I am curious on everyone's opinion on trim dies? does anyone still use them? I get some rough edges from my Wilson case trimmer, it seems like the small amount of play in the crankshaft allows it to walk off center and chew up the neck. I am thinking that a case trim die and a file might fix this...
trim dies?
- Thread starter car15bill
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Which case trimmer die, one has threads, the other does not, my favorite die is the case forming die that also doubles as a trim die. Not easy to beat the trim die’s ability to trim cases accurately.
The threads allow for trimming the case length when the length of the chamber between the shoulder and bolt face is know.
Thinking the file will fix is not quite accurate, when the ram is lowered there is a burr like a roll over, then there is the inside of the neck. I have air craft counter sinks that takes care of the inside of the case mouth.
When forming I use the hack saw then the file. If I do not have a lot of material to remove I use the countersinks.
F. Guffey
The threads allow for trimming the case length when the length of the chamber between the shoulder and bolt face is know.
Thinking the file will fix is not quite accurate, when the ram is lowered there is a burr like a roll over, then there is the inside of the neck. I have air craft counter sinks that takes care of the inside of the case mouth.
When forming I use the hack saw then the file. If I do not have a lot of material to remove I use the countersinks.
F. Guffey
oldpapps
Member
In my 51 years of loading, I have never used a 'trim die'. I have worn out a Hornady lathe type and have a Lyman lathe type, both have 'pilots' to steady the brass and center it.
Of late I have been using the LEE shaft on a cutter jobs. They work well. To save my hands I bought a 'W.F.T.' trimmer. (I love it. I whipped threw over 800 223s in one setting. The only down side is they are cartridge family specific and a little pricy.) Still have to finish up with a light cleaning inside and out at the trim on all of these.
Don't know if I help with an answer for your question, but that's all I've got.
Of late I have been using the LEE shaft on a cutter jobs. They work well. To save my hands I bought a 'W.F.T.' trimmer. (I love it. I whipped threw over 800 223s in one setting. The only down side is they are cartridge family specific and a little pricy.) Still have to finish up with a light cleaning inside and out at the trim on all of these.
Don't know if I help with an answer for your question, but that's all I've got.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Are you sizing before trimming?
Are you using the correct cartridge specific case holder??
Are you using the cartridge specific case holder at all???
rc
Grumulkin
Member
First of all, I don't think a small amount of play in the crankshaft will cause a noticible problem in the finished product. That said, I find trim dies useful when a small number of cases are to be trimmed. Also, nickel plated cases will damage some cutter heads so I use trim dies to trim those many times.
rcmodel, I am sizing before trimming, and of course I am using the right 225 case bushing . when I spin the cutter, most of the cut is even. then as I get down to where its almost to size, it will chew off a little more brass on one side or the other, and if you look at it from the top, it looks rough.
the only thing I could think is that I wore the cutting surface, and I need a new cutting head, but imo, I haven't used it enough to wear hardened steel out from cutting brass.
the only thing I could think is that I wore the cutting surface, and I need a new cutting head, but imo, I haven't used it enough to wear hardened steel out from cutting brass.
lightman
Member
I feel like the cutter on Wilsons trimmer, and most others get dull pretty quick. Thats probably your problem. The carbide cutter is the way to go, but kinda pricey.
The only trim die that I have used was a 308, back when I was making them out of 30-06's. It was a quick way to measure and cut off large amounts of brass. I would not use a trim die for everyday trimming. There are just too many better ways to trim. Lightman
The only trim die that I have used was a 308, back when I was making them out of 30-06's. It was a quick way to measure and cut off large amounts of brass. I would not use a trim die for everyday trimming. There are just too many better ways to trim. Lightman
gamestalker
member
I've been using the Lee cutter / stud on a cordless drill since I began loading several deacdes ago, and I love it. I replaced the original cutter cause I got tired of sharpening it. But the replacement is apparently carbide, cause it has stayed sharp for the last couple decades, and trims clean. I still have to ream and chamfer, but the cut is clean, no rough chinggered up mouths.
GS
GS
lightman
Member
I've never been very good at sharpening stuff, but it can be done. If you are handy with tools or can sharpen drill bits or other tools, you can probably sharpen your cutter. Lightman
Jcinnb
Member
I use a trim die when turning .270 to 25-06. Then run it through the Wilson trimmer after FL sizing die. Lots of steps but there'll has been a lot of really nice .270 brass at the range lately!
I have and use two or three trim dies but they are associated with a set of case forming dies.
They allow the use of a hack saw to quickly cut off the large excess length from case forming then file to finish length.
Work fine but for routine trimming they would be slow.
With my Wilson trimmer, if I push too hard, The cutter digs in too deep and makes an uneven cut. When this happens, it seems to be difficult to get the mouth true especially if the case trimming is almost at the finished length.
This may not be your problem though.
I am still using my original Wilson cutter after a decade but I use the trimmer for certain tasks so it does not have a lot of mileage.
They allow the use of a hack saw to quickly cut off the large excess length from case forming then file to finish length.
Work fine but for routine trimming they would be slow.
With my Wilson trimmer, if I push too hard, The cutter digs in too deep and makes an uneven cut. When this happens, it seems to be difficult to get the mouth true especially if the case trimming is almost at the finished length.
This may not be your problem though.
I am still using my original Wilson cutter after a decade but I use the trimmer for certain tasks so it does not have a lot of mileage.
788Ham
Member
I've got a trim die for my .223 and my '06. I got some .223 brass from a guy, fired once. I resized them, ran through the die, filed the extra off, then beveled and chamfered them, never had any problems. I've done this with the '06 cases also.
DM~
Member
I have some trim dies, i use them when i do case forming to make one case into another... I don't care for trim dies for actual "trimming", i'd much rather rely on one of my Forester case trimmers for that.
DM
DM
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