L E Wilson newbie needs help please

[varmint22man]

I am new to reloading. I bought a
lE Wilson case trimner and a # ch308fc case holder[243,308,358 fired case holder} to trim 7mm-08 cases. I have both new and once fired cases.
is the right case holder for the 7mm-o8? The reason I ask is after I resized the *new cases they go up in the trim holder about 5/8 of an inch. After I resized the fired cases,they stop about 3/8 on an inch outside the trim holder. I am useing redding 7mm-08 dies. After resizing a case, I thought they would be the same od. The once fired resized case diameter is 4 thousand's bigger than the resized new case? Why is this? Which trimmer holder do I neew for the resized new cases ?
Thanks for any help I can get

 

[Walkalong]

That holder will work fine for all those mentioned. It just floats on the case to hold it on the rails of the trimmer. Where it is on the case will not affect the trim length. What you are describing is normal.

 

[Offfhand]

Mr Varmint. the problem you describe is not at all uncommon and may result from different causes. Most commonly, especially with newcomers to reloading, is simply not having the resizing die positioned to allow for springing of the press itself. Thus, when a case is assumed to be fully resized it actually isn't. Another factor is resizing dies themselves. Meaning that all dies are not created equal. Which is another topic. However, the folks at Wilson are well aware of the situation you describe and offer case holders for previously fired cases. See attached photo.

 

[USSR]

The fired case caseholder name is a misnomer. It should be called an unsized case caseholder. It is designed to hold an unsized case that has been fired. The problem you run into with it is, a sized case falls into it so far that the case head is below the end of the caseholder, and then you cannot butt it up against the Wilson's length adjustment shaft. Ask me how I know this.

Don

 

[Offfhand]

Sorry, but I use the Wilson fired case holder AFTER resizing. No need to ask how I know this: because that's how it works.

 

[Walkalong]

The standard case holders are made to hold a sized case for trimming. Since not all brass from all chambers will be the same exact diameter after sizing, the holder will slide father onto some brass than others. No big deal. It will not affect trim length.

As long as the case stops going into the holder with a little bit of the case head still showing, your good to go.

This case has been sized for my gun and just barely goes into the holder enough to work. A tighter sizer would cause the case to go in further, but would have no affect on trim length.

 

[Offfhand]

Walkalong, you are correct. What you describe is what is to be expected. Another thing I recommend for Wilson trimmer users is a means of firmly clamping the shell holder in position while trimming. (Fingers get tired of holding it during a long session.) There are a number of clamping systems available: Sinclair, etc., but the fastest and handiest one I've used is this quick "clamp over" arrangement.

 

[Walkalong]

Since I never used it for anything but 6 PPC cases, and only did small batches, I have always just used my fingers. I have no doubt a holder would be nice for trimming many cases. I did buy a Sinclair mount for it. That beat clamping it to a table edge.

 

[Offfhand]

Walkalong, since we're off the subject anyway, here's a photo of a neat little Wilson type trimmer I bought at SuperShoot a few years back. It is so small it fits easily in my toolbox and takes little room on loading bench. The clamp for the shell holder is really fast and secure and it has carbide cutters. I haven't seen any since I got this one so I guess they are not made anymore. If they were I'd buy one or two more. Is "cute" the word for it?

 

[Walkalong]

Now that is really cool right there. SG&Y rifles. Is he making stuff anymore?

 

[Otto]

That holder will work fine for all those mentioned. It just floats on the case to hold it on the rails of the trimmer. Where it is on the case will not affect the trim length. What you are describing is normal.

No, not necessarily. And that's why Wilson makes two different .308 case holders for both "fired cases" and "new cases". As noted, the OP is using a ch308fc case holder which is specifically for fired cases. Wilson covers this in their instruction manual:

"Occasionally we have a case holder returned as “defective”, because the case drops in clear to the head and still is not tight. Almost invariably these so-called “defective” holders are in .30-30, .32 Spl., .300 savage, or .243-.308-.358 Winchester. Standard holders in these calibers are made for FIRED cases and cannot be used for both new and fired."

 

[Walkalong]

Yes necessarily, it works just as described. There may be cases that need the fired case holder, but it works just as described.

After I resized the fired cases,they stop about 3/8 on an inch outside the trim holder.

Which is just fine. As long as both ends stick out.

Although his description is vague.

 

[Roccobro]

Offfhand- That is a, uh, cute cutter. Wuldn't mind having one myself!

Justin

 

[Walkalong]

Benchresters come up with all kinds of cool gadgets. We love gadgets, especially custom made stuff good for only one thing.

As a whole, a very picky/anal/precision oriented/generous/fun loving bunch.

 

[Otto]

Yes necessarily, it works just as described. There may be cases that need the fired case holder, but it works just as described.

"Standard holders in these calibers (308 Win.) are made for FIRED cases and cannot be used for both new and fired."
I think LE Wilson knows more about their case holders than you do despite your high post count.
Wilson's instructions are perfectly clear and that's what the OP should rely on.
http://www.lewilson.com/images/THE_WILSON_CASE_TRIMMER.pdf

 

[Walkalong]

And?

That was not the question. The question was about different sized cases going into the holder different distances. That is quite normal.

The reason I ask is after I resized the *new cases they go up in the trim holder about 5/8 of an inch. After I resized the fired cases,they stop about 3/8 on an inch outside the trim holder

Some new, some fired, but both sized. That was the OP's question.

I am quite sure Wilson knows more about their stuff than I do. I do know how it works though.

Oh, and thanks for posting that Wilson PDF. I am sure the OP will find it helpful.

 

[USSR]

Sorry, but I use the Wilson fired case holder AFTER resizing.

Glad it works for you. But using a fired caseholder with my SB resized .308 brass puts the case head up into the caseholder.

Don

 

[Walkalong]

Perhaps I am confused about the standard case holder vs fired case holder and which is which because I was thinking the standard one was for sized cases, but he asked about sized new and sized fired cases. They both use the same holder, as I posted.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

OK, some cartridge body tapers are slight enough that small changes in diameter based on fired or resized and/or extent of resizing (i.e. resized just enough to fit in your specific rifle chamber) may or may not cause the cartridge to stop too deep (the stop cannot reach the case head) or too shallow (the neck does not stick out the other end).

It is generally only a problem with cartridges that Wilson lists separate fired and unfired holders for, but that does not necessarily mean that using the unfired holder will be a problem even for those cartridges, it just depends on how fully you resize your cartridges and/or the size of the chamber in the rifle you fired them in.

Hope this helps,

Andy