DeadFlies
Member
The Lee cutter is cheap and it works. It's a bit tough on the fingers after a few dozen cases though, especially if you are chamfering and deburring with the Lee tool too.
Need an inexpensive method for case trimming
- Thread starter tackbustr
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Just for the sake of clarity, the discussion has included two entirely different Lee trimming systems.
The cutter/lock stud/case length gauge is the older system which does work very well for cheap, but is not length adjustable. I use it for .308 brass when I'm not loading more than 50 cases, so while the brass is chucked in my drill I can use steel wool to shine up the cases at the same time. If it's my brass and there's no dirt or grit on the cases I won't tumble them at all, this makes this type of Lee trimmer a great option.
The links provided by Jim243 is the new Lee trimmer that is press mounted and pretty close to as cheap as a trimmer can get. It will trim, chamfer and deburr all at the same time, it's very fast and once you have it adjusted to your preferred trim length, it's very consistent. Since it uses a die to control the cutter's depth, you really cannot over cut the chamfer or deburr. The downside (for me) is that I can't use steel wool to polish since the cases aren't chucked in a drill.
I use the new trimmer for all .223 now since .223 brass attracts dirt like a magnet and I always have to tumble them. My feeling these days is the new Lee trimmer is only beaten for efficiency by something like a Giraud, Gracey or a RCBS three way trimmer.
The cutter/lock stud/case length gauge is the older system which does work very well for cheap, but is not length adjustable. I use it for .308 brass when I'm not loading more than 50 cases, so while the brass is chucked in my drill I can use steel wool to shine up the cases at the same time. If it's my brass and there's no dirt or grit on the cases I won't tumble them at all, this makes this type of Lee trimmer a great option.
The links provided by Jim243 is the new Lee trimmer that is press mounted and pretty close to as cheap as a trimmer can get. It will trim, chamfer and deburr all at the same time, it's very fast and once you have it adjusted to your preferred trim length, it's very consistent. Since it uses a die to control the cutter's depth, you really cannot over cut the chamfer or deburr. The downside (for me) is that I can't use steel wool to polish since the cases aren't chucked in a drill.
I use the new trimmer for all .223 now since .223 brass attracts dirt like a magnet and I always have to tumble them. My feeling these days is the new Lee trimmer is only beaten for efficiency by something like a Giraud, Gracey or a RCBS three way trimmer.
Thanks for the replies! Will separate my brass
Thanks for all the replies as to my case trimming questions RE: trimming my .38 brass....since I will be shooting only mild load 148 gr. wad cutters I think I probably will not need to trim for the 1st few reloads...however, I like Lee Roder's idea of separating my brass into lengths... think that method will work for me...will be very careful to not exceed OAL with my calipers using my Lee OAL length guide.
Thanks again for all the suggestions and ideas...
tackbustr
Thanks for all the replies as to my case trimming questions RE: trimming my .38 brass....since I will be shooting only mild load 148 gr. wad cutters I think I probably will not need to trim for the 1st few reloads...however, I like Lee Roder's idea of separating my brass into lengths... think that method will work for me...will be very careful to not exceed OAL with my calipers using my Lee OAL length guide.
Thanks again for all the suggestions and ideas...
tackbustr
32_d3gr33s
Member
I dont have coffee cans though.. anyone want to buy me some coffee so i can do this?!!?!
Really though, i just purchased the lee case trimmer,and case guage and shellholders for .38, .357, and .223. Should be here thursday, im excited to give them a try.
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
I have never trimmed a piece of handgun brass and probably never will. There is no need to trim straight walled handgun brass mostly because it actually shrinks instead of lengthening. I have well over 20 reloads on a lot of my .38 special brass and there's still no reason to trim any of it...Thanks for all the replies as to my case trimming questions RE: trimming my .38 brass....since I will be shooting only mild load 148 gr. wad cutters I think I probably will not need to trim for the 1st few reloads...however, I like Lee Roder's idea of separating my brass into lengths... think that method will work for me...will be very careful to not exceed OAL with my calipers using my Lee OAL length guide.
Thanks again for all the suggestions and ideas...
tackbustr
Low pressure .38 Spl brass tends not to stretch much if at all, but .357 Mag brass will stretch for sure. The most stretching occurs very early in the life of the case.
For loading 148 Gr WCs in .38 Spl with a little or no taper crimp, you can get away with not trimming at all. 50 yard BE shooters might, dunno, but us commoners won't need to. Separating into groups of similar lengths may help accuracy, dunno. When I used untrimmed brass to test some things in .38 Spl once, I could not see a difference, but I'm no BE shooter either.
PJSprog
Member
Never trimmed handgun brass.
However, I've been using the Lee trimmer with ball handle and Lee Zip Trim for some time on rifle brass; low cost and effective.
However, I've been using the Lee trimmer with ball handle and Lee Zip Trim for some time on rifle brass; low cost and effective.
Arkansas Paul
Member
Broken record time. In all likelyhood, .38 Spcl brass will never need to be trimmed. If you just want to, use the Lee trimmers either with or without the zip trim.
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