Trimming issues

[Mangy Cat]

Yes I have done research and also used the search button but I couldn't quite find the answer.

I am trimming once fire brass after resizing using a full size die. I have both a Lyman hand trimmer and the Frankford arsenal prep center and despite resizing about half my rounds don't trim to spec 2.008(.308). They will stop at 2.014ish and have even ran into cases that will end up cutting too much off.

They are all the same brand, BHA Match. I measure pre and post trimming. But I just don't get it. Why would I get different results on my brass? Am I resizing wrong? I did everything to spec but do I need to keep punching it until it slides in and out of the die with ease?

I have also tried this with various other brands like Perfecta, Winchester and FC a and have same results.

I can show pictures when I get home if that helps.

[LynnJr]

You need to make sure your brass sits against whatever holder your setup uses. Some models will squish the casehead and the brass will move forward on you.
Also measure your brass without any primer at all.

[baih777]

Can you post a couple of pics of your trimmer setup.

[Mangy Cat]

You need to make sure your brass sits against whatever holder your setup uses. Some models will squish the casehead and the brass will move forward on you.
Also measure your brass without any primer at all.

Brass sits in the same position every time with the lyman and with the Frankford, brass can only go so far before it is completely stopped. Like it works great once its set up for like 3 rounds and then its a hit or miss.

Can you post a couple of pics of your trimmer setup.

Here are the requested pictures. I will post a video up in the morning or tonight.

[JagerDog]

Something isn't right in your stop, locating against the stop, the cutter is slipping, or you think it's bottomed out when it's not.

No, you don't have to keep resizing.

I believe SAAMI calls for 2.005 trim length.

[Mangy Cat]

Something isn't right in your stop, locating against the stop, the cutter is slipping, or you think it's bottomed out when it's not.

No, you don't have to keep resizing.

I believe SAAMI calls for 2.005 trim length.

Lyman .308 setup goes to 2.008.

I thought maybe it wasn't sitting right. But I have broken everything down step by step to ensure I was doing the same thing every time, trying to wiggle it around to see if that provided a different result by getting it to trim down to said length but it doesn't. I have placed the round over the stopper to ensure its getting in the primer hole and then mounted it but it just won't cut down to 2.008 with some casings.

So as backup, I used the FA Case Prep and set it up to 2.008 and then cut the next case and it cuts at 2.008-9, along with the next one. Case #4 cuts to 2.014, #5 2.011, #6 1.093(wtf?), #7 2.007-8. Very inconsistent. Read many articles/threads and watched youtube videos on how to set this up to ensure I was doing it right before I even started trimming.

[Mangy Cat]

Oh forgot to mention, all cases have been cleaned for 2 hours in wet tumble without media using Lemi Shine. They are dried and prior to use in resizing die, lubed.

[OpenSightsOnly]

Yes I have done research and also used the search button but I couldn't quite find the answer.

I am trimming once fire brass after resizing using a full size die. I have both a Lyman hand trimmer and the Frankford arsenal prep center and despite resizing about half my rounds don't trim to spec 2.008(.308). They will stop at 2.014ish and have even ran into cases that will end up cutting too much off.

They are all the same brand, BHA Match. I measure pre and post trimming. But I just don't get it. Why would I get different results on my brass? Am I resizing wrong? I did everything to spec but do I need to keep punching it until it slides in and out of the die with ease?

I have also tried this with various other brands like Perfecta, Winchester and FC a and have same results.

I can show pictures when I get home if that helps.

If you still have your batch of untrimmed and FL-sized brass, why don't you measure your brass lot (caliper set to desired length) to find out which need trimming and those that don't, right?

For the lot that needs trimming, measure the longest piece of brass and use that to set your lyman trimmer to the desired trim length.

[Mangy Cat]

If you still have your batch of untrimmed and FL-sized brass, why don't you measure your brass lot (caliper set to desired length) to find out which need trimming and those that don't, right?

For the lot that needs trimming, measure the longest piece of brass and use that to set your lyman trimmer to the desired trim length.

I have measured all of my brass that I have set aside for trimming. The Lyman trimmer will trim some cases to 2.008 and others within a .001+/-. However a good portion will be .002+ and won't allow me to trim any further unless I do it without the case holder and lock nut.

Then when it gets to the FA Case Prep, I receive the same inconsistencies.

Making a video now and will show my process and hopefully I am doing something wrong where someone will correct me and make me more consistent.

[OpenSightsOnly]

I have measured all of my brass that I have set aside for trimming. The Lyman trimmer will trim some cases to 2.008 and others within a .001+/-. However a good portion will be .002+ and won't allow me to trim any further unless I do it without the case holder and lock nut.

Then when it gets to the FA Case Prep, I receive the same inconsistencies.

Making a video now and will show my process and hopefully I am doing something wrong where someone will correct me and make me more consistent.

No need for the video

If you sorted your brass lot to determine which one needs trimming and have done a second sort for that lot to find out the longest piece of brass, for which to set your trimmer, then you trimming tools (lyman and FA) are defective if they are cutting more than 0.002".

Buy a better hand crank trimmer or invest in a Giraud Trimmer.

[FLIGHT762]

O/P, you need to find out where each of your trimming tools are indexing off of. Some index off of the case base (like most bench lathe type trimmers) or off of the case shoulder like a Giraud. I believe your Frankford trimmer indexes off of the case shoulder.

In consistent shoulder bumping can cause variances in trim length for trimmers that index off of the shoulder. My Giraud will do this if I don't lube cases properly (not enough lube) and shoulder bump will vary. Do you have a gauge to measure your shoulder bump?

Check your indexing to see what could be causing your issues.

Now, here's something that might surprise you. For many years, I was anal over trimming cases (308 Win.) to be sure they didn't grow over the SAAMI maximum of 2.015".

A few years ago, I was curious as to what the actual length of my chamber is. I bought a Sinclair chamber length gauge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKnXJxaAw2U

I bought the gauge and measured the length of the chambers in two of my long range bolt guns. Well, what i discovered was the length of my Remington factory chambered 40 XBKS measured out to 1.045". I then measured the other rifle which has a custom chambered Hart 24" barrel. That measured out to 1.040"

I actually laughed at the lengths I discovered. All of these years, I was agonizing over getting cases trimmed well below 2.015", thinking I was going to blow myself up if the cases got over 2.015".

In fact, both of these rifles can easily and safely chamber cases at or below 2.035".

I recently found out that the chamber of my Wilde chambered 223 match barrel can chamber cases .020" over the SAAMI maximum.

[JagerDog]

Is this (or comparable) the Lyman?:

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/795961/lyman-universal-case-trimmer-kit-with-9-pilots?utm_medium=shopping&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Reloading+-+Metallic+Reloading+Equipment+(Not+Presses)&utm_content=795961&cm_mmc=pf_ci_google-_-Reloading+-+Metallic+Reloading+Equipment+(Not+Presses)-_-Lyman-_-795961&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxY7czf_I1wIViIJ-Ch3YmQ2CEAQYASABEgKJCPD_BwE

Is this the FA?:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/628405/frankford-arsenal-platinum-series-case-prep-and-trim-center

The Lyman indexes off the base. If the base registers against the collet and the cutter spindle registers frame and both of those and the cutter are stable, OAL can't fluctuate.

The FA registers off the shoulder. If the shoulder varies, then OAL will vary.

You can compare shoulder measurements with a pistol case mouth which registers mid shoulder.

Are the 1X fired out of your gun?

How did you set your resizing die?