Reloading 101 ".308 Winchester Rifle Case Trimming"

Trimming 308 Winchester brass cases, most bottle neck rifle brass can be trimmed as shown in the video.

[@carboncopy2853]

your video is the 1st I have seen that showed how to use this tool and set it for the length you need !!!!!!

[@biged7175]

+Carbon Copy glad I could help, I will make a 44 Mag video in the next couple of months

[@imarinobr]

Tks! So far best vid showing how ajust the tool properly!

[@biged7175]

Your welcome glad I could help.

[@iancurrie8844]

you need to resize first because the cartridge stretches over the expander when you resize it. It's pointless to trim before sizing....

[@jeffsnodgrass9747]

I have also found that if you don't resize/decap first the pilot sometimes will not fit into the mouth of the case. I use RCBS Small Base sizing die for my .223/5.56 brass. Found out the hard way that the Hornady .223/5.56 sizing die closed the case mouth too much for the pilot to fit. Plus I prefer the small base sizing dies over the standard ones.

[@vaporzz29]

Great explanation on use of tool, keep up the great work!

[@TheMaineiacguy]

I just got mine in yesterday. Really looking forward to trying it out. I'm still pretty new to reloading so this is my first experience with case trimming. Thanks a lot for the informative video and great content. It was a huge help in getting mine set up.

[@biged7175]

Your welcome glad I could help.

[@jeffsnodgrass9747]

I have used this case trimmer on about 1,000 .223/5.56 cases and it works well. As far as sizing before trimming, you have to do both anyway, and I prefer to have my cases sized prior to trimming. Plus unsized cases sometimes (most of the time in my experience) have case mouth's too small for the pilot to fully fit into. I have found the RCBS Small Base Sizing/Decapping dies work best for a case mouth opening that fits the pilot well. Thanks for the video!

[@biged7175]

Your welcome Jeff.

[@craiglewis6821]

I get a case that is the correct length put it in the chuck and adjust it . Perfect every time ! Great video!!

[@biged7175]

Thank you.

[@John45acp]

Big Ed, thanks for the video on this product and as the other guy said below, you are the only one who goes into detail on how to use the Lyman Case trimmer. Thanks

[@biged7175]

Thank you, glad I could help.

[@wemcal]

Great video and great information

[@kevinlandaverde8524]

Great Video Sir I recently came across alot of reloading equipment from a foreclosured house clean out It was an amazing score !! But I'm setting up a station in my basement to reload 308 , 30/30 270 ect... Your video is very helpful

[@biged7175]

Good stuff I have many reloading video up on my channel.

[@johnberry9495]

Thank you, very informative.

[@yimao4265]

The best explanation ever!! Great video!!

[@cjtathome]

Good video ! I think the reason Lyman recommends you size first is so the pilot fits correctly. The advantage of this lathe is that it uses the case head as a index but it relies on the pilot for a concentric cut

[@biged7175]

That makes sense.

[@Prariedog]

Great video,thx for sharing 🎉

[@ChuckTruitt]

Excellent. Thanks for that vid, Ed. -Gunny T sends

[@biged7175]

Your welcome.

[@cdaws9]

awesome vid man

[@biged7175]

Thank you!

[@michaelwong1116]

Clear and simple to the point, very nicely done instructional video, thanks!

[@biged7175]

Thank you Michael you might also enjoy. My reloading .308 video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5nVqmyNfNl-jsk

[@toddreeder3082]

Thanks Ed i ordered one of these a few days ago awesome little machine

[@diyitall2023]

Good video. Thanks

[@MsSelich]

Sanks from Russia with love!

[@biged7175]

Your welcome, glad I could help.

[@rocketman2295]

great instructions. Thanks!

[@biged7175]

Your welcome.

[@jamescorless8283]

Good vid ! Thanks.

[@toddreeder3082]

Thanks Ed imma gonna get the Lyman trimmer for my 308 as well

[@biged7175]

You will eventually need to trim brass.

[@jonperley9722]

Question? Why would you trim then resize makes no sense as when you trim then resize you change the length of the case after resizing the case will grow! Also put the pilot into the case then lock the chuck your case will be perfect in alinement with the cutter and the bullet will have good alinement in the case also your crimp with be perfect not high or low from side to side!

[@plantface510]

Thank you for this!

[@biged7175]

Your welcome.

[@jsipler]

Great video. Not too long, not too wordy, Stayed on topic and I now understand about case trimming. I ordered this exact trimmer today. I ordered a RCBS Roch Chukker surpreme a year or more ago. It’s just been collecting dust. When I got it mounted and started researching I found it didn’t come with a case trimmer or tumbler. I have about 100pieces prince fired 458 socom brass that I will be starting soon. Then some 45-70 and .308. I will be watching the rest of your videos that are relevant. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. One question:.: IVe heard some say tumbling isn’t necessary. Whats says you?

[@biged7175]

I would tumble just so you put less dirt and burnt powder back into your rifle.

[@oldgatorz]

You locked the inner ring down, but I wondered why you did not slide forward and lock the outer adjustment ring down after you got the desired set up. Thanks

[@biged7175]

+David Johnson The outter one was locked already, outside a coarse, and inside is fine ajustments

[@funnyfarm62]

I have a Lyman case trimmer very well accurate put can't use it because the micrometer set screw does not hold on the hardened shaft an renders the length ability useless.... so in the draw it stays....

[@biged7175]

I'd send it back to lyman.

[@148DMC]

thanks for the information

[@biged7175]

+148DMC No problem

[@andyprairiedog]

Excellent! I was just putting this Lyman trimmer on my amazon wish list for .308WIN. Question: Once it is set to the length you want.....does it tend to shift measurements/get loose?

[@biged7175]

+Andy Prariedog Once you learn how not to press to hard it holds adjustment just fine.

[@scotthunter6179]

Excellent video my friend! I have a question..I’m new to reloading & I’ll be reloading 308 only for the time being. I have a load of once fired PPU & Hornady brass (about 200 cases) & these have varying lengths ranging from 1.998-2.010. I do know the minimum is 1.995 & max 2.015. When these get close to 2.015 I will trim them back to 2.005 as recommended. Obviously I can’t trim the cases which are currently below this but should I trim the ones which are over 2.005? Or will all the cases I have be good to get sized..primed etc?

[@biged7175]

It all depends on how good and consistent you want all your ammo, if your just out to have fun and save money just keep them all in spec.

[@scotthunter6179]

Big ED Many thanks:)!

[@rickbaker931]

question for you, if the case length is below 2005 will it affect accuracy?

[@biged7175]

I would keep the case length within spec. Yes it will affect accuracy.

[@patv1271]

RESIZING the case stretches the necks. It makes zero sense to trim before resizing. Beware of "experts" making videos and posting them on youtube.

[@biged7175]

It does but they only need to be trimmed every 3-4 reloads so Trimming timing is not as critical.

[@patv1271]

If you are doing it the right way it damn sure matters. Everyone trims AFTER they resize. It's the right way to do it. Sorry man. You are wrong on this one.

[@x-calibearusallc]

@Pat V I’ll partly agree with you. If brass is getting trimmed, you always size it beforehand. If the batch of brass I have in front of me was trimmed before I fired it, I probably won’t trim it this time.

[@davidreynolds4715]

@@kris308100 Okay, I recommend ALWAYS trim AFTER resizing. As stated in other replies, the neck will grow after resizing. However, after resizing, the mouth of the case has been reformed to the SAAMI specs or very close to them, thus making the brass case sometimes difficult if not impossible to fit over the collet let alone removing the brass from the collet. Simple fix is to ream the mouth of the brass prior to installing it on the collet. This will always (usually) solve the issue(s) you are experiencing.

[@davidreynolds4715]

@@kris308100 Great! I still have my POS RCBS manual trimmer. Where did you get yours?

[@patv1271]

You can get away with this. I guess it all depends on the quality and level of accuracy expected from your ammunition.

[@derekp9877]

Will this work for straight walled cases? I need to trim 44 mag to hold a special type of projectile.

[@biged7175]

Yes most case trimmer will trim any case. I would not trim a .44 Mag to fit any projectile, I also have .44 Magnum reloading video.

[@derekp9877]

Big ED the FTX by hornady for 44 mag requires a trimmed case.

[@x-calibearusallc]

@Derek P I would sacrifice only Hornady brass for use with those FTX bullets.

[@cjtathome]

Good video ! I think the reason Lyman recommends you size first is so the pilot fits correctly. The advantage of this lathe is that it uses the case head as a index but it relies on the pilot for a concentric cut

[@cjtathome]

@@kris308100 , that’s a strange one. I suppose it’s repeatable ? As long as you are happy with the cut