Resize or trim first?

[Rich 10mm]

Newbie question to trimming here. Which comes first the resize or the trim. I know that sounds stupid to some of you experienced handloaders so don’t roast me too hard!

 

[Blue68f100]

You always resize before trimming.

 

[sequins]

Resizing is what causes a lot of the brass flow that necessitates the trimming.

 

[ericuda]

No bad questions. Trim after sizing.

 

[wasa]

Full length resizing the brass stretches it. Hence, you ideally should resize then trim.

If you neck size only, i personally trim then neck size.

 

[sparkyv]

Agree with reresponses above. Note that there's usually no need to resize handgun brass. <<edit>> Correction: no need to TRIM handgun brass. Thanks for the correction folks.

 

[Virginia Jim]

Remember, R before T.

 

[FROGO207]

I think sparkyv ment there is no need to TRIM handgun brass. I will only trim it if roll crimping and want all the crimps to be the same tightness. In 30+ years reloading I can't remember trimming auto pistol brass for any reason.

 

[sequins]

Agree with reresponses above. Note that there's usually no need to resize handgun brass.

I think you mean no need to trim, it definitely needs sizing.

 

[Rich 10mm]

Thanks guys. I’ve mostly been reloading handgun so didn’t trim. I reload 5.56 but just retired the brass that got too long, combination of laziness and not having money for a trimmer haha.

 

[MikeInOr]

I use a Dillon power trimmer which resizes and trims at the same time. But if you want to get technical the resizing does happen a fraction of a second before the trimming.

 

[sparkyv]

I think you mean no need to trim, it definitely needs sizing.

oops...thanks for the correction!

 

[Highland Lofts]

.
When I resize 223 brass it stretches abour 6 to 8 thousands of an inch.
I resize it then trim it all instead of measureing it first before trimming.
And I crimp it so I like to have all the cases the same lenghth.

 

[SlowFuse]

@Rich 10mm the Lee trimmers are cheap. I got by with one for quite a while.

 

[FROGO207]

Yeah the Lee kit was about $14 when I got it for 308 and to add the 223 adapter was about $7 more. If you go for the lock stud you put in a drill and cutter along with the 223 adapter it is not expensive at all and can be used by hand as well with a drill.

 

[entropy]

Thanks guys. I’ve mostly been reloading handgun so didn’t trim. I reload 5.56 but just retired the brass that got too long, combination of laziness and not having money for a trimmer haha.

If you're only loading one or two rifle calibers, you can get trim dies: I use them for 223, used to use them for .30-06 when I loaded that. They are about 1/2 the cost of a manual trimmer.

 

[badkarmamib]

If you're only loading one or two rifle calibers, you can get trim dies: I use them for 223, used to use them for .30-06 when I loaded that. They are about 1/2 the cost of a manual trimmer.

I load 3 rifle calibers, and have Lee trim dies for each one. It is as fast and easy for me to use the Lee hand-crank trimmer on each piece of brass, thus trimming every time, as it would be to measure each one to see if it NEEDED to be trimmed.

 

[LiveLife]

I’ve mostly been reloading handgun so didn’t trim.

While straight walled semi-auto pistol cases that headspace on case mouth using taper crimp don't need to be trimmed, for revolver loads that use roll crimp into crimp grooves, cases are resized and trimmed to same length to apply same amount of roll crimp - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/how-much-crimp-lee-fcd-guidance-sought.469815/

 

[cfullgraf]

Just like the others, I resize then trim rifle cases.

I do measure cases before trimming and only trim the ones that are too long. I use "go-no-go" which makes the measuring process go quickly. One could use a caliper by locking the jaws at the maximum measurement.

I find that I only need to trim about a quarter of the cases at each resizing session.

 

[mdi]

Resizing the cases changes a few dimensions of the cases, so trim after sizing. For some of my rifle handloads I K.I.S.S.. I use a Lee Case Trimmer or Lyman EZ Trim. Not adjustable but very consistent, easy to use and inexpensive...

 

[Rich 10mm]

Will the Lee trimmer accept Hornady shell holders?