Case trimming primed brass

hemidart

hemidart

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Was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for case trimming already sized, cleaned and primed brass? I have about 600 .223 brass that I bought already primed and ready to load. Problem is I checked the case length and they are beyond what I feel comfortable loading. My Lyman Universal has a ball bearing that centers the case with the primer pocket. Is there other makes of trimmers that grip the case differently? Or any suggestions besides de-priming:(
Thanks
Pete.....
 
I don't think it will work with the Lee pilot and shellholder because the primer will block the trimmer from ever touching the brass.

You might also risk contaminating the primer when trimming and deburring.
 
A Forrester trimmer will do what you want. The base is held in a chuck of sorts. No centering pilots on the base end. The mouth end goes on a pilot. Check will Ellwood Epps. I think I might have seen something by Forrester there, but it's such a mish mash of stuff in there, it's hard to remember. Failing that, Wholesale Sports in Edmonton had SOME Forrester products, but I don't remember specfically seeing a case trimmer there. Look on their website. Don't call Calgary mail order asking about it. You'll be talking to someone who knows how to push line one thru nine, put someone on hold and hang up. Other than that, they're nothing more than data entry clerks.
 
The RCBS, Hornady and Forster trimmers should all work.

Another cheaper fix would be to pick up a RCBS "File Trim Die" that fits in your press. Using this die the excess length is taken of with a file.
 
Am I missing something here? Would a chuck from a Forester fit your trimmer?

What about the trimmings that fall inside the case or are attached to the brass mouth? That fall into the case when you try to remove them. I suggest using compressed air to blow out your cases after you have trimmed.
 
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Over time I've tried to improve the time consuming bottle necks in my loading procedure. Trimming was one of these until I bought a Giraud trimmer. This trimmer indexes on the case shoulder, the case is held vertically and the trimmed material falls down away from the case mouth; so cases can be trimmed primed or unprimed. These are not bargain basement units, but the time they save you makes their cost worthwhile if you are a dedicated handloader. Trimming 100 cases takes me just a couple of minutes.
 
Wilson also makes a good trimmer and Sinclair makes some good accessories for the Wilson. With Wilson the case is put into a case holder that is similar to putting the case in a chamber of a firearm and keeps the case mouth square to the cutter, and this can be done with or without a primer. Some case holders are for new cases and some are for fired cases, if the cartridge that you are wanting to trim has this option you will just have to tell them which one you want.
 
Tell me about it! Best money (and most) I have spent on reloading gear so far. I used to dread case trimming until I got a Giraud unit - now uniforming primer pockets is the operation that I hate.

Boomer said:
Over time I've tried to improve the time consuming bottle necks in my loading procedure. Trimming was one of these until I bought a Giraud trimmer. This trimmer indexes on the case shoulder, the case is held vertically and the trimmed material falls down away from the case mouth; so cases can be trimmed primed or unprimed. These are not bargain basement units, but the time they save you makes their cost worthwhile if you are a dedicated handloader. Trimming 100 cases takes me just a couple of minutes.
Click to expand...
 
You want one of these -- cheap (inexpensive), fast, and easy to use:

hxxp://www.possumhollowproducts.com/kwick-case-trimmers.html (replace xx with tt)
 
Don

Don45 said:
Wilson also makes a good trimmer and Sinclair makes some good accessories for the Wilson. With Wilson the case is put into a case holder that is similar to putting the case in a chamber of a firearm and keeps the case mouth square to the cutter, and this can be done with or without a primer. Some case holders are for new cases and some are for fired cases, if the cartridge that you are wanting to trim has this option you will just have to tell them which one you want.
Click to expand...

hit the nail on the head.

Wilson trimmers are the BEST out there.

Calvin
 
you could use a lee trimmer in a drill press, set to the proper depth... just have to grind down some of the flash hole pilot
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This is an irresponsible suggestion. The writer obviously doesn't realize that the flash hole pilot cannot center the trimmer when the flash hole is plugged with a primer.

Instead of buying some other trimmer that may do the job, just deprime the brass, trim with your trimmer and reprime with the same primers. Be sure to wear safety glasses, ear muffs and stand to the side. I have deprimed many cases with never a detonation but I always expect one to occur.
 
'Boo said:
The RCBS, Hornady and Forster trimmers should all work.

Another cheaper fix would be to pick up a RCBS "File Trim Die" that fits in your press. Using this die the excess length is taken of with a file.
Click to expand...

Boo,
not questioning your statement just asking a question. With the Hornady cam lock trimmer, when the cam locks, the spindle is pushing against the base of the case. Assuming all primers are seated correctly, would it really be OK to trim if I ever found myself in a similar situation?

thanks.
 
warrenb said:
Boo,
not questioning your statement just asking a question. With the Hornady cam lock trimmer, when the cam locks, the spindle is pushing against the base of the case. Assuming all primers are seated correctly, would it really be OK to trim if I ever found myself in a similar situation?

thanks.
Click to expand...

The primers on all loaded rounds should be below the base of the case. The Hornady lock spindle has a diameter larger than most primer pockets so it should not come into direct contact with the primer.

With that said if someone tries using the Hornady - or any other trimmer - I would hope that common sense would prevail and they would check out all the clearances them self before going to town cranking on the handles! ;) LoL
 
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