Dillon trimmer questions

[ny32182]

I got most of my stuff for .223 volume loading yesterday, and I have a couple questions about the trimmer and/or size/trim die.

The directions for the trimmer make it sound like the trim die is a sizer too.

This makes no sense to me. There is obviously no decapper and expander, so if there is a ding in the case mouth and you are trying to FL resize with this die, it appears that you will have problems. Plus you'd then need a separate decapper somewhere.

What I want to do is decap and FL size the case first, then run it through the trimmer. Will this work without any problems?

IF you happened to be running FL sized cases through the trimmer only with nothing else on the toolhead, would lube be required?

 

[loadedround]

Call Dillon Customer Service and ask them your questions. Get the correct answer from the people who make the equipment. Dillon's number is 1.800.223.4570. You will be pleased with their answer.

 

[EddieNFL]

It is a size die; I have read of folks loading without expanding, but I never tried it; lube is required.

The trim die will probably resize the neck if you size/expand before trimming.

 

[gshipps]

What press do you have? Pretty much everybody runs a regular FL size die first then the trimmer in a later station. Some run an expander after that.

 

[jmorris]

What I want to do is decap and FL size the case first, then run it through the trimmer. Will this work without any problems?

Yes, thats what I do.

Unlike pistol dies, most rifle dies have the expander is on the decapping post.

 

[ny32182]

So is EddieNFLs concern valid; does it need to go through ANOTHER sizing (expanding) after the trimming if you FLRS before the trimmer?

Not that I'm opposed to calling Dillon, but I'm sure we have the experience here to cover it.

I'm working with a 650 and currently plan two passes anyway, so I should have plenty of stations for whatever is required. I got another good sounding idea from a different thread; using the RCBS lube die as station #1 of the case prep pass; this would prevent lubing off the press and thus gunking up the casefeeder. I believe it decaps also, so now I'm thinking:

Press pass 1:

1) Decap/lube
2) FL Resize
3) Trim
4) FL Resize again (??)

Tumble
Super swage 600 as needed

Press pass 2:

1) Universal decapper to make sure flash hole is clear of media
2) Primer/powder
3) Seat
4) Crimp if desired

 

[jmorris]

No matter what you'll have two passes. You don't have to FL size again after the trimmer. However, I had extra dies so what I do is station 1 on the 650 is size/deprime, #3 trim, #5 another size/expand die then into the 1050 with another size die in #2 and the swage/expand station at #3.

Do you need to do all of that? No. I just set them all the same and have them there because they cost me nothing, don't add any time to the process and iron out the case mouth without having to chamfer/debur.

 

[jmorris]

1) Decap/lube 2) FL Resize 3) Trim 4) FL Resize again (??)

You will not be able to do that. The Dillon trimmer is large enough that you cannot have dies in the stations to both sides, thus my 1,3,5 setup above.

 

[medalguy]

I size/trim in an RCBS Rockchucker, then deprime in another Rockchucker. This generally smoothes out any burrs on the inside the case. Swage the brass if needed. Then I prime off the press with an RCBS Autoprime bench-mounted, and lastly put the brass back in the 550 to charge, seat, and crimp lightly.

It takes two passes at least, with a 450, 550, or 650 press. I think only the 1050 will allow the entire process in one pass.

 

[Jdillon]

I have the 1200 trimmer set up on my Rockchucker and FL size and trim all my brass first. The trim die for the 1200 will not neck size the brass and set to bump the shoulder to the desired headspace. The FL sizing/decapping die is set in the tool head so not to contact the shoulders of brass that has been sized in the trimmer and only sizes the neck and decaps. Since the brass is already resized in the trimmer, running them through the press requires little or no pressure. The 1200 trims cleanly and in my experience leaves no burrs and I do not debur the case mouth.

I ran this process past the Dillon technical people and said it should work fine. I have loaded thousands of .223 rounds this way without issues.

 

[gshipps]

I have a 550 and run an sizing die in station 4 with the trimmer in station 3. Not a real pro looking rig and a pain to setup. But it does fit.

 

[CLP]

this is why i went with a Giraud

 

[ny32182]

You will not be able to do that. The Dillon trimmer is large enough that you cannot have dies in the stations to both sides, thus my 1,3,5 setup above.

Ah. Looks like that might cramp my style a little bit if a second sizing is really needed after the trimmer...

 

[jmorris]

this is why i went with a Giraud

Not a bad option, just slower and you have to handle each and every case.

 

[fguffey]

Trim die, I am the fan of the forming/trim die, I have no clue if your trim die is similar to my trim form die, when using the trim/form die the instructions (when read) suggest the forming die is not a full length sizer die, it is suggested the case must be full length sized after forming. In the process of firming the forming die is designed to prevent dents and folds at the shoulder. Then there is the mindless pulling of the handle to raise the ram for full length sizing, all of my dies have threads, all of my presses have threads, threads allow me to adjust the length of the case from the head of the case to its shoulder, if “IT” has threads I can adjust “IT” meaning after forming/sizing a case “IT” fits the chamber.

Then there is the Dillon electric case trimmer, again, it is adjustable, not much to keep up with if the reloader understands the L.E. Wilson case trimmer, it measure the length of the case from the shoulder of the case to the head of the case and from the shoulder to the mouth of the case. Back to the mindlessly pulling of the handle, the Dillon electric case trimmer trims the case length from the shoulder of the case to the mouth of the case, the length of the case from head of the case to the shoulder adjustment is up to the reloader.

F. Guffey

 

[EddieNFL]

Not a bad option, just slower and you have to handle each and every case.

I must have had the moped Dillon model and the supercharged Giraud.

 

[jmorris]

I must have had the moped Dillon model and the supercharged Giraud.

Maybe, or used it on a single stage. With a Dillon on a casefed progressive 1800 an hour sized, trimed (and swaged if its a 1050) is no sweat and your finger won't ever touch brass.

 

[EddieNFL]

Maybe, or used it on a single stage. With a Dillon on a casefed progressive 1800 an hour sized, trimed (and swaged if its a 1050) is no sweat and your finger won't ever touch brass.

Not a SS, but as a separate operation. I prefer to inside chamfer before loading. I'm guessing the 1050 gives the option of using an M-die in lieu of chamfering.

 

[gshipps]

I just run a piece of masking tape around the open side during use.

 

[dbarnhart]

This video should answer most of your questions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snp6C7dbV3E

 

[jmorris]

Not a SS, but as a separate operation. I prefer to inside chamfer before loading. I'm guessing the 1050 gives the option of using an M-die in lieu of chamfering.

I still have to run 2 passes myself but just run them through other dies where spots are open to iron everything out without having to cut a chamfer. Works fine even with flat base bullets and thats pretty impressive as its only the weight of 8 55 grain bullets that tamps the bullet into the case mouth enough to not fall off while rotating to the seating station.