Trimming 6.5x55

Hmatt said:
That is indeed the die I am looking for. I boycott Amazon tho so that isn’t really an option.. just have to buy a trimmer set up probably ��
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I use amazon just to get manufacturers part numbers a lot of the time.
Then use search engine to find the part in Canada

In this case Lee part # is 90337.

Western Metal show one in stock

Sam
 
Not sure about the Lee names any more, but is what I use - one blister pack "Cutter and Lock Stud" - PN 90110 - comes with a cutter and spinner that goes into an electric drill - then a second blister pack "Case Length Gauge & Shell Holder" - for example, PN 90131 for 7mm Rem Mag; PN 90116 for 22-250 - that has a mandrel and shell holder - need that second one for each cartridge that you chose to trim - first combo works for all cartridges - but need both, to trim any particular case.

So a re-sized case gets mounted in that "Stud" with that "Shell Holder" - trim to length, then chamfer it with a RCBS / Wilson chamfering tool, then use damp rag and spin to wipe off sizing lube - on to the next case.

Maybe some made better today, but in "old days" I used a bench mount lathe type trimmer - still needed pilots, cutter and shell holder - was difficult for me to re-set to get back to doing others like I did years previous - but they worked - required much measuring, I found. What I see as advantage of that system I use now - no measuring - what I trim today is "dead nuts" the same as I did last year - I am not so sure that really matters, so much. As a result of trades and purchases on CGN, I think is about 3 or 4 studs and cutters here, and I have built up to have a mandrel and shell holder for each cartridge that I have loading dies for - like more than 20 - could no doubt have bought about any other type of trimmer tool for what I have tied up in these Lee things.
 
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Potashminer said:
Not sure about the Lee names any more, but is what I use - one blister pack "Cutter and Lock Stud" - PN 90110 - comes with a cutter and spinner that goes into an electric drill - then a second blister pack "Case Length Gauge & Shell Holder" - for example, PN 90131 for 7mm Rem Mag; PN 90116 for 22-250 - that has a mandrel and shell holder - need that second one for each cartridge that you chose to trim - first combo works for all cartridges - but need both, to trim any particular case.

So a re-sized case gets mounted in that "Stud" with that "Shell Holder" - trim to length, then chamfer it with a RCBS / Wilson chamfering tool, then use damp rag and spin to wipe off sizing lube - on to the next case.

Maybe some made better today, but in "old days" I used a bench mount lathe type trimmer - still needed pilots, cutter and shell holder - was difficult for me to re-set to get back to doing others like I did years previous - but they worked - required much measuring, I found. What I see as advantage of that system I use now - no measuring - what I trim today is "dead nuts" the same as I did last year - I am not so sure that really matters, so much. As a result of trades and purchases on CGN, I think is about 3 or 4 studs and cutters here, and I have built up to have a mandrel and shell holder for each cartridge that I have loading dies for - like more than 20 - could no doubt have bought about any other type of trimmer tool for what I have tied up in these Lee things.
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^ This ^

I've colour coded my lee length gauge and shell holders and have a separate cutter for each.
Not super expensive and no worries about whether the case gauge is screwed into the cutter the same every time you change over.

Sam
 
Potashminer said:
Not sure about the Lee names any more, but is what I use - one blister pack "Cutter and Lock Stud" - PN 90110 - comes with a cutter and spinner that goes into an electric drill - then a second blister pack "Case Length Gauge & Shell Holder" - for example, PN 90131 for 7mm Rem Mag; PN 90116 for 22-250 - that has a mandrel and shell holder - need that second one for each cartridge that you chose to trim - first combo works for all cartridges - but need both, to trim any particular case.

So a re-sized case gets mounted in that "Stud" with that "Shell Holder" - trim to length, then chamfer it with a RCBS / Wilson chamfering tool, then use damp rag and spin to wipe off sizing lube - on to the next case.

Maybe some made better today, but in "old days" I used a bench mount lathe type trimmer - still needed pilots, cutter and shell holder - was difficult for me to re-set to get back to doing others like I did years previous - but they worked - required much measuring, I found. What I see as advantage of that system I use now - no measuring - what I trim today is "dead nuts" the same as I did last year - I am not so sure that really matters, so much. As a result of trades and purchases on CGN, I think is about 3 or 4 studs and cutters here, and I have built up to have a mandrel and shell holder for each cartridge that I have loading dies for - like more than 20 - could no doubt have bought about any other type of trimmer tool for what I have tied up in these Lee things.
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I use this system for all my trimming. It’s simple and basically idiot proof
I bought the cutter with the 8-32 thread and use it on my Lyman case prep station instead of using a drill
The downside is I have a box full of case length gauges and shell holders for all the different calibers I reload for
 
"idiot proof" - I would say "usually, is idiot proof" - I was trying to shorten one made for 7mm Rem Mag to use for 7x61 Sharpe and Hart - in my lathe - got "rammy" (the idiot part) and swiped off too short with file - so had to start over on another one. But, yes, generally is pretty idiot proof - need to really work at it to mess things up!

My solution at the time was to buy two more for 7mm Rem Mag - and, of course, because I had a spare, next one worked out well - so staring at a new 7mm Rem Mag one - for which I do not own that rifle - so in true "gun nut" fashion, I have multiple times considered to get one, to have use for this Case Length Gauge ... I had bought "1F" 7mm Rem Mag brass on CGN, but that was for COW process into cases for 458 Win Mag - for cast bullet "fun loads" - so is still also some 7mm Rem Mag brass "1F" on hand ...
 
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Potashminer said:
"idiot proof" - I would say "usually, is idiot proof" - I was trying to shorten one made for 7mm Rem Mag to use for 7x61 Sharpe and Hart - in my lathe - got "rammy" (the idiot part) and swiped off too short with file - so had to start over on another one. But, yes, generally is pretty idiot proof - need to really work at it to mess things up!

My solution at the time was to buy two more for 7mm Rem Mag - and, of course, because I had a spare, next one worked out well - so staring at a new 7mm Rem Mag one - for which I do not own that rifle - so in true "gun nut" fashion, I have multiple times considered to get one, to have use for this Case Length Gauge ... I had bought "1F" 7mm Rem Mag brass on CGN, but that was for COW process into cases for 458 Win Mag - for cast bullet "fun loads" - so is still also some 7mm Rem Mag brass "1F" on hand ...
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Make something "Idiot Proof"; God just makes a better idiot. LOL
 
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