Trimming pistol brass?

[Rgarbarino]

Just getting into reloading...if I'm just loading range brass do I need to trim 9mm and 45 cases?

[slopoke]

I never do.

[Divernhunter]

I never do either. The straight walled bras does not grow.

[ar15robert]

no trimming here either with 45 or 10mm.I noticed over time they actually shorten up a hair.

NOw rifle brass my .223 needs to be trimmed after each firing.

[Unretarded]

I am doing the same thing right now...concesus seems to be no trim most of the time.

With unknown range brass you will want to check each piece at the least with generic overall gauge and my suggestion would be to use a case gauge to make sure they will chamber.

Ater that if you are using brass fired from your gun then no need.

With stray range brass that could have been shot in any gun and reloaded a unknown amount of times you need to do a good check to make sure it is all in good order.

That would be my opinion....since you are new and all.....do more checks than needed, never hurts at first.

A good case gauge makes short work of any caliber !


Edit.......

What making sure each round is approx the same size, trimming does is to get each round crimped the same..........brass of drastic different lengths will cause some to be under crimped, some to be over crimped which will affact accuracy to some degree if you are shooting groups. Worst case is you get a bullet too loose and it gets pushed in or over crimped causes a over pressure.......both of those are pretty unlikely, but could happen in extreme cases.

Check and monitor case length at first never hurts to see and learn what is happening ...

[jofher007]

The only ones I have to trim for my revolvers are
30 carbine
454 casull

all other pistol calibers
there's no need to

[manuelcardenas77]

Ain't nobody got time for that!

[BigBronco]

In front of entrance to your ride. Where are you?

['09CTS-V&'87Turbo-T]

Reloaded & shot enough times straight walled handgun ammo will shrink to an undersize OAL condition. .45 auto is famous for this.
Calipers will detect anomalies quicker & more accurate
than chamber case gages, which are generally misleading.

[___M|9||___]

you dont have to but you CAN if that answers your questions.

[boomer135]

The only pistol I will trim are the magnum calibers because I use a bullet with a cannelure. But auto pistol: 9mm, 40, 10mm, and 45, I don't trim.

[Capybara]

You can always check case length but few reloaders ever trim straight wall pistol brass. Of course, some odd bottleneck pistol rounds like 7.62x25 for your Tokarev need to be trimmed, but generally no.

[sghart]

Rimless handgun cartridges generally (not always) headspace on the mouth or rim of the case. After several firings it is not unusual for them to shorten.

I have never trimmed them and I have been loading them for many years.

Rimmed cartridges can lengthen over time I suppose, especially with heavy crimps in a cannelure or crimp groove but there again, I have never trimmed or even measured them and I shoot a ton of 357 mag.

[Rgarbarino]

Thanks all, looks like I got my answer....not necessary to trim.