Trimming pistol cases?

bossman · January 28, 2011, 09:00 AM

Do I need to trim 38/357 or 45 colt brass for reloads, or is the trim cases for rifle loads? I use them in pistols only but see in the manuals most say after case has been trimmed then proceed with the reloading.

Walkalong · January 28, 2011, 09:27 AM

I trim all my revolver cases to ensure a more uniform crimp. Some folks don't, but it is critical if you want good uniform crimps.

If you have a batch of all new cases from the same maker, and they are uniform in length, you can set your die up to match that length and be OK, but the brass is going to stretch and need trimming or readjustment of the crimp die to get the same crimp time after time.

reloader28 · January 28, 2011, 10:38 AM

Exactly as Walkalong said.
Most people dont trim them, but I do for consistant length.
With flaring and crimping it really makes a difference in my loads.

dlb435 · January 28, 2011, 01:57 PM

I've never had to. I do spot check my pistol brass and haven't found a long case yet.

454PB · January 28, 2011, 02:34 PM

There's really two things to consider, maximum case length and UNIFORM case length. For consistent results, they all need to be the same length. For safety, they all need to be under maximum length.

I usually buy handgun brass in lots of 500. They vary wildly in case length, because they are pressure formed during manufacture, no machined. Don't count on new brass being uniform, but you can usually count on it being under (considerably) maximum length.

Even very high pressure rounds (like .454 Casull) stretch very little over 5 or 10 loadings because of the straight case walls.

BigJimP · January 28, 2011, 03:05 PM

I don't trim any handgun calibers ....even though I shoot .357 mag in a lever action rifle / and a variety of revolvers.... Its never been an issue.

YARDDOG(1) · January 28, 2011, 04:04 PM

"[I don't trim any handgun calibers ....even though I shoot .357 mag in a lever action rifle / and a variety of revolvers.... Its never been an issue]"

^^^^^^^^^Agree 100%^^^^^^^^^^^ works great, when they start to split I dump the batch ; )
Y/D

temmi · January 28, 2011, 04:18 PM

I too trim all my handgun cases to ensure a uniform crimp.

AND

I use a Lee Factory Crimp die

Gerry · January 28, 2011, 05:03 PM

.891
.891
.892
.891
.892

That's 5 random samples of range .45 ACP PMC brass I bought used, and I've loaded them once already. If they're really first fired brass when I bought them, this will be their 3rd reload. I continue to reload them until the primers don't stay, or they show signs of splitting at the case mouth (very very rare).

I've never seen any get close to .898 before other obvious problems happen. I've never trimmed .45 ACP cases. And obviously my needs with these aren't precision bench shooting, so if a .002 spread later appears in a batch it's really not a big deal with that caliber.

Others might disagree

buck460XVR · January 28, 2011, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Exactly as Walkalong said.
Most people dont trim them, but I do for consistant length.
With flaring and crimping it really makes a difference in my loads

Same here. Again, this is for revolver loads using a roll crimp into a cannelured bullet. Especially when using powders like H110/W296 that benefit from a consistent crimp. For taper crimped pistol rounds I don't.

FALPhil · January 28, 2011, 05:28 PM

Quote:

I've never had to. I do spot check my pistol brass and haven't found a long case yet.

I doubt you ever will. Straight wall pistol cases actually shorten after multiple reloadings. I thought everyone knew this...

peter_s · January 28, 2011, 07:35 PM

temmi - I believe you are trying to start something here...

Actually there are probably a number of people that trim and use the FCD but don't admit it anymore after being told it's "unnecessary" and (in the case of the FCD) just covering up poor reloading techniques.

I guess I have too much time on my hands because I also clean my primer pockets.

January 28, 2011, 09:00 AM	#1
bossman Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 996	Trimming pistol cases? Do I need to trim 38/357 or 45 colt brass for reloads, or is the trim cases for rifle loads? I use them in pistols only but see in the manuals most say after case has been trimmed then proceed with the reloading. __________________ NRA life member When the going gets tough, I just open another beer.

January 28, 2011, 04:04 PM	#7
YARDDOG(1) Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: GATOR COUNTRY HA HA HA! Posts: 721	"[I don't trim any handgun calibers ....even though I shoot .357 mag in a lever action rifle / and a variety of revolvers.... Its never been an issue]" ^^^^^^^^^Agree 100%^^^^^^^^^^^ works great, when they start to split I dump the batch ; ) Y/D __________________ There's a GATOR in the bushes & She's Callin my name >Molly Hatchett<

January 28, 2011, 09:27 AM	#2
Walkalong Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2007 Location: Al. Posts: 196	I trim all my revolver cases to ensure a more uniform crimp. Some folks don't, but it is critical if you want good uniform crimps. If you have a batch of all new cases from the same maker, and they are uniform in length, you can set your die up to match that length and be OK, but the brass is going to stretch and need trimming or readjustment of the crimp die to get the same crimp time after time.

January 28, 2011, 10:38 AM	#3
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	Exactly as Walkalong said. Most people dont trim them, but I do for consistant length. With flaring and crimping it really makes a difference in my loads.

January 28, 2011, 01:57 PM	#4
dlb435 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Posts: 654	I've never had to. I do spot check my pistol brass and haven't found a long case yet.

January 28, 2011, 02:34 PM	#5
454PB Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Location: Helena, Mt. Posts: 122	There's really two things to consider, maximum case length and UNIFORM case length. For consistent results, they all need to be the same length. For safety, they all need to be under maximum length. I usually buy handgun brass in lots of 500. They vary wildly in case length, because they are pressure formed during manufacture, no machined. Don't count on new brass being uniform, but you can usually count on it being under (considerably) maximum length. Even very high pressure rounds (like .454 Casull) stretch very little over 5 or 10 loadings because of the straight case walls.

January 28, 2011, 03:05 PM	#6
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I don't trim any handgun calibers ....even though I shoot .357 mag in a lever action rifle / and a variety of revolvers.... Its never been an issue.

January 28, 2011, 04:18 PM	#8
temmi Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 531	I too trim all my handgun cases to ensure a uniform crimp. AND I use a Lee Factory Crimp die

January 28, 2011, 05:03 PM	#9
Gerry Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 382	.891 .891 .892 .891 .892 That's 5 random samples of range .45 ACP PMC brass I bought used, and I've loaded them once already. If they're really first fired brass when I bought them, this will be their 3rd reload. I continue to reload them until the primers don't stay, or they show signs of splitting at the case mouth (very very rare). I've never seen any get close to .898 before other obvious problems happen. I've never trimmed .45 ACP cases. And obviously my needs with these aren't precision bench shooting, so if a .002 spread later appears in a batch it's really not a big deal with that caliber. Others might disagree

January 28, 2011, 07:35 PM	#12
peter_s Member Join Date: January 25, 2011 Posts: 46	temmi - I believe you are trying to start something here... Actually there are probably a number of people that trim and use the FCD but don't admit it anymore after being told it's "unnecessary" and (in the case of the FCD) just covering up poor reloading techniques. I guess I have too much time on my hands because I also clean my primer pockets.