Do you trim your brass every time?

[bsumoba]

Just curious if you trim your brass after every firing.

I used to do this and was religious about it, but it took a long time. Then I stopped until I went above a certain cartridge OAL. Now, I am re-thinking doing this.

So, I used to trim to a certain min length. For my 284 Shehane, that is around 2.15 I think. Then, when it got to 2.16, I would trim back down to 2.15. This would take about 3 firings. My reamer was set for 2.165. Between those firings, the brass would grow and would be slightly different from brass to brass after the re-sizing process.

Does this affect ES/SD, accuracy in your experience?

 

[Witchhunter]

I trim when they get to max length.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Best thing it to know the "actual measured" length of your chamber. Once you know that, you trim as needed or whenever you think is best. Pick up some case plugs from Sinclair and measure your chamber length. Go from there. Chamber are usually .020 to .025 longer than max trim length.
When you get to Max, then you decide when or if to trim. Got BR brass that hasn't been trimmed for 15 to 20 resizes and may not need it for another 20.

 

[mikecr]

It's a matter of what you can manage with your sizing.
I like close to chamber end(~5 thou), but I don't do a lot of body sizing so this is very easy to manage. With improved cartridges it's a one time deal.
The reason I like close is that neck to shoulder sooting from excess trimming is bad for ES.

 

[Lightload]

I use the Forster three in one attachment for my Forster trimmer. Trims chamfers and deburrs all in one operation. Super easy to do so just run them thru after every firing. Can't hurt that your cases are the exact same length for every firing.

 

[Sniper338]

Best thing it to know the "actual measured" length of your chamber. Once you know that, you trim as needed or whenever you think is best. Pick up some case plugs from Sinclair and measure your chamber length. Go from there. Chamber are usually .020 to .025 longer than max trim length.
When you get to Max, then you decide when or if to trim. Got BR brass that hasn't been trimmed for 15 to 20 resizes and may not need it for another 20.

this

 

[MrMajestic]

It's a matter of what you can manage with your sizing.
I like close to chamber end(~5 thou), but I don't do a lot of body sizing so this is very easy to manage. With improved cartridges it's a one time deal.
The reason I like close is that neck to shoulder sooting from excess trimming is bad for ES.

This ^

 

[Tim Singleton]

I don't let them get within .010 of chamber length. I set my trim length at .025 shorter than my chamber

It depends on how much your sizing the brass each time as to when you will need to trim to your max length.

It is something that I feel needs to be watched and all kept as close as you can to the same

 

[jcampbellsmith]

For each case I have a nominal case length. If the case is longer than my nominal length it gets trimmed. If it's shorter than the nominal length it doesn't get trimmed.

Regards

JCS

 

[Ackman]

You certainly don't need to trim after every firing, that's ridiculous. First find out the chamber length. As was mentioned, get a Sinclair chamber plug........it's the only way you'll know. You'll learn that untrimmed brass is considerably shorter than the chamber. Shortening them further to some published "trim to" length makes the gap even longer. The same as adding freebore, only worse. Considering how much shorter brass is than the chamber, necksize and it likely will never need trimming during it's lifetime. I wouldn't even think about trimming unless it was less than .010" under chamber length.

 

[6BRinNZ]

IMO if brass is varying by up to .001" in length you most likely won't notice a difference .001+ and you most likely will. I suspect that the extra neck length effectively "adds" to the neck tension. Fundamentally it seems odd to me to have neck OD within ~ .0005 and neck length within ~ .001+ as they (IMO) relate to the same area of bullet release.

If you have already been shooting with a given max length for a while - I would suggest using a bore scope to check out that area of the chamber where the neck finishes. There is a possibility that you have a carbon ring forming up. If the case neck is now longer; on bullet release it (the neck) may have to expand against that carbon ring and cause issues. i.e. it isn't large enough to touch the neck unfired but effectively reduces the size of that portion of the chamber. If necks vary by (lets say) .002" some will be into that area more than others on release.

YMMV.

 

[Tim Singleton]

IMO if brass is varying by up to .001" in length you most likely won't notice a difference .001+ and you most likely will. I suspect that the extra neck length effectively "adds" to the neck tension. Fundamentally it seems odd to me to have neck OD within ~ .0005 and neck length within ~ .001+ as they (IMO) relate to the same area of bullet release.

If you have already been shooting with a given max length for a while - I would suggest using a bore scope to check out that area of the chamber where the neck finishes. There is a possibility that you have a carbon ring forming up. If the case neck is now longer; on bullet release it (the neck) may have to expand against that carbon ring and cause issues. i.e. it isn't large enough to touch the neck unfired but effectively reduces the size of that portion of the chamber. If necks vary by (lets say) .002" some will be into that area more than others on release.

YMMV.

Sound advise here

 

[260Ravage]

THIS:
I use the Forster three in one attachment for my Forster trimmer. Trims chamfers and deburrs all in one operation. Super easy to do so just run them thru after every firing. Can't hurt that your cases are the exact same length for every firing.
One of the slickest piece of equipment I ever bought.

 

[Erik Cortina]

If you want consistent ammo you must be consistent with your loading steps. I trim every time.

 

[dixieppc]

If you want consistent ammo you must be consistent with your loading steps. I trim every time.

Agree!

I have also questioned why some turn necks to a quarter of a thou but are willing to accept neck length variations in the multiple thousands.

I also trim every time.

Regards,
Thomas

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

If you want consistent ammo you must be consistent with your loading steps. I trim every time.

Also agreed. That's why Doug created the Giraud trimmer. I trim 100 cases in about 6 minutes.