[ClayBuster15]

How do you trim down shotgun shells?

 

[21mtr]

I put shell over a dowel that is inserted into the side of my reloading bench via drilled hole.

I then slide the shell over the dowel and cut it off. I mark the dowel to the length i want and then place the cutting instrument (knife, razor blade etc) on that mark. I then slide the hull up that point and begin turning. With this method they are all the same length.

You can't use the same mark for different hulls because of the basewads.

I have two dowels on my bench, one for 12 and one for 28.

 

[12GA guy]

What do you need to trim shells for?? Never done that before. Are you trimming 3" shells down to 2-3/4"?? :?

 

[driller]

Back when I roll crimped some shells I used a method similar to the one described above.

 

[21mtr]

What do you need to trim shells for?? Never done that before. Are you trimming 3" shells down to 2-3/4"??

There are a couple of reasons why. If you roll crimp shells you need to trim sometimes, ie slugs, hull's to long for load etc.

Roll crimping is usefull for load identification, to lower pressures, load capacity etc.

Some of the older doubles can only take 2.5" shells, so hull trimming is neccessary even for a fold crimp.

Shorty loads, i can get 7 2" shells in my A2000.

I do trim 3" hulls from 2 3/4 down to 2".

Roll crimping is a change of pace from the hum drum of cranking a handle.

As my old man would say, "There's loads and reloads"

 

[TReX300]

I made a "V" block for them that I slide along on my band saw. I've trimmed down a ton of 3" .410 hulls to more usable 2 1/2" ones.

Tim

 

[EyeMissum]

TReX300,

Question, after you cut the 3" .410's back to 2 1/2"'s did you have to skive the hulls?

 

[TReX300]

I was told that I was supposed to but up here in Canada the the tools for it where next to impossible to find and shipping from the USA is a hassle. I just and went and ran them through my Versa Mec and didnt have a problem. I had a bunch of unfired un-skived 12ga AA's that I just ran through my press aswell with no problems. I've had no problems with them on loading since the first time either.

Tim

 

[EyeMissum]

Thank you. Now I'll have to start scrounging 3" .410's.

Thats all my brother shoots, maybe I can get his 5 times reloaded throw aways. :lol:

 

[TOM-M]

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.e ... mid=767028

I don't think it will work on the little gauges.

 

[360]

I've trimmed the 410 3 inch back with a steak knife and they work fine. The trick is the first run. if you get a good fold then the next reload is a breeze. I run em in the crimp starter twice for a good start.

 

[TReX300]

360...you make a poiint point about getting a good sart with them. I have my crimp starter lower when useing un-skived hulls then when loading once fired. I only run it through once though, just a little lower.

Tim