New reloader: question on reloading pistol ammo

[RM]

I have been watching a 1980's video called "Metallic Cartridge Reloading." It instucts Reloaders to chamfer, debur, and trim all pistol brass prior to resizing it with the resizing die. Are these 3 extra steps necessary? Thank you.

 

[FieroCDSP]

For precision ammo, yes. For plinking, general use, no.

Generally, it's best to trim pistol ammo (once-fired) the first time you load it, just to get a consistant case length. This is especially important with roll-crimped ammo like revolver loads. You want consistant case length so you have consistant seating depth and crimp.
The only real time you need to chamfer/deburr is after you trim, to get rid of the bit of metal that falls one way or the other. Most of the time, the case will be perfectly smooth after firing and not need a chamfer.

When you chamfer, be carefull to only remove the metal scraps, rather than case-wall material. If you end up with a razor sharp case mouth, you're chamfering too much. If yo udo this, your necks will split after only a few loads due to case hardening and working the necks. This is a step best done by hand, rather than machine. A variable speed drill can be used, but the important thing is to keep the rpm down to avoid removing too much material. Two revs is enough.

 

[Steve in PA]

I've never trimmed a single piece of pistol brass in almost 18 years of reloading.

 

[ar10]

Generally, it's best to trim pistol ammo (once-fired) the first time you load it, just to get a consistant case length. This is especially important with roll-crimped ammo like revolver loads. You want consistant case length so you have consistant seating depth and crimp.
The only real time you need to chamfer/deburr is after you trim, to get rid of the bit of metal that falls one way or the other. Most of the time, the case will be perfectly smooth after firing and not need a chamfer.

It's an excellent idea. The only question I have is where do you trim to?? I see the specs on trim length if the cartridge is too long and every pistol cartridge I come across all have different lengths. Do you pick the shortest in the batch or do a best guess average? I sort all my range brass by manufacturer and everyone of them have just a little bit of different lenghts, even within the same manufacturer. What's the best practice?

 

[RustyFN]

I don't trim pistol brass, it seems like a waste of time to me. I shoot IDPA and GSSF matches and wouldn't notice that little of an improvement in accuracy. Maybe for Bullseye shooting but even my friends that are big time Bullseye shooters don't trim their cases. If it's a bottle neck pistol case you will need to trim. I don't think there are many that could see an improvement shooting by hand, maybe from a rest.
Rusty