Trimming Brass

[beerbelly]

Do you guys trim your brass after each firing or do you wait until it exceeds the max length?
                                 Beerbelly

[the jigger]

I check brass after every firing and trim as needed, particularly if the loads are "hot". More often than not I find that  brass does not stretch from one firing,
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

[PA-Joe]

With a Lee trimmer it is easy to do.

[huntswithdogs]

When it reaches max length it gits runs thru the trimmer. My loads usually consist of boxes of 20. It's noted as to how many times reloaded and such on the boxes.


HWD

[Graybeard]

I've been reloading for what has to be close to if not already 40 years. In that time so far I've not yet trimmed a straight wall handgun cartridge case. As to bottle neck cases I check length after each firing and trim if over the max length but seldom if not over. From time to time when beginning a load work up for a new rifle if using previously fired brass I'll trim all to same minimum "trim to" length prior to loading them.

[AtlLaw]

I check the length after every firing and usually also trim rifle brass after every firing.  No real reason as long as they are under maximum, but it makes me feel good.

Night before last I trimmed 50 pieces of Starline 45 Colt brass to a uniform (trim to) length.  It'll be interesting (to me) to see if/how much they "grow" after firing.

[quickdtoo]

I don't mind trimming at all, I trim everything so it's consistent, even new brass, kinda enjoy it using the RCBS machine modified ala Dave. 

Tim

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,27212.0.html

[Autorim]

I'm sorta with Graybeard on this. I seldom trim handgun cases, but always check bottleneck cases for length. I use a Forster trimmer and it is easy enough to do. I always trim new bottleneck cases to a uniform length. It is not uncommon to find a lot of variation in length or to find necks out of square.

[cwlongshot]

I check all rifle stuff before each loading and trim as necessarry. I trim to uniform legnth any case that gets crimped.

I'll admit straight walled cases do not "grow" as bottle neck cases do. But never... I dont think so.  Like momma always said, NEVER SAY NEVER!!! 

cw

[Doug B.]

I don't mind trimming at all, I trim everything so it's consistent, even new brass, kinda enjoy it using the RCBS machine modified ala Dave. 

Tim

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,27212.0.html

+1

[Tom W.]

I'll generally trim after I resize the brass, for bottleneck cases. Straight wall handgun brass? I did it once, when I was unemployed and very bored. I haven't been that bored since...

[drdougrx]

I usually trim after I've fired a few times (though never handguns).  I usually buy quite a few pieces of brass that I measure in 3lb coffee cans....I usuallly have 2 3lbs coffee cans full of brass for each rifle.  I prep all of it on cold snowey nights and use it thoughout the year.  After its all fired, I resize and measure, and then trim all of it at the same time to min length........that way for the rest of the year...and for some calibers...for the rest of my life...I just reach into the appropriate can, prime and load.