Trim then size, or size then trim?

Discussion in 'Handloading and Reloading' started by Richard.Howe, Feb 28, 2005.

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  1. Richard.Howe

    Richard.Howe Member

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    Trim then size, or size then trim?

    What's your practice, and why?

    Books sometimes interchange the steps...which leads me to believe that this is not a high-criticality order of operations.

    Clearly -- if your cases were too long to begin with, then you trimmed them long, and rezised, you run the risk of chamber-crimping and overpressuring your face.

    BUT, assuming that brass length is of reasonable length after you fire it; trim then size, or size then trim?

    Rich
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2005
    Richard.Howe, Feb 28, 2005
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  2. ocabj

    ocabj Member

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    Size then trim.

    If you trim then size, the case length can get longer. I trim to get all the brass to the same length, not because it's longer than spec.
     
    ocabj, Feb 28, 2005
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  3. The Bushmaster

    The Bushmaster Member

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    Easy question...Resize them then trim them...That's two votes...
     
    The Bushmaster, Feb 28, 2005
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  4. P95Carry

    P95Carry Moderator Emeritus

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    Three votes :)
     
    P95Carry, Feb 28, 2005
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  5. Fumbler

    Fumbler Member

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    Make it 4.

    It you don't resize before you trim and use something like the Lee case length guage/trimmer, then the case will rock back and fourth a little bit when pushed up against the trimmer. I don't know for sure, but that seems like it would introduce some variation from case to case. Resizing first eliminates that.
     
    Fumbler, Feb 28, 2005
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  6. stans

    stans Member

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    Five.
     
    stans, Feb 28, 2005
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  7. The Bushmaster

    The Bushmaster Member

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    Well Cajuncoona...How's that for a unnanimous vote??? What say ye??
     
    The Bushmaster, Feb 28, 2005
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  8. Sistema1927

    Sistema1927 Member

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    Another vote: Size then trim.
     
    Sistema1927, Feb 28, 2005
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  9. Richard.Howe

    Richard.Howe Member

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    Unanimity on an internet discussion board.

    Now I've seen everything. :)

    Thanks for the input -- I've always sized and trimmed, in that order. Two of my manuals have the operations listed in the reverse order, which led to my question.

    Thanks,
    Rich
     
    Richard.Howe, Mar 1, 2005
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  10. Mal H

    Mal H Administrator Staff Member

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    "Two of my manuals have the operations listed in the reverse order ..."

    Really?? Which ones? That seems completely counterproductive. If you trim to size first and then resize, you have, by all logic I can think of, incorrectly sized cases; that is, cases of incorrect length.
     
    Mal H, Mar 1, 2005
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  11. Gatofeo

    Gatofeo Member

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    trize and sim .. er .. um .. sheesh ... darn Spoonerism ... size and trim ... :scrutiny:
     
    Gatofeo, Mar 1, 2005
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  12. Richard.Howe

    Richard.Howe Member

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    "Complete Reloading Guide" by Traister and Traister, published by Stoeger in 1996

    Hornady "Handbook of Cartrige Reloading" Volume I

    I thought this was at least confusing, and at most misleading -- and potentially dangerous.

    Glad to see I'm not alone in this boat.

    Have a good night,
    Rich
     
    Richard.Howe, Mar 1, 2005
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  13. Mal H

    Mal H Administrator Staff Member

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    I don't have Traister & Traister so I can't verify that one. But, in the Hornady manual, I can't find where they explicitly or implicitly recommend trimming before sizing. On page 66, which is the main trimming topic, they don't mention when to size in relation to trimming at all.
     
    Mal H, Mar 1, 2005
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  14. Richard.Howe

    Richard.Howe Member

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    Ah, it's easy to get confused when you're a bonehead like me. :)

    I was referring to "Reloading Step By Step" starting on page 44, and continuing to page 55. On p. 46 they mention the trimming operation, chamfering and deburring on 47, lubing on 48, and resizing/depriming on 49.
     
    Richard.Howe, Mar 1, 2005
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  15. JuniorG

    JuniorG Member

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    Yep size n trim.
     
    JuniorG, Mar 2, 2005
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