Trimming cases

Capn Jack · Dec 19, 2008

I know it sounds a little crude, but why couldn't I make up a little jig to trim cases on my table sander? Anyone ever tried that?

jib · Dec 20, 2008

why couldn't I make up a little jig to trim cases on my table sander?

It would be like cutting wood trim with a chain saw instead of a chop saw.

ZeroRing · Jan 10, 2009

Capn Jack said:
why couldn't I make up a little jig to trim cases on my table sander?

If you think you can "sand" your cases to within a thousandth of an inch AND be perfectly round with the result... power to you! There's no way I'd do that though when a good case trimmer is pretty cheap.

:s0159:

Capn Jack · Jan 10, 2009

The reason I brought this up is,

I acquired what looks like a case length die with file marks on the throat end. When I asked about them I was told, "If the case sticks out, you file it off to the right length.

O-K..

Sounded a little strange to me.

...YUP Sure, Any I.D.'s.. :s0155:

Bend · Jan 10, 2009

Capn Jack said:
The reason I brought this up is, I acquired what looks like a case length die with file marks on the throat end. When I asked about them I was told, "If the case sticks out, you file it off to the right length. O-K.. Sounded a little strange to me. ...YUP Sure, Any I.D.'s..

Yep.

That is an older RCBS or Lee trim die that you install in your single stage press. Run a case up into it and file away. Its effective and simple. Sure, you can use a file, Drumal or small grinder to do the job. Just ensure the die is set for the length you want and don't file the die down too much in the mean time. De-bur the case inside and out afterwards.

Capn Jack · Jan 10, 2009

Thanks Bend :s0155:

Other than rim fire the AR is my first semi-auto rifle and I didn't realize how critical it's care and feeding was. :s0131:

Even though I carried a BAR in the military. Up to this point all of my reloading has been for revolver, or bolt action rifles and I've never had to concern myself with case lengths, or full length sizing. For many years all I used was a Lyman (Nut Cracker). :s0155:

Bend · Jan 10, 2009

Capn-

The length of cases is not all that critical in wheel guns unless you want to crimp at the same point or until the cases extend past the chambers.

However, bolty's are just as critical on case length as is the AR. A long neck being constrained by going past the throut and not being able to fully open can cause a kaboom. Keep the cases at or just below SAMMI. I trim mine to .015 inches short then trim the batch back again when at least 1 of a sample of 10 in the batch is beyond SAMMI length.

Editted.