rifle case trimming

glocknick · 06-08-2010, 17:31

i have loaded pistol rounds for about 6 months and am trying to load my first rifle rounds. ok i sized 20 pieces of brass and i measured them and only 4 were longer than the maximum length. my question is i was only going to load 10 rounds. 5 at the starting load and 5 aboout a grain heavier. now what is the correct way to procede. this brass is once fired. should i used 10 cases that are within spec or should i trim all 20 cases back 10 thousandths.

thanks
nick

Jumper · 06-08-2010, 18:22

Trim the 4 that are over max length a nd load em up. Case length variation within normal ranges has little effect on accuracy. What caliber are you loading?

jdavionic · 06-08-2010, 18:41

I guess it depends on what you're attempting to achieve. If you're trying to assess the loads and make a comparison of performance between loads, then I'd trim all 10 cases. As a normal course of reloading rifle rounds, I only trim the cases that are out of spec.

glocknick · 06-08-2010, 19:03

thanks guys. i guess i will just trim them all since they are my first reloads. i am loading 7.5 swiss.

PCJim · 06-08-2010, 19:40

Personally, I'd trim them all to the same length.

When working up new loads, I like to use brass of the same manufacturer whether it be pistol or rifle. Doing so generally eliminates varying case capacities that can effect the test results.

dudel · 06-09-2010, 02:23

Technically, just trim the ones that are overlength. However, accuracy comes from consistent components.

If you are just sending projectiles down range, then just trim the four long ones. If you want to get an idea of how accurate the rifle is, trim them all to the same lenght. Since we are talking only 10 cases, I'd trim them all. My normall trimming session is about 200-500 cases, so 10 cases wouldn't be a big deal. PCJim is correct in minimizing variables. Like Jim, I also sort by headstamp (and date when available - Lake City or WCC brass). Others just toss all into the same bucket and live with the variables.

Now that takes us to trimmers. A Lee trimmer works for small volumes; but it gets painfull for larger volumes (BTDT). If you don't want to spring for a powered trimmer, I can recommend the Wilson trimmer. Fast, easy, accurate, motorizable, well built, sturdy and it won't break the bank (around $40 + case holder). The Sinclair mount for it is a bit pricey for what you get; but it's also a solid piece of gear and makes it easy to use and store.

sharpshooter · 06-10-2010, 01:05

If you're already trying to take shortcuts by trying avoid trimming a mere fistfull of cases, then I say good luck to your quest for accuracy. You're going to need luck going down that path if you ever expect to achieve real accuracy.

Accuracy is about consistency. Think about that.

sharpshooter · 06-10-2010, 10:05

Also, it likely took you more time to type this question on GT then it would have taken to just trim all 20 cases to the minimum standard length.

glocknick · 06-10-2010, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharpshooter

If you're already trying to take shortcuts by trying avoid trimming a mere fistfull of cases, then I say good luck to your quest for accuracy. You're going to need luck going down that path if you ever expect to achieve real accuracy.

Accuracy is about consistency. Think about that.

um not sure what you are talking about. i have 10 identical sized cases. all the exact same size. being new to rifle reloading i was asking what the proper protocal for trimming was. accuracy is the last thing i am looking for right now. i am just looking to work up a load. accuracy is something i will find once i am totally confident in working up rifle loads.

**n2extrm** · 06-10-2010, 17:47

OP

If the cases are not over the max length for the case as listed in the reloading manual you CAN use them as the are. I trim all my brass to the same length when I reload it for the first time in an effort to make it as consistent as possible. I keep an eye on the case length and they usually stay pretty equal, but I neck size mostly. If they are getting long I will trim them again as a batch.

Don't forget to chamfer and debur the cases after you trim.

As much as I hate to admit it the Hornady trimmer I used when I first started reloading worked really well and was affordable. I believe you could adapt it to a drill or power screwdriver, but I am not sure. I only replaced it because I hated having all the extra shell holder laying around. The Hornady was different from the presses I had.

glocknick · 06-10-2010, 18:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by n2extrm

OP

If the cases are not over the max length for the case as listed in the reloading manual you CAN use them as the are. I trim all my brass to the same length when I reload it for the first time in an effort to make it as consistent as possible. I keep an eye on the case length and they usually stay pretty equal, but I neck size mostly. If they are getting long I will trim them again as a batch.

Don't forget to chamfer and debur the cases after you trim.

As much as I hate to admit it the Hornady trimmer I used when I first started reloading worked really well and was affordable. I believe you could adapt it to a drill or power screwdriver, but I am not sure. I only replaced it because I hated having all the extra shell holder laying around. The Hornady was different from the presses I had.

i trimmed all 20 pieces i had and i did chamfer and deburr the cases. so after trimming how many times can you reload a piece of brass before it requires trimming again?

**n2extrm** · 06-10-2010, 18:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by glocknick

i trimmed all 20 pieces i had and i did chamfer and deburr the cases. so after trimming how many times can you reload a piece of brass before it requires trimming again?

It depends on allot of things like if you full size or neck size, your chamber dimensions and how hot you load. Some will not survive long enough to get trimmed a second time.

I have LC cases that were trimmed 1x and neck sized about 8 times and full sized 2x. They are starting to split but have not grown much at all. Just measure them next time around and get an idea of how they are growing. Check them every time you load them and trim if they are too long or vary alot.

dudel · 06-11-2010, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by glocknick

i trimmed all 20 pieces i had and i did chamfer and deburr the cases. so after trimming how many times can you reload a piece of brass before it requires trimming again?

Depends on the round, the chamber, the dies and the load.

You should get in the habit of checking every case before it gets reloaded. Some will need trimming; others won't. On the M1 Garand, they need trimming after every (and I mean every) shot. On the AR15, all get checked; but only about 1/2 of them need trimming. They all go through the trimmer; but only half of them get anything trimmed off. In this case (heh), the trimmer is also acting as a case length guage. .223's shot with the Contender, don't seem to stretch much at all.

You want to check the case length AFTER resizing, as the expander ball can stretch the case (neck). A carbide expander ball (and some case mouth lube) helps here.

Rifle reloading is much more involved than pistol reloading. That's just the way it is. People who start reloading rifle rounds find it easy to transition to pistol rounds; can't always say the same for the reverse.

dudel · 06-11-2010, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by n2extrm

It depends on allot of things like if you full size or neck size, your chamber dimensions and how hot you load. Some will not survive long enough to get trimmed a second time.

I have LC cases that were trimmed 1x and neck sized about 8 times and full sized 2x. They are starting to split but have not grown much at all. Just measure them next time around and get an idea of how they are growing. Check them every time you load them and trim if they are too long or vary alot.

+1. You may want to consider annealing the case mouths. That would save you some brass in the long run. It's a pain; but Hornady has a new annealing system that looks pretty sweet.

**n2extrm** · 06-11-2010, 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudel

+1. You may want to consider annealing the case mouths. That would save you some brass in the long run. It's a pain; but Hornady has a new annealing system that looks pretty sweet.

Thanks I will look into it. I was allways affraid of the proces because it is hard to do simply, correctly and repeatedly.

dudel · 06-12-2010, 02:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by n2extrm

Thanks I will look into it. I was allways affraid of the proces because it is hard to do simply, correctly and repeatedly.

http://blog.sinclairintl.com/2010/03...ealing-system/