Lee Case Trimmers

richfr · March 25, 2012, 03:57 AM

Has anybody had a problem with these getting shorter after 500 cases or so?
I have one for 357mag, 38spl and 9mm (I know not really necessary for 9mm) and all are getting shorter which makes sizing them pointless as they aren’t all uniform. The 38 one is now undersize.
There is a small bump in the case holder maybe that’s burring the edge of the trimmers over

I am doing them by hand so not overdoing it with a drill.
I have emailed Lee to see what they say.

Sport45 · March 25, 2012, 04:08 AM

I don't trim any of those cases. But no, my Lee case trimmers all seem to be the same length they started. I chuck the case holder in a drill and run the trimmer and guage in by hand.

Does it look like the pin on the end of the gauge rod is bent or wearing down?

richfr · March 25, 2012, 04:14 AM

The edge of the pilots are burring over as if they are squashing flat. It can’t just be a bad pilot as it’s the same on all 3.

Sport45 · March 25, 2012, 09:41 AM

What are you calling the pilot? Can you post a picture?

CrustyFN · March 25, 2012, 09:45 AM

I don't trim pistol brass. The one I have for trimming 223 has trimmed at least 5,000 cases and still trims to the same length.

richfr · March 25, 2012, 12:09 PM

By pilot I mean the part that screws onto the cutter (the bit you change for each calibre)

Sport45 · March 25, 2012, 08:22 PM

That is the gauge. The trimmed case length is the distance from the shoulder to the tip of that gauge.

The shoulder should not be deforming. How tight are you screwing it in? Finger tight is plenty as long as the shoulder seats against the flat of the cutter.

dacaur · March 25, 2012, 08:32 PM

I dont really understand exactly what part you are saying is getting shorter? The pin on the end of the pilot? the shoulder on the threaded end?

richfr · March 26, 2012, 06:33 AM

The pin on the end of the pilot/gauge is getting shorter.
Yes I screw it in finger tight in fact I have had to use thread lock and back it out a bit on the 38spl one to get it to cut the correct length.

PA-Joe · March 26, 2012, 06:38 AM

Call LEE and ask them to replace them.

richfr · March 26, 2012, 12:02 PM

This is what Lee said about it.

Because you are pushing the gage hard against the lock stud, you are just peening over the end of the gage, making it shorter.
The shorter the gage, the shorter the case. When using power to turn the lock stud, you have to stop pushing as soon as it stops cutting, or you just deform or wear out the pilot pin.
The small bump could be causing the problem also. Rub the bump against a knife sharpening stone until it is gone.

I guess I need a different make of cutter then I arent pushing any harder than you would need to

PA-Joe · March 26, 2012, 04:41 PM

What type of power were you using?

richfr · March 26, 2012, 04:44 PM

Just my hand

dacaur · March 26, 2012, 07:09 PM

weird. I use mine in a drill and have not experienced any problems like that. how hard are you pressing? I dont have to really put any pressure on it at all....

McDAccountant · March 28, 2012, 02:11 PM

I've never had any issues with the Lee trimmers either...use .38, .357, .243., and 30-06, all are as good as the day I bought them...

Tim R · March 29, 2012, 05:19 PM

Lee bless thier heart, get a Forester.

richfr · March 31, 2012, 04:41 PM

Lee are now sending me a new 38spl gauge

I have flattened the bump in the case holder so hopefully it will be ok from now on.
I haven’t used any more pressure than is needed to cut the case so hopefully it will not happen again.

March 25, 2012, 03:57 AM	#1
richfr Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Location: France Posts: 79	Lee Case Trimmers Has anybody had a problem with these getting shorter after 500 cases or so? I have one for 357mag, 38spl and 9mm (I know not really necessary for 9mm) and all are getting shorter which makes sizing them pointless as they aren’t all uniform. The 38 one is now undersize. There is a small bump in the case holder maybe that’s burring the edge of the trimmers over I am doing them by hand so not overdoing it with a drill. I have emailed Lee to see what they say.

March 25, 2012, 04:08 AM	#2
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	I don't trim any of those cases. But no, my Lee case trimmers all seem to be the same length they started. I chuck the case holder in a drill and run the trimmer and guage in by hand. Does it look like the pin on the end of the gauge rod is bent or wearing down? __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

March 25, 2012, 09:41 AM	#4
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	What are you calling the pilot? Can you post a picture? __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

March 25, 2012, 09:45 AM	#5
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	I don't trim pistol brass. The one I have for trimming 223 has trimmed at least 5,000 cases and still trims to the same length. __________________ I don't ever remember being absent minded. Last edited by CrustyFN; March 26, 2012 at 09:08 PM.

March 25, 2012, 08:22 PM	#7
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	That is the gauge. The trimmed case length is the distance from the shoulder to the tip of that gauge. The shoulder should not be deforming. How tight are you screwing it in? Finger tight is plenty as long as the shoulder seats against the flat of the cutter. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

March 25, 2012, 04:14 AM	#3
richfr Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Location: France Posts: 79	The edge of the pilots are burring over as if they are squashing flat. It can’t just be a bad pilot as it’s the same on all 3.

March 25, 2012, 12:09 PM	#6
richfr Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Location: France Posts: 79	By pilot I mean the part that screws onto the cutter (the bit you change for each calibre)

March 25, 2012, 08:32 PM	#8
dacaur Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2010 Posts: 733	I dont really understand exactly what part you are saying is getting shorter? The pin on the end of the pilot? the shoulder on the threaded end?

March 26, 2012, 06:33 AM	#9
richfr Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Location: France Posts: 79	The pin on the end of the pilot/gauge is getting shorter. Yes I screw it in finger tight in fact I have had to use thread lock and back it out a bit on the 38spl one to get it to cut the correct length.

March 26, 2012, 06:38 AM	#10
PA-Joe Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: NEPA Posts: 909	Call LEE and ask them to replace them.

March 26, 2012, 12:02 PM	#11
richfr Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Location: France Posts: 79	This is what Lee said about it. Because you are pushing the gage hard against the lock stud, you are just peening over the end of the gage, making it shorter. The shorter the gage, the shorter the case. When using power to turn the lock stud, you have to stop pushing as soon as it stops cutting, or you just deform or wear out the pilot pin. The small bump could be causing the problem also. Rub the bump against a knife sharpening stone until it is gone. I guess I need a different make of cutter then I arent pushing any harder than you would need to

March 26, 2012, 04:41 PM	#12
PA-Joe Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: NEPA Posts: 909	What type of power were you using?

March 26, 2012, 04:44 PM	#13
richfr Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Location: France Posts: 79	Just my hand

March 26, 2012, 07:09 PM	#14
dacaur Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2010 Posts: 733	weird. I use mine in a drill and have not experienced any problems like that. how hard are you pressing? I dont have to really put any pressure on it at all....

March 28, 2012, 02:11 PM	#15
McDAccountant Member Join Date: March 25, 2012 Posts: 23	I've never had any issues with the Lee trimmers either...use .38, .357, .243., and 30-06, all are as good as the day I bought them...

March 29, 2012, 05:19 PM	#16
Tim R Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2004 Location: God's side of Washington State Posts: 1,601	Lee bless thier heart, get a Forester. __________________ God Bless our Troops especially our Snipers.

March 31, 2012, 04:41 PM	#17
richfr Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Location: France Posts: 79	Lee are now sending me a new 38spl gauge I have flattened the bump in the case holder so hopefully it will be ok from now on. I haven’t used any more pressure than is needed to cut the case so hopefully it will not happen again.