Trimming Pistol Brass

[red rick]

I know most don't do it , but do any of you trim revolver or pistol brass and what trimmer do you use .

The reason I ask is because while I was loading some .44 mag. rounds this week I was using new Starline brass that measured from 1.266 to 1.278 , about half measured 1.269 to 1.271 and I just used those cases for the loads I was working up .

I have a Sincliar trimmer that I use for rifle brass , but it looks like it would be a pain for pistol getting the brass in and out of the holder . So I was thinking about the Lee deluxe power quick trimmer .

 

[ReloaderFred]

Nope, don't trim handgun brass at all. The only brass I trim that goes into a handgun is .30 Carbine for my Ruger Blackhawk in that caliber, and yes, it's a pain........

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Mauser69]

I never trim pistol or low-power revolver brass that does not get a strong crimp. I have found, however, that consistent crimps on maximum .357 and .44 Magnum loads can be enhanced by the occasional trimming to uniform length (maybe just once during the life of the brass). I just use a 40 year old RCBS bench-mounted hand-crank trimmer - same one I use for all rifle brass too. With the correct sized collet and pilot, trimming handgun brass is no more difficult than rifle brass.

I only do it when I begin to notice that the occasional load feels just a bit more spongy during the crimp stage, showing that the full crimp completed a tiny bit before the ram reached the top of the stroke. At that point I trim the entire batch prior to the next loading session - rarely get much brass off at all. Before I started trimming at that point, I would occasionally get a load in an old batch of well-used brass with a slight bulge caused by over-crimping.

 

[Walkalong]

I don't trim auto brass. I do trim revolver brass if it is mixed range brass. The brass I have bought for revolvers has been consistent enough in length. YMMV.

 

[Varminterror]

I trim mine on RCBS Trim-Pro II. I have Lee OAL Gauges and trimmers set up to use in a drill press, but most often I just do it in the Trim-Pro with a power driver.

I do trim all of my revolver and pistol brass, all of my rifle brass too. Consistent crimp and consistent neck tension are important to me.

 

[Grumulkin]

If you wish to trim pistol brass, take a look at the Lyman E-Zee Trim system. That with an electric drill and a standard shell holder and you'll bee in business. I find that just as easy as cranking up my RCBS Trim Pro for one or two hundred cases.

By the way, I've never found the need to trim 44 Remington Magnum brass but each to his own.

 

[red rick]

I would think .44 and .357 magnum would be two that you would want too trim for , if the length of the brass varies as much as .008 , so you get a consistent crimp in the crimp groove without readjusting your seating die a few times .

 

[ericuda]

The question is what trimmer do you use not whether or not to trim.

I use the forster for trimming my 357 brass. I like a good consistent length for a uniform crimp. Easy to use and will last a lifetimes me i am sure.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/614276/forster-original-case-trimmer-kit

 

[joneb]

For revolver I use a Lyman universal trimmer and it is okay.
Another option for revolver brass would be to sort it by similar lengths. I use Lee collet crimp dies for plated bullets which is less sensitive to case length variations.

 

[Walkalong]

The question is what trimmer do you use not whether or not to trim.

I use the forster for trimming my 357 brass. I like a good consistent length for a uniform crimp. Easy to use and will last a lifetimes me i am sure.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/614276/forster-original-case-trimmer-kit

The Forster is a great trimmer. It's a shame it is so expensive these days. I just don't see the price in it, but it is definitely a great trimmer and will last many decades after the pain of the price goes away.

 

[jmorris]

Consistent crimp and consistent neck tension are important to

How are you measuring neck tension and how much variance do you get? Are you measuring in ft/lb or in/lb or something else?

 

[red rick]

I have the L.E. Wilson with the Sinclair micro head . But from what I have read it is a pain to get the pistol brass out of the case holder , you need to use a dowel rod to push the case out each time . I guess I could just get 2x4 and drill a hole in it for a dowel rod and use that to push the cases out .

 

[joneb]

I have the L.E. Wilson with the Sinclair micro head . But from what I have read it is a pain to get the pistol brass out of the case holder , you need to use a dowel rod to push the case out each time . I guess I could just get 2x4 and drill a hole in it for a dowel rod and use that to push the cases out .
View attachment 230148

I only use the Wilson lathe trimmer for bottle neck cases, for that reason.

 

[Pawpaw40]

I had the same problem with new Starline 44 brass. I use a Lyman case trimmer with a drill attachment kit installed.

Used it to trim a bunch of 300 BO also.

 

[9mmepiphany]

So I was thinking about the Lee deluxe power quick trimmer .

Just for your own sanity, please reconsider.

I'm trimming competition .38Spl brass so that I can get uniform mouth expansion, for coated bullets, and uniform crimp. My cases varied form 1.143" to 1.149".

I started with the Lee and it was a pain to get it to trim at all, much less chamfer or bevel.

I got the Lyman E-Zee Trim system and it has worked like a charm...I use it with a hand drill...easily going through the 800 cases in my normal rotation

 

[cfullgraf]

I have the L.E. Wilson with the Sinclair micro head . But from what I have read it is a pain to get the pistol brass out of the case holder , you need to use a dowel rod to push the case out each time . I guess I could just get 2x4 and drill a hole in it for a dowel rod and use that to push the cases out .
View attachment 230148

For my Wilson trimmer, I have a block with a hole in it and use a 4 oz ball peen hammer and a rod to tap rifle cases out of the case holder. The rod pushes on the inside of the case head. I have problems tapping on a freshly trimmed case mouth.

While I have several case holders for pistol cases, I have not used them yet so I cannot comment on how difficult it might be to remove the cases from the case holder. But, I suspect that I'm already set up for it.

 

[joneb]

I had the same problem with new Starline 44 brass. I use a Lyman case trimmer with a drill attachment kit installed.

Used it to trim a bunch of 300 BO also.

I think that set up would work well for me when trimming 9x19 Luger to 9x18 Makarov.
thanks.

 

[red rick]

Just for your own sanity, please reconsider.

I'm trimming competition .38Spl brass so that I can get uniform mouth expansion, for coated bullets, and uniform crimp. My cases varied form 1.143" to 1.149".

I started with the Lee and it was a pain to get it to trim at all, much less chamfer or bevel.

I got the Lyman E-Zee Trim system and it has worked like a charm...I use it with a hand drill...easily going through the 800 cases in my normal rotation

9mmepiphany , are you talking about the Lee Deluxe Quick Trim that mounts on your press or the hand held Lee cast trimmer that looks like the Lyman E-Zee Trim ?

 

[9mmepiphany]

are you talking about the Lee Deluxe Quick Trim that mounts on your press

Yup, the one that mounts in your press and has the 2 spring loaded blades to bevel and chamfer

 

[red rick]

Thanks , I will stay away from that one .