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My current trimmer is a hand or power-crankable Hornady rotary trimmer. It is fine for taking off a few thousandths -- but .35 inches not so much. I need to cut down .50 Alaskan brass from 2.10 inches to 1.75 to make cases for a 12,7X44R Swedish rolling block. Some time back I had to do a similar job and used one of the little Harbor Freight mini-chop saws with fair results, but it was fiddly and occasionally ruined a case.
Some have suggested a Dremel with cut-off wheel, which I will try as I have one. Also looking at a Harbor Freight high-speed cutoff saw with more speed and power. I don't have a lathe or even a drill press currently.
What would you use for this purpose?
In my experience, the best tool for this was the old RCBS file and trim die with a hardened top. I found it a cinch to form cases for the first wildcat I ever loaded: .30 Herrett brass from from .30 WCF cases. A hacksaw and a file and then a chamfer and deburr and done in a minute or so. CH might make one for the "Swedish .50-70," for a lot of money and a long wait.
Since it’s a straight wall, how about a tubing cutter? I was going to try it on the neck of a 270 to 228 Ackley Magnum conversion, but the shoulder wouldn’t allow for enough room. It might work with a straight wall though. IIRC, I ended up using a Fordem with a cut off wheel and made sure to cut a touch long. Afterwards, I thought about making a jig to hold the case and using a hacksaw rather than free handing it.
My first thought is a tubing cutter. Get one of the small ones, some folks refer to them as an IMP.
I ran into a bunch of long 7.62x51 brass and even with my powered Hornady prep center/ trimmer took forever to trim .030. Then I found the Little Crow trimmer. Works like a charm but I doubt they make one for straight wall, they trim to the shoulder datum.
A drill press and a 5/8 end mill would be the ticket , just need to figure out how to hold the case...
The inexpensive Lee case trimmer would work well (you can use just a hand held drill for that). When I began loading for my .30 Herrett I used a Dremel tool cutoff wheel with which I cut the necks long, then used either a Lee case trimmer or my Forster case trimmer to do the final trim.
The absolute best tool made for chopping off a lot of excess brass is the Harbor Freight Mini Chop Saw! It has a 2" cutting wheel that chops brass of fast and easy! I've been using one for a long time, and amazed how well it works. I clamp a piece of wood to the table to set length for my cut and then just pull the handle down and whack the cases off in a couple seconds. Then final trim on my Lyman trimmer.
Right now HF has a 15% discount going on for any single item which would save some more. That's about $5 off the $35 price tag.
Jeepnik AKA "Old Eyes"
"Go low, go slow and preferably in the dark" The old Sarge (he was maybe 24.
"Freedom is never more that a generation from extinction" Ronald Reagan
"Every man should have at least one good rifle and know how to use it" Dad
Well I stopped at Harbor Freight yesterday, looked at the mini chop-saw again and bought the cut-off tool instead. Vall, you'll get a kick out of this. I had that 15 percent off coupon in my pocket, but forgot to use it! I hope the rest of the New Year doesn't go this way!
Jeep, that's a righteous Dremel accessory.
