Lee case trimmer Fail...

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TedNugent

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So I've been trimming about a thousand Lake City brass with my Lee trimmer, the one with the wooden ball on the end and the shell holder in my drill. I've done about 400 now, and I just decided for the hell of it to measure my case length with a set of calipers. To my dismay I find that my cases are being cut to 2.002 - 2.003, down from 2.006 - when I first started cutting, I was using the lead zip trimmer attached to my bench. I measured about 10 shells when I started and everything was fine. So what the hell has happened to my trimmer!? Have I just ruined almost a hundred fifty cases? I know the stretch some up on firing, what ever taken off too much I know spec is 2.005 for .308. Should I have bought a better trimmer?
 
I guess old Lee figures cut once and shoot three or four reloads this way
without having to trim again.
I get all antsey when I cut my 358 win brass down too far.
Full case of powder needs the added neck length.
 
There is nothing wrong with the Lee Trimmers.
There may have been a slight "burr" on the tip of the trimmer. [the part that goes through the flashole]
This may have worn off and shortened the trim length slightly.

Regardless, a case that is .004" shorter than min trim length is certainly NOT ruined.

I know many persons who make 308 Norma Magnum cases from 338 Win or 7mm Rem Mag cases.
These finish up about .030"-.040" shorter than min trim length. No harm comes from this practice.

There is so much paranoia about everything having to be "just so" that it absolutely amazes me.

Worry about cases that are too long, not those which are a bit short.

Regards, Eagleye.
 
I trim my .308 cases to 2.000, a full .005" under what the book says. I just ran 1000 cases through my Gracey trimmer, some were as long as 2.025" before trimming. By going a couple thousands undersize I shouldn't have to trim my cases again until 2015.
 
Eagleye said:
There is nothing wrong with the Lee Trimmers.
There may have been a slight "burr" on the tip of the trimmer. [the part that goes through the flashole]
This may have worn off and shortened the trim length slightly.

[snip]

Worry about cases that are too long, not those which are a bit short.

Regards, Eagleye.
Click to expand...

:agree: What he said.


BUT! If you (and that apply to mr. SKIP1600 too with his 300WSM brass) if you're worried, just send me your brass and I'll be happy to shoot them!
 
That's why I'm fond of the zip trim on a bench vs power drill. I usually measure all my cases and group them together by length, and I know that 4 pulls will bring down those that are .010" over, and 2 pulls are fine for those .005" over and less, all cut down to about .001" under spec (not that this kind of precision really matters...) I find there's a little more control on it, because even the amount of pressure you put on it can cause it to cut down an extra couple thou, even with the case length gauge in there perfectly. I wouldn't worry about it, but if you are, you can also back the case length gauge out ~1/4 turn, the threads are usually tight enough to stay put.
 
If you find it consistently cuts them too short, you can make it longer by adding a shim or two on the cutter. I used aluminum from a coke can, made it into a washer, and it lives on the stem all the time now.
 
I bought a used Wilson Case Trimmer. Frankly, I think its one of the best out there, for not too much money. We ARE reloading for precision right? So why hurry the process?
 
TedNugent said:
when I first started cutting, I was using the lead zip trimmer attached to my bench. ?
Click to expand...
I don't have the zip trim but were you using the exact same chuck? The lee trimmer goes till it hits bottom of the pin so 4 thou between two different chuck/holders wouldn't be crazy.
As stated, 4 thou is nothing to worry about.
 
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