myhandle87
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- Aug 31, 2008
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I'm just getting in to reloading and I'm wondering how to trim cases with a progressive reloader. Aren't you supposed to trim the cases after resizing them?
Case Trimming and Progressive Reloading
- Thread starter myhandle87
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SASS#23149
Member
resized them,pull them out and trim,and THEN go progressive is about the only way to do it.
I keep a single stage on hand for that purpose,but I can also do it with my Dillon. I still lightly lube the second time around to be SURE I don't get a case stuck.
sorry I don't have better news for ya.
I keep a single stage on hand for that purpose,but I can also do it with my Dillon. I still lightly lube the second time around to be SURE I don't get a case stuck.
sorry I don't have better news for ya.Car Knocker
Member
What caliber(s) are you planning on reloading?
Shoney
Member
Straight wall pistol case require no trimming, because they get shorter with use.
Loading rifle cartridges for gas guns: after cleaning, I trim to length (at midway point between min/max) and run them thru progressively. For rifle cartridges intended for bolt guns, I load them on my LNL AP as if it were a single stage: clean, decap, trim, prime, powder, bullet, crimp.
Loading rifle cartridges for gas guns: after cleaning, I trim to length (at midway point between min/max) and run them thru progressively. For rifle cartridges intended for bolt guns, I load them on my LNL AP as if it were a single stage: clean, decap, trim, prime, powder, bullet, crimp.
lordgroom
Member
Isn't there an automatic, press mounted dillon trimmer in .308 and .223? I beliee it is $300 or so but I know one person who loves it. Too expensive for me but still, an option.
uneasy_rider
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- Jul 15, 2007
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Yes, the dillon trimmer can be mounted on your press, but it trims only, and does not chamfer or debur.
So, I don't think its a good solution.
Best way is to do your case prep, size, trim, debur, chamfer, then load progressive.
myhandle87
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- Aug 31, 2008
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- 59
I'm going to be reloading .308 for an M1A on a XL650.
Shoney: so you resize after you've cleaned and trimmed them?
Shoney: so you resize after you've cleaned and trimmed them?
JRadice45
Member
You should Resize first, then trim chamfer and deburr. If you trim then size, you may end up making the case long again if the expander ball drags the neck out.
I size my rifle cases on a single stage, trim with a Gracey or Giruad trimmer, prime by hand. Then I use the progressive to dump powder and seat the bullet.
I prime by hand as some of my ammo may be used in either a bolt rifle or an auto loader. I do not want any high primers in any ammunition used in an autoloader.
Pistol stuff, regardless of caliber, I don't trim. So it is all loaded on the progressive.
I have one friend who has a Dillion 650, maybe 1050. He has the Dillion trimmer and loads all his .223 start to finish on the press.
Regardless, for rifle ammo, you either trim each time, or you measure each and every case after sizing, and trim those that need it.
I prime by hand as some of my ammo may be used in either a bolt rifle or an auto loader. I do not want any high primers in any ammunition used in an autoloader.
Pistol stuff, regardless of caliber, I don't trim. So it is all loaded on the progressive.
I have one friend who has a Dillion 650, maybe 1050. He has the Dillion trimmer and loads all his .223 start to finish on the press.
Regardless, for rifle ammo, you either trim each time, or you measure each and every case after sizing, and trim those that need it.
ATAShooter
Member
If you are going to be reloading alot of cases, consider a power trimmer such as RCBS or equiv. Makes life easier on the arm & hand.
BeltfedMG
member
Having just gotten into reloading myself and nothin but 45acp so far but plannin on doin 308 and 223 with my Dillon 650XL i find this info usefull myself. The 45's are easy and fun, but what i understand is im not gonna find the rifle cartridges near as relaxing/fun. Soon as i buy some dies, trimmer etc i will find out.
NONSENSE... True, pistol is much easier to handload for, but I really get into prepping my bottleneck brass. I find it much more relaxing and fun. Especially for the bolt rifles.
Prepping brass for my black rifles (223) or my M1A's is a different story, prepping 1K or more at a time. It's more like a chore
Cheers...
evan price
Member
On your first resize, trim to minimum length and then monitor length in samples of brass to see how much you are stretching, this lets you figure out how long to run them before another trim is necessary. You are better off a smidge short than a smidge long.
I tumble everything. Then I run everything through my progresive with only the sizer. Then trim etc. Then tumble again if I trimmed it. Then prime with a handheld RCBS priming tool. Then run it back through the progressive with all the other suitable dies to load.
dmazur
Member
Manual indexing progressive
The Dillon 550B is a manual indexing progressive. I understand this to mean you have to move the shell plate yourself. A lever-operated linkage does it on some other presses.
Each has advantages/disadvantages.
One advantage of the manual indexing I like is reloading rifle calibers. I clean my brass first in a tumbler, then lube, followed by deprime/resize/reprime at the first station in the press. However, I don't index, but just remove the brass and toss it in a bin.
It needs the resizing lube cleaned off, then I trim/chamfer as necessary, then I take a bin of this "prepped" brass and resume operations at the press.
How does this work? Well, just insert the brass at the first station and immediately index before pulling the lever. Repeat until the other stations are working, and you have a progressive operation going. (Except the first station keeps doing nothing...)
For .243 I just have a powder measure and bullet seating die with the fourth station empty. For .30-06 I have a crimp die in the fourth station, for a slight taper crimp.
This is much harder to do with an automatically indexing press, I believe.
At any rate, if you don't mind using the progressive press for repriming, the above method seems to work quite well. No need to resize twice.
The Dillon 550B is a manual indexing progressive. I understand this to mean you have to move the shell plate yourself. A lever-operated linkage does it on some other presses.
Each has advantages/disadvantages.
One advantage of the manual indexing I like is reloading rifle calibers. I clean my brass first in a tumbler, then lube, followed by deprime/resize/reprime at the first station in the press. However, I don't index, but just remove the brass and toss it in a bin.
It needs the resizing lube cleaned off, then I trim/chamfer as necessary, then I take a bin of this "prepped" brass and resume operations at the press.
How does this work? Well, just insert the brass at the first station and immediately index before pulling the lever. Repeat until the other stations are working, and you have a progressive operation going. (Except the first station keeps doing nothing...)
For .243 I just have a powder measure and bullet seating die with the fourth station empty. For .30-06 I have a crimp die in the fourth station, for a slight taper crimp.
This is much harder to do with an automatically indexing press, I believe.
At any rate, if you don't mind using the progressive press for repriming, the above method seems to work quite well. No need to resize twice.
I use the Dillon 550B for 223 as well and my method is very simular but I don't prime the brass until after I prep the case after sizing and I do index and let the press empty the brass out into the bin ( I replace the small blue one with a large black one that is braced with another bracket so that you can get some volume going)
I also use Hornady one shot with a 223 carbide die so I dont retumble to take off the lube.
Then I inspect, trim, deburr/champfer and do the primer pockets and flash holes if need be, then go back to the 550b with station one empty and start the progressive conveyor belt going: Station #1 Prime case, station #2 charge case, station #3 seat projo, station #4 Redding crimp.
Then final inspection as well as check with Dillon case gauge. Fun stuff.
Cheers...
donttellthewife
Member
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