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Do any of you trim your brass?

PostPosted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 6:09 pm
by giannid
On my third reloading it looks like my brass was over spec boy .007 to .009. I'm using the Starline brass. I've read that most don't size this brass. I figure it has to be somewhat important as the tamper is effected by the extra length. Should I be worried and trim or just keep loading? Other problem is I use a wilson trim tool and they don't make a brass holder, so I'll have to get one custom made.

Re: Do any of you trim your brass?

PostPosted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 7:36 pm
by commander faschisto
Interesting...I think that's the first time I've heard of someone needing to trim 450b brass. Our normal brass OAL concern is with it getting too short to stay withing spec...then again, I haven't tried Starline brass yet; just ordered some, so I guess I'll find out, too!

Re: Do any of you trim your brass?

PostPosted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 9:06 pm
by Texas Sheepdawg
I've had more concerns about the brass shrinking. I think that once you fire the brass you should measure each one and make the call on whether to bring them all into spec or just cherry pick. But honestly, this cartridge has been one of the least trimmed of all the other ones I load. (About 13 different cartridges). And shrinkage is the #1 reason that I've pulled a piece of 450B brass out of service. #2 reason is when I fail to use the expansion die and I try to seat a bullet and end up squashing the case. Hoot will disagree with me as will others, but for some reason, I have to use the expansion die on my cases once they've been fired and resized. So I do expand my case mouths before priming. It's not enough to see with the naked eye, but you can see the results with the caliper.

Re: Do any of you trim your brass?

PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 4:47 am
by giannid
I will say I never did check the brass length before I loaded it the first time. It could of started out a little long but I figure new brass doesn't have to be trimmed the first time.

Re: Do any of you trim your brass?

PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 6:41 am
by Hoot
giannid wrote:I will say I never did check the brass length before I loaded it the first time. It could of started out a little long but I figure new brass doesn't have to be trimmed the first time.


Its probably safe to say that they were a mil or two within spec at the beginning. The stuff I got was IIRC +/- .002 with one outlier. I'd have to go back and read the thread. It is interesting nevertheless, that more than one member has noticed length increase. That is so alien based upon the first 7 years using Hornady brass. To be honest, I don't know it that's good news or bad. The brass that allowed for length increase had to come from somewhere. :|

Hoot

Re: Do any of you trim your brass?

PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 7:04 pm
by Bmt85
I'm one of the others who noticed brass length growth with Starline brass. To be fair though, my current build also saw some growth with Hornady brass. Not as many Hornady grew compared to Starline, but it still happened more than normal.

Re: Do any of you trim your brass?

PostPosted: Fri Sep 22, 2017 11:24 am
by Jim in Houston
I have never trimmed brass for the 450, but the most I have reloaded any case is 3 times. There is a discussion of the growth of the case in the Hornady reloading manual, and they infer that growth is not significant until the 3rd or more reloading, at which time case trimming is required. I do trim all my .30-06 brass each time, but that is not necessary, according to Hornady.

The extra brass that goes into the growth of the case is from a thinning of the case wall. Eventually, with enough reloads, the case may split or pull apart.

Re: Do any of you trim your brass?

PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 9:57 am
by Tripplebeards
Yes, they grow every time you shoot them. If you don't care about shooting less than MOA then don't trim. Unlequal lengths equal unequal pressures. Lazy people don't trim their brass.

Brand new brass length cases are are different lengths as well and need to be trimmed.

Re: Do any of you trim your brass?

PostPosted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:46 am
by pmnewlon
Tripplebeards wrote:Yes, they grow every time you shoot them. If you don't care about shooting less than MOA then don't trim. Unlequal lengths equal unequal pressures. Lazy people don't trim their brass. Brand new brass length cases are are different lengths as well and need to be trimmed.


I JUST finished trimming a brand new batch of Starline brass - the first time I have ever used my trimmer :) The admonitions I read before joining made me want to be sure all the cases are exactly the same length. So.... I tumbled, dried, expanded, trimmed, retumbled and now am waiting for them to finish drying again.

I plan to load 335gr WFNGC Cast Performance bullets along with H110 and LilGun. Will be using in a Ruger American bolt 450BM. We'll see how it goes.

Re: Do any of you trim your brass?

PostPosted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:52 pm
by Hoot
pmnewlon wrote:
Tripplebeards wrote:Yes, they grow every time you shoot them. If you don't care about shooting less than MOA then don't trim. Unlequal lengths equal unequal pressures. Lazy people don't trim their brass. Brand new brass length cases are are different lengths as well and need to be trimmed.


I JUST finished trimming a brand new batch of Starline brass - the first time I have ever used my trimmer :) The admonitions I read before joining made me want to be sure all the cases are exactly the same length. So.... I tumbled, dried, expanded, trimmed, retumbled and now am waiting for them to finish drying again.

I plan to load 335gr WFNGC Cast Performance bullets along with H110 and LilGun. Will be using in a Ruger American bolt 450BM. We'll see how it goes.


You might want to save your time and money and skip the Lil Gun with those 335gr bullets. H110 however, sounds like a good place to start.

Hoot