50 pm
- Location: Shasta County, the far right stronghold in California
Re: How do you trim cases?
I have always used the old style RCBS trimmers. I have several of them, and have never had a problem getting one set for a given case length.
I don't crank them by hand like I used to. Now I clamp the trimmer in my vice, remove the crank handle, chuck my cordless drill onto the trimmer's shaft, and spin away. I am careful to keep the shaft well lubricated since it is now turning so much faster.
Freshly trimmed cases are power de-burred inside and out using an RCBS Trim Mate.
SHASTA
I don't crank them by hand like I used to. Now I clamp the trimmer in my vice, remove the crank handle, chuck my cordless drill onto the trimmer's shaft, and spin away. I am careful to keep the shaft well lubricated since it is now turning so much faster.
Freshly trimmed cases are power de-burred inside and out using an RCBS Trim Mate.
SHASTA
California Rifle & Pistol Association LIFE Member
National Rifle Association BENEFACTOR LIFE Member
http://www.hcrpclub.org/schedule.html
avatar pic is Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, & Mt. Shasta
National Rifle Association BENEFACTOR LIFE Member
http://www.hcrpclub.org/schedule.html
avatar pic is Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, & Mt. Shasta
- Sixgun
- Posting leader...
- Posts: 19114
- Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:17 pm
- Location: S.E. Pa. Where The Finest Winchesters & Colts Reside
Re: How do you trim cases?
Forster.......and it's all in your head....it how you set the tool up.....I made an adapter so I can hook up a small drill to make the power.
If I have a zillion cases to do, I have another Forster tool I use on my drill press.
If I have a zillion cases to do, I have another Forster tool I use on my drill press.
Re: How do you trim cases?
I use the rcbs three way trimmer! One step operation... length, inside AND outside champher. If I have a lot. hook up the drill to it .
John
John
Gettin old ain't for sissies!
There just has to be dogs in heaven !
There just has to be dogs in heaven !
- J Miller
- Member Emeritus
- Posts: 14889
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:46 pm
- Location: Not in IL no more ... :)
Re: How do you trim cases?
Forster. Been using the same one for nigh on to 30 +- years now. Might be better ones out there but I'm slow to change.
Joe
Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts .***
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 9357
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:05 am
- Location: Sweetwater, TX
Re: How do you trim cases?
Looking at the Forster Web site, I think I might order the power trimmer to be used on a drill press ...
Re: How do you trim cases?
Lee for me. I find it a good way to take a slow look at the cases as well.
If you're gonna be stupid ya gotta be tough-
Isiah 55:8&9
It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled.
Isiah 55:8&9
It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled.
Re: How do you trim cases?
Carefully
With an older RCBS. Haven't used it much, but no problems so far.
With an older RCBS. Haven't used it much, but no problems so far.
- AJMD429
- Posting leader...
- Posts: 32627
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:03 am
- Location: Hoosierland
- Contact:
Re: How do you trim cases?
Same here - the two things I WILL do while watching a movie are deprime cases (with the Lee hand-press), and inspect/trim cases, using the Lee hand-trimmer. I am in no rush, but when I experimented with the "chuck it in a drill" option, what I found with the Lee, was it was MUCH FASTER to chuck the TRIMMER (cutter/base, and attached length-rod) in the drill (had one of mine turned down to 1/4" for that purpose), and rapidly put the cases in and out of the "case holder" and keep that in my hand, instead of trying to have that part in a drill.Rusty wrote:Lee for me. I find it a good way to take a slow look at the cases as well.
Here's a thread I posted on it - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11878
Never a problem with precision or speed that I've seen; only issue would be if I wanted a non-standard trim length, but even then all I would have to do is get a same-caliber rod for a longer round, and file down the tip, for an unusually-long trim length, and just file the existing rod down for a shorter trim length. Never did either, though.
Last edited by AJMD429 on Tue Dec 02, 2014 9:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Doctors for Sensible Gun Laws
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.
Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.
Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
- Old Ironsights
- Posting leader...
- Posts: 15084
- Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:27 am
- Location: Waiting for the Collapse
- Contact:
Re: How do you trim cases?
What, nobody uses a bandsaw?
C2N14... because life is not energetic enough.
מנא, מנא, תקל, ופרסין Daniel 5:25-28... Got 7.62?
Not Depressed enough yet? Go read National Geographic, July 1976
Gott und Gewehr mit uns!
מנא, מנא, תקל, ופרסין Daniel 5:25-28... Got 7.62?
Not Depressed enough yet? Go read National Geographic, July 1976
Gott und Gewehr mit uns!
- AJMD429
- Posting leader...
- Posts: 32627
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:03 am
- Location: Hoosierland
- Contact:
Re: How do you trim cases?
I heard Grizz just bites the ends off...Old Ironsights wrote:What, nobody uses a bandsaw?
Doctors for Sensible Gun Laws
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.
Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.
Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 2058
- Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:43 pm
- Location: Between No Where & No Place, WA
Re: How do you trim cases?
Bought a Sinclair micrometer enhanced Wilson a few years. And never looked back. old/gave away file trim dies and the Redding is some place out ion the shed where I would not forget Where I stored it....
Bought the case holders for the most shot calibres first, then slowly bought case holders for others calibres that are not shot as much.
http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-e ... 54116.aspx
Bought the case holders for the most shot calibres first, then slowly bought case holders for others calibres that are not shot as much.
http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-e ... 54116.aspx
The most important aspect of this signature line is that you don't realize it doesn't say anything significant until you are just about done reading it & then it is too late to stop reading it....
Grand Poo Bah WA F.E.S.
In real life may you be the bad butt that you claim to be on social media.
Grand Poo Bah WA F.E.S.
In real life may you be the bad butt that you claim to be on social media.
Re: How do you trim cases?
Bill, how much do you need to take off the lebel brass?
Just finished trimming and annealing 400 brass for 30-06, 22-250 45-70 and 30-30. i use a lee cutter and a holder chucked in a drill.
Just finished trimming and annealing 400 brass for 30-06, 22-250 45-70 and 30-30. i use a lee cutter and a holder chucked in a drill.
Re: How do you trim cases?
Wilson...hand crank.
LOVE it, but then I'm not trying to trim thousands of cases. A few hundred are no problem however.
LOVE it, but then I'm not trying to trim thousands of cases. A few hundred are no problem however.
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 9357
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:05 am
- Location: Sweetwater, TX
Re: How do you trim cases?
Have to trim about 5 mm off the Lebel brass.
- Old Ironsights
- Posting leader...
- Posts: 15084
- Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:27 am
- Location: Waiting for the Collapse
- Contact:
Re: How do you trim cases?
5 MM?!?
Trimmers are made for removing hundredths or thousandths. Maybe you DO need a band saw (and THEN a trimmer...)
Trimmers are made for removing hundredths or thousandths. Maybe you DO need a band saw (and THEN a trimmer...)
C2N14... because life is not energetic enough.
מנא, מנא, תקל, ופרסין Daniel 5:25-28... Got 7.62?
Not Depressed enough yet? Go read National Geographic, July 1976
Gott und Gewehr mit uns!
מנא, מנא, תקל, ופרסין Daniel 5:25-28... Got 7.62?
Not Depressed enough yet? Go read National Geographic, July 1976
Gott und Gewehr mit uns!
- earlmck
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 3509
- Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 12:10 am
- Location: pert-neer middle of Oregon
Re: How do you trim cases?
If I'm just going to trim a few I use an elderly Forster, but how often do you ever just trim a few?
My main trimmer is the Lyman setup used in a drill press. For sure if I needed to take off something approaching 5mm I'd be using that drill press and thanking my lucky stars I had it available...
My main trimmer is the Lyman setup used in a drill press. For sure if I needed to take off something approaching 5mm I'd be using that drill press and thanking my lucky stars I had it available...
The greatest patriot...
is he who heals the most gullies. Patrick Henry
is he who heals the most gullies. Patrick Henry
Re: How do you trim cases?
This is the most affordable and a fast way. Not my video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1dH5-tYKFk
Rough cut the case with a dremel first, and use everthing you see in the video. You will also need the case length gauge that screws into the lee cutter for 8mm. I don't think that lee makes a cutter for the lebel, but using that would result in a too short of a fireformed case anyway. You will need the 3 jaw chuck and adaptor.
If you go to steve's pages, http://www.stevespages.com/page8d.htm he has cartridge case length drawings, and it would appear that either a 32 win special or a 325 winchester short magnum case length gauge from lee will do the job. You can grind the tip of the gauge to shorten if required.
Rough cut the case with a dremel first, and use everthing you see in the video. You will also need the case length gauge that screws into the lee cutter for 8mm. I don't think that lee makes a cutter for the lebel, but using that would result in a too short of a fireformed case anyway. You will need the 3 jaw chuck and adaptor.
If you go to steve's pages, http://www.stevespages.com/page8d.htm he has cartridge case length drawings, and it would appear that either a 32 win special or a 325 winchester short magnum case length gauge from lee will do the job. You can grind the tip of the gauge to shorten if required.
- Canuck Bob
- Senior Levergunner
- Posts: 1830
- Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 11:57 am
- Location: Calgary, Canada
Re: How do you trim cases?
I use dedicated Lee hand trimmers. A glorified go-no go that trims I guess. Easy and fast but it seems I'm out of step to most folks!
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 9357
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:05 am
- Location: Sweetwater, TX
Re: How do you trim cases?
Flatnose, with a .621 base diameter, I don't think Lebel brass will fit into that Lee three-jaw chuck.
Earl, I am going to try to put something together that will work on the drill press I just ordered (having given away my last one before we moved).
Earl, I am going to try to put something together that will work on the drill press I just ordered (having given away my last one before we moved).
-
- Senior Levergunner
- Posts: 1005
- Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:17 am
- Location: Willamette Valley, OR, USA
Re: How do you trim cases?
Google "world's finest trimmer."
That's all I use.
P
That's all I use.
P
We are determined that before the sun sets on this terrible struggle, our flag will be recognized throughout the world as a symbol of freedom on the one hand, of overwhelming power on the other.
General George C. Marshall, 1942
General George C. Marshall, 1942
- Dan 444
- Levergunner 2.0
- Posts: 262
- Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:03 pm
- Location: Northern Adirondack Mountains
Re: How do you trim cases?
Lee Trim Length Gauges for each cartridge.
Dan
Dan
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 9357
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:05 am
- Location: Sweetwater, TX
Re: How do you trim cases?
Pharmie, isn't the WFT caliber specific?
-
- Senior Levergunner
- Posts: 1522
- Joined: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:52 am
- Location: Leverland, U.S.A.
- Contact:
Re: How do you trim cases?
Bill,
Some people use the HARBOR FREIGHT MINI CHOPSAW, when they fabricate 300 Blackout brass:
http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tool ... 61900.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q-N4nai6_4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLHMPJJsXhw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-IIHN6cYf4
Shawn
Some people use the HARBOR FREIGHT MINI CHOPSAW, when they fabricate 300 Blackout brass:
http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tool ... 61900.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q-N4nai6_4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLHMPJJsXhw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-IIHN6cYf4
Shawn
"That's right, Billy, I'm good with it. I hit what I shoot at, and I'm fast!"-Lucas McCain, c1882.
Re: How do you trim cases?
I trim mine the same way but I chuck the cutter in my drill press and turn it on at its lowest speed.AJMD429 wrote:Same here - the two things I WILL do while watching a movie are deprime cases (with the Lee hand-press), and inspect/trim cases, using the Lee hand-trimmer. I am in no rush, but when I experimented with the "chuck it in a drill" option, what I found with the Lee, was it was MUCH FASTER to chuck the TRIMMER (cutter/base, and attached length-rod) in the drill (had one of mine turned down to 1/4" for that purpose), and rapidly put the cases in and out of the "case holder" and keep that in my hand, instead of trying to have that part in a drill.Rusty wrote:Lee for me. I find it a good way to take a slow look at the cases as well.
Here's a thread I posted on it - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11878
Never a problem with precision or speed that I've seen; only issue would be if I wanted a non-standard trim length, but even then all I would have to do is get a same-caliber rod for a longer round, and file down the tip, for an unusually-long trim length, and just file the existing rod down for a shorter trim length. Never did either, though.
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 9357
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:05 am
- Location: Sweetwater, TX
Re: How do you trim cases?
Hagler, I had an older model of that saw and can't remember why I didn't like it. Wow, it sucks to get old!