CHEEP - modified Lee case trimmer for .40-65

[Rigby275]

Hi all -

I just got a Browning BPCR in .40-65, ordered dies, mold & sizer.
When they came in, I resized 50 (suddenly spare) .45-70 cases, then realized they needed trimming about .020".

Lee doesn't list a trimmer for this cartridge but, while they'll custom make one for ~$20, I'm too dam impatient for the waiting.
I wanna shoot it!   

While a lathe-type trimmer (Forster, etc.) would work, I'd hafta order one of those too - and I'm also pretty cheep.

Having a dozen or more Lee trim gages on-hand, I decided to see what I could cobble-up.

While there are other ways/gages to do this, I ground the tip of a 6.5x55 gage to oal of 2.515 and wrapped w/cellotape for a snug fit in the resized case mouth.
Works like a charm!

The tape might prove temporary, but at 64, I figger 50 cases'll last longer than I do if I take care of 'em. 

FYI & FWIW

regards,

[quickdtoo]

Chuck a 45-70 length gage up in a drill and use a file on it to turn it down, I've done lots of em that way for cartridges Lee doesn't offer length gages for, have also made spacers for the threaded end to make trim longer like on Starline long 38-55 brass.  

Tim

[Rigby275]

This is just another "quick & dirty" method for the "shop-challenged".
Obviously nuttin' fancy - a file or stone, tape - took mebbe 10 minutes.

The Browning chamber is 2.125" and the .45-70 gage comes out a bit short.
This gives an optimum length & was much easier/quicker for me than grinding/filing the body then trying to come up with a spacer of the correct thickness.

[quickdtoo]

Wire works great for a spacer, one wrap of the right diameter and you have a permanent tool.  

Tim

The wire can be a little thicker than the amount you need to increase the trim length by just as long as the overall diameter of the spacer is the same size or smaller than the case mouth diameter, which isn't a problem with big bores, then just trim the end of the pilot a little to achieve the desired trim length.

If you wish to use tape, aluminum furnace tape would be more durable.

[.22-5-40]

Hello, Rigby275.  I did some checking on some of my rifles, & found that the chambers were about .025-.030" longer than maximum case length was.  I think the mfg. do this as a built-in safety factor.  With black powder, this can have a negative effect on the bullet..as it wants to obturate into that space in front of case..then has to be swaged down again as it goes thru throat..not something that would promote accuracy.  You might want to check your chamber length before you shorten those cases.  Best of luck!

[John Boy]

When they came in, I resized 50 (suddenly spare) .45-70 cases, then realized they needed trimming about .020".

DO NOT trim the cases until they have been fire formed in your rifle.  New cases, once they have been shot once or twice will shorten up.  BTW, 0.020 excess length is spit and no impact to the chamber dimension for the case length.  Most chambers are longer than SAMMI spec's anyway

this can have a negative effect on the bullet..as it wants to obturate into that space in front of case..then has to be swaged down again as it goes thru throat..not something that would promote accuracy.

Most bullet ogives that have a taper can be cammed into the leading bore cuts, ie. bore rider that will improve not obturation but bullet concentricity to the axis of the bore ... and negate any non concentricity with the jumping through the leade

If the ogive is a fat round nose, seat the bullet 'out' so the nose touches the leading bore cuts