Trimming cases?

[roysclockgun]

I use a Lyman case trimmer dogged into my electric drill to trim cases. I don't know if this variation would affect accuracy or not, but I always seem to get about .010" variance in the length of my trimmed cases. The only way that I have gotten that close, is by "feel". When I run in the spinning blades, I feel the pressure and back off when it feels right. Is there a more positive way to do this? Is having a variation of .005" longer or shorter going to make a difference in accuracy?
Best,
Steven In DeLand

 

[R Flowers]

I had a Lyman electtic powered case trimmer and gave up on it for the very same reason. There was no consistancy in the length of cases that I trimmed.

How much this effects accuracy is questionable. If you are preparing hunting ammo, probably not too much to worry about. If you are preparing match ammo or varmint ammo, could be a real issue. In either case, it was just aggravating.

I bought a Sinclair/Wilson Ultimate case trimmer and could not be happier with the product. These trimmers are not cheap, in the current Sinclair catalog they are $149.95. However, the product is great. There are no pilots to mess with, only case holders (but the case holders often work for several different cases such as 25-06, 270, 30-06 in the same case holder).

This model has a micrometer to set case length with. Yesterday, I was loading some 30-06 ammo and determined the cases needed trimmmed. I looked in my Sierra manual and they listed a trim-to length of 2.485". I dialed the micrometer to 2.485 and bingo, the first case came out 2.485". No more adjusting and adjusting and adjusting like I had to do with the Lyman. Every case I checked measured the same, NO variation.

This trimmer is one of the best reloading products I have ever purchased.

 

[jimbires]

I use the Lyman trimmer with an electric screwdriver . try using it without the pilot . the brass gets a burr that goes between the pilot and cutter . I think this burr hinders consistent trim length . I haven't used a pilot for awhile now . Jim

 

[Elkman]

steve

I don't think that .005 will effect the accuracy in any noticable amount. I have not seem much data compairing the length of the case with accuracy. Others here may have more info.