3 way brass trimmer on a budget

I'm a couple of months into the Frankfort Arsenal prep center after years of using the Lee cutter and an electric drill motor.
The FA does a better job at everything and I got it for $150 on sale.
My hands thank me.
 
I’m just starting my reloading journey. I was in the boat of not trimming but after sizing roughly 350 pieces of Hornady brass shot out of my 6cm, I had maybe 80 that were still under max length. Is it just such bad brass or what is the deal with that?
 
I’m just starting my reloading journey. I was in the boat of not trimming but after sizing roughly 350 pieces of Hornady brass shot out of my 6cm, I had maybe 80 that were still under max length. Is it just such bad brass or what is the deal with that?

There could be several reasons for it. First likely issues could be 1) Hornady is not great brass 2) Are you bumping the case 0.002” when resizing or do you set your sizing die screwed down until you get cam over in the press? You could easily be over sizing the brass causing the neck to thin then also causing it to need more frequent trimming.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
There could be several reasons for it. First likely issues could be 1) Hornady is not great brass 2) Are you bumping the case 0.002” when resizing or do you set your sizing die screwed down until you get cam over in the press? You could easily be over sizing the brass causing the neck to thin then also causing it to need more frequent trimming.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Very new to reloading so I could very well be doing something wrong. I screw my resizing die until it hits shell holder and then 1/4 turn past that per RCBS YouTube video. Bad idea?
 
Very new to reloading so I could very well be doing something wrong. I screw my resizing die until it hits shell holder and then 1/4 turn past that per RCBS YouTube video. Bad idea?

It’s bad in the sense that you’re overworking the brass and reducing the number of firings you’ll get from it. But you’re using cheap brass so doesn’t matter as much.

Check out videos online. Ultimate Reloader has one about “the perfect bump” that I think might be good info. Basically you’ll need something like a Hornady headspace comparator tool.

Good luck and feel free to ask questions! There are consequences to bad reloading, so be careful and study up. What you’re doing isn’t dangerous per se, but by over working the brass you are prematurely weakening it, so be prepared to ditch that brass sooner before you get the joy of experiencing a case head separation.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
The $600 Henderson version?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yeah. I have a Forster bench trimmer with drill adapter and 3-in-1 cutting heads too that starts quite a bit less expensive but by the time you buy a bunch of different cal 3 in 1 heads you’ve spent a bunch and it’s still not the hornady/henderson/giraud convenience.
 
Back
Top