Lee case trimmer wobble

[KY DAN]

I have a 38/357 trimer and when a case is in and unit is spinning I can see run out aka case wobble. It's not major just I can see its not going perfectly round.

Is this normal, I will attempt to trim a case and see the results.

 

[runner3264]

Did you size the case first? Did you deprime the case?

 

[KY DAN]

Cases are sized and deprived.

I chucked the body that locks the case and the retaining nut on my lathe and checked that. I got .001 run out on my dial indicator.

When I put a case in and indicate the case I had .015ish inch run out.

 

[Blue68f100]

Check for nicks and dents in the base. This can cause them to not set flush.

 

[Ifishsum]

Assume you're using the standard lock stud, it's just due to tolerances in the shellholder but as long as the case is square to the bottom I've never found it to be a problem with the actual trim accuracy. If it bothers you, the universal 3-jaw chuck does tend to center the cases better I think: https://www.titanreloading.com/product/lee-universal-3-jaw-chuck/ together with this https://www.titanreloading.com/product/lee-3-jaw-spinner-stud/

 

[Bcwitt]

You might have a bent press frame or crooked breech face in the gun. Cheaper presses are known to bend & buckle under load & spring back. I'd try sizing on a heavier press.

 

[edwardware]

. . . I can see run out aka case wobble.

Yes, it's normal in my experience, and at the speeds you want to trim it's not a problem.

 

[DMW1116]

I use a Lee Quick Trim die on the press for 30-30 but for 308 and 223 I use the lock stud and pin guide. The 223 cases in particular seem to wander about like crazy. However, by some black magic the cases all come out with the same length within 0.001” or so.

I have the pin guide for 30-30 too but I ended up needing the Quick Trim die after a mistake. I primed a bunch of 30-30 brass before trimming and when I measured them they were over max length. I’m now convinced half of available reloading equipment is there to fix mistakes when you didn’t use the other half properly.

 

[berettaprofessor]

I’m now convinced half of available reloading equipment is there to fix mistakes when you didn’t use the other half properly.

Correct.,,.and the other half exists to do things that actually make no difference to the accuracy of the round.

I've been following this thread; I use Lee case trimmer's almost exclusively at this point...I put them in the 8/32nds Lee chucks and then they fit in various things like the Hornady case trimmer or Frankfort case trimmers. Fantastic and quick way to get an accurate trim. But you certainly can't prime them first

 

[DMW1116]

I think we’re up to 3 halves now, but that’s true as well. I’m not to the point where I am trying for gilt edged accuracy. I have to wonder how much effort people put in doesn’t make a difference.

That said I have to confess to trimming 30-30 cases to 1/1000th of an inch for a 3 MOA rifle.