Case trimming

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:49 am Post subject: Case trimming

There was a question asked a while back about case trimming and deburring. I was playing with my camera last weekend and took the pictures below. All of the cases were new and have been run through the sizing die. The left case is just as it came from the factory. The center case has been trimmed to length but not deburred. The right case has had the full treatment, trimmed and deburred.

You can see that the untrimmed case still has a bit of a sharp edge on the inside of the mouth. I've had new brass, untrimmed and not deburred, shave enough jacket, or lead, off of a bullet that I had to pull the bullet and start over. I think the shaved material could have interfered with chambering the round. The trimmed but not deburred brass obviously has sharp edges that would do the same. The deburred brass allows easier bullet seating as well as a more consistent crimp by removing the burrs. Depending on the cartridge you might have to do this once every three to eight times you reload the brass. To me its worth the effort to promote consistency.

204Shooter · Member Joined: Jan 28, 2007 Posts: 68 Location: Diana, TX

Pumpkinslinger,
I cut the case length and debur each time I reload the brass. I also polish the brass, including the deburred end, with 000 steel wool. Try spinning the case and polishing it with the steel wool and then take another picture. You will find it to be even smoother than just deburring alone. I use a case holder from Lee Precision and a small drill clamped into a vice to hold and spin the case. I then grab the case with the 000 steel wool. It doesn't take long and the results are worth the small effort.
204

Joe Boleo · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:05 pm Post subject: Re: Case trimming

I use various Lee Trimmers and and RCBS chamfer and deburring tool as required on all cases whether they are new or used. Take care...
Joe

FALPhil · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:17 pm Post subject: Re: Case trimming

Joe Boleo wrote:

I use various Lee Trimmers and and RCBS chamfer and deburring tool as required on all cases whether they are new or used.

Ditto.

ElyBoy · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:36 pm Post subject: Re: Case trimming

The extra time that a guy spends doing a good job at the reloading bench really shows with better results at the range and in the field.
I tumble all of my brass before reloading, and last summer I purchased a RCBS Trim Mate Case Prep Center.
It is worth the money.
It's faster and does a better job than I do by hand.
I still use my Forster Case Trimmers that I have had for over 30yrs.

Eric

SwampFox · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:44 pm Post subject: Re: Case trimming

Tell em Eric..... The RCBS prep center combined with the case trimmer mit motor is the best Christmas gift a reloader can get. The three way cutters are just like the dawn of the modern age for a reloader stuck in the dark ages of hand cranking.
Ed

Doublejs · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:29 pm Post subject: Re: Case trimming

I even go one step further, I took a 3/4 inch copper cap for plumbing and filled it full of steel wool. Then I soddered it to copper round stock and threaded it to fit on my RCBS case trimmer. After I trim and debur; I put the case on the steel wool to completely remove burs and polish it.

It only takes a couple seconds and I have pulled bullets in the past with no scratches on them at all.

ElyBoy · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:21 pm Post subject: Re: Case trimming

Great idea Double Man.
I'm going to do the same in the morning.

Great Idea. Very Happy

Eric

twofifty · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:48 pm Post subject: Re: Case trimming

doublejs, the RCBS case prep centre you posted a pic of, does it power spin all of the tool stations, or exclusively the two upper ones?

Doublejs · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 6:30 am Post subject: Re: Case trimming

It spins only the bottom five (5), the top two brushes are stationary. I just put the brushes there to clean out the necks of the brass.

ElyBoy · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:54 am Post subject: Re: Case trimming

Your idea on the top left station is much better than the plastic container of goop that RCBS has, Double.
I use the primer reamer all of the time on the unit also.
If a primer goes in tight on my Lee Classic Turret Press, I just ream it out and have no problems after that.

Eric

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: Case trimming

I guess I should have mentioned that the cases in my pic still have the sizing lube on them, which caused some brass shavings, etc. to stick to them.

woods · Member Joined: Oct 15, 2005 Posts: 89

Hey guys, I guess I am the one weirdo that uses the Lee Zip Trim. To clean the inside of the neck, remove the burrs and scratches I use a 22 caliber bronze brush with steel wool wrapped around it

A few spins and it cleans it down to the bare brass the entire length of the neck

This is after trimming with the Lee Case Length Gage and ball cutter and chamfering in and out.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:31 pm Post subject: Re: Case trimming

Has anyone measured to see if they are removing much brass using steel wool on cases?

woods · Member Joined: Oct 15, 2005 Posts: 89

I monitor my 280AI neck thickness religiously and have never found it to be reduced. After neck turning for the original thickness needed it stays the same, at least through the 7th loading which some of my brass is on now.