Case Trimming Sizing Question

[too.cool76]

I've been reloading bottlenecked rifle ammo for years in a single stage press, and have historically trimmed the O.A.L. after F.L. Sizing.
I'm thinking about stepping up to a progressive machine, probably something "blue". Primarily for .223 & .308
If so, how does one go about trimming their casings?

Thanks

[Pauliedad]

I resize, then over to the drill press.
There I have Worlds Finest Trimmer and/or Trim It chucked in. Then I sit at the Lyman prep center and then into the tumbler with stainless steel pins.

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

You can trim them the same way you always have or go to a new method. But you still have to lube, size, trim. If you go blue and are willing to spend the money, you can do the later two with every pull of the handle. But you still need to get the lube off before you can actually load.

[Fordtrucks]

you posted the same question 3 days ago. Lots of good info in that thread. Go back and re-read the all the posts.

[Grunt81]

When you say, "blue" progressive, understand that it needs to be the Dillon 1050, and you're still stuck with having to get rid of the lube. This means interrupting the progressive mode, or handling each case by hand to wipe off the lube.

I personally keep a minimum of 300 cases at a time, that have been tumbled, lubed, resized, tumbled, trimmed, chamfered, deburred, and primer pocket uniformed. Then I fill a loading block of 50, hand prime each case, and charge each case. From there, all they need is bullet seated and crimped if desired. So they go in my manual index turret press.

For me, it's not cost-effective to load rifle rounds any other way, nor does it produce the quality of rounds I'm looking for. I leave the prospect of progressive reloading to pisol rounds. They don't require trimming and I shoot twice as much of them as rifle rounds.

[chknlyps2]

When you say, "blue" progressive, understand that it needs to be the Dillon 1050, and you're still stuck with having to get rid of the lube. This means interrupting the progressive mode, or handling each case by hand to wipe off the lube.

The "blue" trimmers (RT-1200 & RT-1500) can fit in other presses than a 1050. I have not used a RT-1500 but I think I remember seeing that a special low profile head was needed for the Dillon 650 but that was possibly for doing the shorter 300 BLK.

I got a RT-1200 with a .223 die for the screaming deal of under $200, it will fit on my Rock Chucker, Lee Turret, Dillon 550, Hornady LnL or Lee Loadmaster. I have it set up on a LnL bushing for the Hornady press and it takes all of 30 to 45 seconds to mount up.... plugging in the vacuum takes longer. When I want to switch over to load processed brass in just a couple minutes the trimmer is out and the dies & powder measure are in and I am ready. I tumble the sized & trimmed brass to remove lube for about 20 to 25 minutes, after I switch over the press and fill 4 or 5 primer tubes, I usually have 10 or more minutes to twittle my thumbs waiting on the tumbler.

That is for plinking ammo, I do use a single stage when loading for my bolt guns

[Grunt81]

The "blue" trimmers (RT-1200 & RT-1500) can fit in other presses than a 1050. I got a RT-1200 with a .223 die for the screaming deal of under $200, it will fit on my Rock Chucker, Lee Turret, Dillon 550, Hornady LnL or Lee Loadmaster.

Good to know! Thanks.