case trimming ?

[aldar]

I sat down yesterday to reload some .243's. I was using the Lee hand held case length gauge case trimmer. The first few went very well, but after awhile, the case mouths began to get a real jagged edge. Look like a saw blade. de-burring took care of most of this but each case after was the same. thought maybe a metal shaving was caught on the cutting blade. cleaned it but still the same jagged edge. is this normal or did I ruin the cutter? did I use to much pressure?

[GANDER]

You did not ruin the cutter. I ran into a similar problem with mine. It was because I wasn't "finishing" the case. I wasn't turning it enough to get it to the final length. I purchased a Lyman universal case trimmer. It works worlds better and quicker then the LEE trimmer. Also easier on my hands.

[aldar]

did you have to bear down on the cutter to get the case smooth

[R.W.Dale]

Are you using any form of power/ If using the cutter by hand especally the one without the ball grip it's pretty hard to get good results. Some cases cause chattering of the cutter resulting in an uneven cut untill the case length gauge bottoms out then everything gets smoothed out.

[aldar]

not using any kind of power equipment, just muscle. I like the looks of the little drill set-up there. might have to try that.

[GANDER]

I used mine on a similar set up with a cordless drill. It works alright, but, I would recommend using Kro's set up... that would be easier, and your fingers will love you for it.

[R.W.Dale]

 The cutter with the ball grip is THE thing to have, as well as a cheap-o cordless screwdriver. I tried a drill and found it to be too fast, the slow speed of the screwdriver and more ergonomic position is a real plus.


 I've used other case trimming setups and for me the Lee is by far the most user friendly and one of the fastest. Heck you can trim, polish, chamfer all in one step AND you don't even have to pick up your calipers in the process.

[GANDER]

I agree I wish I would have thought of the cordless screwdriver. I had several "spin outs" with the LEE trimmers and my cordless drill. That will make you cuss.  

[Outcast]

I have the same problem using both a Lyman Universal trimmer and an old Baire trimmer. They trim up to a point then stop. Pushing harder only bells the case mouth. My cutters are new, yet produce chewed up case mouths (tool chatter). A rep at Lyman told me I was trying to trim too much at one time. Once chatter began, champher the cases inside and out and trim again. This works to a degree, but still will not always cut as far as needed.

Any one else experience this?

[quickdtoo]

I have both the Lyman Universal and the Lee case trimmer with the ball handle as Krochus does, I use the Lee trimmer exclusively unless they don't make one for the caliber I'm working with, then I use the Lyman.... reluctantly!! I was using a cordless screwdriver for power, but switched to a variable speed drill, much faster and easier, never have a problem in trimming unless the brass is already too short when new, I like my brass to be all the same length from the get go, if I need to, I shorten the pin end of the case length gauge just enough to clean up the shortest brass of the bunch which has never neen more than about .003".

Tim

[aldar]

went to Home Depot and bought a cordless screwdriver for $20. Boy what a difference that made. so far only had 2 cases that were .001 off all the rest. saves you from a sore hand later too.

[coyotejoe]

I think the case trimmer is the best idea Lee ever had, but they made it upside-down. I mounted the shell holder stud in a large wooden knob and chuck the cutter in my drill press. In that way I don't have to stop the press to change cases, the cutter spins while I lock a case into the shell holder, run it up onto the pilot, trim, slip it off the pilot and change to the next case. I do have to chamfer and de-burr as a separate process but that only takes one twist of the RCBS  tool inside the neck and one twist outside to de-burr. The Lee tool is thus very fast and doesn't have to be set up and adjusted to change cartridges. I keep the pilot and shell holder for each different cartridge in the box with the loading dies for that caliber.