To Chamfer or not

[L W P]

So do you find it necessary to chamfer every time you resize? I have been skipping that process because I'm not having to trim after every resizing. I have fired and resized the same 100 pieces of brass 3 times and have only measured .001"-.0025" growth so I have not trimmed them. Therefor if I do not trim is there a need to chamfer? Since the chamfer is still there. I will be trimming after 1 or 2 more firings and resizings so then I will chamfer because the cases will be squared up. But if not for trimming do you feel the need to chamfer?

 

[dcali]

You only need to chamfer after trimming. The purpose of chamfering is to prevent the sharp edge of the newly trimmed case from shaving the bullet as it's seated.

 

[L W P]

That's kinda what I was thinking. Just curious as how others felt about it. Thanks

 

[Richard Coody]

i use a light chamfer with a hand tool on every reloading cycle. just enough to clean it up a bit. most people over chamfer. you just want a slight bevel on the inside and outside of the neck. nothing even close to the knife edge many create with their case prep centers.

 

[spife7980]

I run them over a giraud every time because it only takes 3-4 seconds per so why wouldnt I? When it doesnt take any length off it can still clean it up. Limits the maximum it can get out of shape.

 

[Homerange]

So do you find it necessary to chamfer every time you resize? I have been skipping that process because I'm not having to trim after every resizing. I have fired and resized the same 100 pieces of brass 3 times and have only measured .001"-.0025" growth so I have not trimmed them. Therefor if I do not trim is there a need to chamfer? Since the chamfer is still there. I will be trimming after 1 or 2 more firings and resizings so then I will chamfer because the cases will be squared up. But if not for trimming do you feel the need to chamfer?

No need at all.
Only chamfer after trimming !

 

[Texas10]

My Hornaday press has a spring clip that holds the shell holder into the ram. This causes the shell holder to sit a bit crooked and if I don't remember to hold the case down firmly as I raise the ram to size the brass, the case mouth will hit the de-capping pin holder and put a tiny nick in the case mouth. Does this matter you might ask?

Well.... yesterday I had to pull down some loads as they were a bit on the hot side. Most of them pulled down with three whacks of the inertial bullet puller. The nicked cases took five or six. MUCH harder neck tension, the antithesis of what we try to do to get consistent neck tension.

So another reason to chamfer (lightly) every time is to remove any slight imperfections in the case neck and mouth that might upset consistent neck tension.

I hope that answers your question. I was a real eye opener for me!

 

[retired]

shorten the end of the spring, so the shell holder is captured,
but no side pressure
or toss the press...well maybe call hornady

 

[Texas10]

That's a good idea, Retired. It's about time I looked into fixing that stupid clip thingy!!!!

 

[hunter243sgk]

Only when brass is new or after I trim!!

 

[Barlow]

Remove the spring clip and replace it with an O ring. It allows the shell holder to center itself. Barlow

 

[rwj]

So do you find it necessary to chamfer every time you resize? I have been skipping that process because I'm not having to trim after every resizing. I have fired and resized the same 100 pieces of brass 3 times and have only measured .001"-.0025" growth so I have not trimmed them. Therefor if I do not trim is there a need to chamfer? Since the chamfer is still there. I will be trimming after 1 or 2 more firings and resizings so then I will chamfer because the cases will be squared up. But if not for trimming do you feel the need to chamfer?

I used to only chamfer new cases and those that were trimmed. Then one day I had to disassemble some loaded rounds comprised of cases that were fired multiple times and observed some deep scratches on the bullet jackets. Further inspection revealed a burr had formed on the case mouth ID. I now use the same “hook” tool used to check for case head separation on the case mouth and chamfer when burrs are detected. How/why they form remains a mystery...