When do you trim?

[SDHNTR]

Every firing? Every few? Only when too long? Never?

Mind you, I’m a hunter, I’m not competing. But I just tediously trimmed a lot of brass and I’m wondering if I even needed to bother. My brass is well under max length, so I’m not trimming because it’s too long. I trimmed only to make my brass pieces all uniform in length, but how uniform does it need to be? Is .005” really gonna make an appreciable difference? For the purposes of reasonably good hunting accuracy, do I even need to be concerned much about a little brass length variance? I sure wouldn’t mind skipping this part of the process until really necessary.

 

[seand]

trim when cases are too long

 

[bradb]

used to trim a little short and then it was a long time tell they measured to long. Since getting the Giruad trimmer I trim about every time

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Anymore, I trim way before it needed. You being a hunter, the worst thing that can happen is one too long make it in your batch and it won’t cycle.

 

[archp625]

After you resize your brass and when its needed. Seems like for me it about every 3-4 firing.

 

[SDHNTR]

To be clear, I do measure after every firing. I realize you need to trim once too long, or close to it, but assuming brass is not long, is it worth trimming only for the sake of uniformity?

 

[rclouse79]

I was going to say when I start getting compliments on my sweater vest until I realized it wasn’t a manscaping thread.

 

[WeiserBucks]

To be clear, I do measure after every firing. I realize you need to trim once too long, or close to it, but assuming brass is not long, is it worth trimming only for the sake of uniformity?

I trim for uniformity, just one more thing I can control and I tell myself that it helps consistency.

 

[CJF]

Any cases over max length. I can’t shoot good enough to tell any difference otherwise.

Next time you shoot make one group random lengths and another group uniform to spec and see if the two groups are significantly different. I never could, so I quit trying.

 

[XLR]

Trim after first firing for uniformity and then after that I just wait until it approaches length! I will normally trim it once its about .002-.003 shy of length just to make sure there is no issues if I have any kind of carbon ring. If I had a 3 way trimmer though I would just do it every time!

 

[MuleyFever]

Whats the most efficient trimmer?

 

[Lawnboi]

Spin mine in the giraud every firing.

Not because it needs a trim every time, mainly as a time saver from chamfer/debur.

A giraud/Henderson style trimmer is a time saver on the bench.

 

[ID_Matt]

Whats the most efficient trimmer?

Henderson. Used to hate trimming, now I love it. Do it nearly every time just for uniformity. Takes a matter of minutes to do 50 cases.

 

[menhaden_man]

Whats the most efficient trimmer?

World's Finest Trimmer 2 | Little Crow Gunworks

NOTE: This item by itself will not trim any cases. You must also purchase the WFT2 Trim Chamber inserts for the cartridges that you want to trim. Due to the design of this trimmer, the WFT2 ONLY works on "bottleneck" cartridges up to .458 Caliber. Pistol and "Straightwall" cartridge trimmers are...

www.littlecrowgunworks.com

 

[Lawnboi]

To be clear, I do measure after every firing. I realize you need to trim once too long, or close to it, but assuming brass is not long, is it worth trimming only for the sake of uniformity?

Not if it means your touching it multiple times.

But a three way trimmer, even if I don’t have to trim, I do chamfer and debur.

If your putting each piece in a lathe style trimmer then chamfer and debur in separate steps, and can afford a three way trimmer, you owe it to yourself to buy one. I normally have more time than I do money, but I hate trimming manually, chamfer and debur by hand isn’t up there on my list either.

 

[SDHNTR]

Not if it means your touching it multiple times.

But a three way trimmer, even if I don’t have to trim, I do chamfer and debur.

If your putting each piece in a lathe style trimmer then chamfer and debur in separate steps, and can afford a three way trimmer, you owe it to yourself to buy one. I normally have more time than I do money, but I hate trimming manually, chamfer and debur by hand isn’t up there on my list either.

I use a Wilson Case trimmer and then the Hornady drill style thingy for chamfer and deburr. It works and it’s not terribly slow, I’m just wondering if it’s necessary at all when well under Max length?

I looked at a Giraud. Looks fast and I watched several videos and I don’t understand what ensures concentricity? Chucked in a simple cordless drill and just pushed into the cutter, what keeps things square? And what stops the cut at the right length?

 

[Lawnboi]

I use a Wilson Case trimmer and then the Hornady drill style thingy for chamfer and deburr. It works and it’s not terribly slow, I’m just wondering if it’s necessary at all when well under Max length?

I looked at a Giraud. Looks fast and I watched several videos and I don’t understand what ensures concentricity? Chucked in a simple cordless drill and just pushed into the cutter, what keeps things square? And what stops the cut at the right length?

The giraud works off the shoulder. Vs your wilson trimmer that works off the case head. There is a caliber specific holder on the giraud that allows you to push it in to the shoulder and trim/chamfer/debur. Trimming off the shoulder can cause some inconsistencies if the rest of the case isn’t perfect but lots of guys prefer it for uniform neck length. Downside of the giraud is needed shell holders, and change outs can be a bit of a pain.

The Henderson trims/chamfer/debur off the case head like your wilson. I havnt used one but they are talked about highly.

I also have a wilson trimmer, good tool but extremely slow. I loathe trimming on that thing if I’m doing anymore than a few.

With the above power trimmers you have to touch the brass once to do what took you 3 things before.

Of course if your not shooting that much, manual isn’t so bad. In that case I just trim initially and then every few firings when I see some growth.

 

[SDHNTR]

The giraud works off the shoulder. Vs your wilson trimmer that works off the case head. There is a caliber specific holder on the giraud that allows you to push it in to the shoulder and trim/chamfer/debur. Trimming off the shoulder can cause some inconsistencies if the rest of the case isn’t perfect but lots of guys prefer it for uniform neck length. Downside of the giraud is needed shell holders, and change outs can be a bit of a pain.

The Henderson trims/chamfer/debur off the case head like your wilson. I havnt used one but they are talked about highly.

I also have a wilson trimmer, good tool but extremely slow. I loathe trimming on that thing if I’m doing anymore than a few.

With the above power trimmers you have to touch the brass once to do what took you 3 things before.

Of course if your not shooting that much, manual isn’t so bad. In that case I just trim initially and then every few firings when I see some growth.

Very helpful. Thanks

 

[General RE LEE]

I trim everytime because the Lyman Express trimmer makes it super easy.

Lyman Brass Smith Case Trim Xpress Case Trimmer

Lyman's Case Trim Xpress gives rifle reloaders the speed and accuracy that they have been looking for when trimming cases! The unit has its own power...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[SDHNTR]

Is that a 3 way cutter? Does it trim and chamfer and debur all in one cut?