Does one HAVE to outside chamfer brass?

[bobotech]

I trim my brass and then end up with it having that flashing edge that needs to be chamfered off.

So I put my chamfer tool on my drill and gently chamfer the inside all 50 of my 308s that I was loading up.

Since my chamfer tool won't fit on the end of my drill when i want to do outside chamfering, I wonder if its totally necesary.

Now I feel that little ridge there BUT i am using a Lee factory crimp die and crimping my cases. I tested it and crimped one of my 308s that was not outside chamfered and sure enough, the factory crimp eliminates the flashing/edge area that normally is outside chamfered away.

So do I not need to outside chamfer my brass if I am using a Lee FCD?

 

[243winxb]

Rifles get outside/inside chamfered after trimming. I would guess you just pushed the brass some place else using th FCD. Wonder where it went?

 

[bobotech]

LOL. I don't know? These are just plinking loads which is why I am not too concerned. But I just want to make sure that I'm not going to blow it up because I didn't outside chamfer.

 

[Maj Dad]

Better Chamfer

The excess brass moved by the reamer that doesn't get trimmed and fall off moves to the outside in a ring of metal that can cause problems in all phases afterwards. Take a look at some of the brass that gets trimmed more than just a couple of thousandths and you will see it. Trimming 10-20 thou or more will put a lot (relatively speaking, sure) of brass out there to gum up works. It's not that much work to file/trim/scrape it off, especially if it's in a drill chuck. I use the Lee trimmer in a drill after having used several over the years and like the absolute consistency I get, plus getting to ream, and inside and outside chamfer in two operations (I use a Lyman inside-outside trimmer after reaming). Of course, if you're not having problems, it's academic... ;-)

 

[Walkalong]

Yes. After trimming the brass needs it inside and outside.

 

[FROGO207]

Years ago I made the decision that I would chamfer all my brass both inside and out. I am trying to eliminate any variable that can change my consistancy when reloading. To assemble with repeatibility it needs to be same--same--same every time. If you don't chamfer outside the pressure could change and on a max load become a problem. If the commercial producers did not do it I probably would rethink my decision.