RCBS Trim Die

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otisrush

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I love loading .223. I hate trimming cases.

Can anyone give me their experiences with the RCBS trim die? One the one hand it sounds pretty crude: If the case protrudes through the top take a file and file the case flush with the top of the die. The description says the die is made to handle a file bearing down on it. That sounds pretty rough and something that sounds like a process that will ultimately damage it.

On the other hand, I'd lay down in front of a train for RCBS. I've not only had great experiences with their products, but as has been shown here over and over again - their customer service is exceptional.

So their reputation leads me toward giving it a go. But filing so the file scrapes the die gives me the willies.

Any experiences?

Thanks.

OR
 
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RCBS uses a Nitride case-hardening process. The die surface is, very literally, harder than glass. A file will slightly mark the die, more just burnishing it. You aren't going to harm the trim die with a file! And if by some odd circumstance it wasn't adequately hardened and you do manage to damage it, RCBS will replace it, no questions asked!
 
I have 4 or 5 RCBS trim dies. the first one I bought was for 8x57 Mauser. The inside of the die is slightly smaller than a SAMMI spec chamber, so a fired case is snug but won't need lubed to be able to remove it. The neck and shoulder area are something ike a cross between a FL and Neck sizing dies. On the Mauser die I would run 30-06 brass in and it would push the shoulder back and make a start on the neck, I used a hack saw to cut off the protruding neck and then I did several other steps to end up with Mauser brass.

For just trimming brass that has "Grown" too long, The amount that you are trimming with the file is in the area of .005 to .008 long. Using a fine or very fine file it doesn't take very long, but the deburing is far more than with a "rotary" case trimmer. The other trim dies I have were part of large groups of dies I would buy from gun stores going out of business.

One other thing, the length of the finished case is dependent on the shell holder. The + or - tolerances of manufacturing, even of the same brand, will affect the length of the case.

I never use trim dies for case length anymore because they are too slow and imprecise, but they have their uses in case forming.

Ivan
 
Lot will depend how many cases you are trimming. We shoot 5 to 8 thousand 223 a year out here, with prairie dogs and classes. Trimming with a file and trim die would never work, nor would the hand crank version.

I have just about every trimmer known to man. The Dillon set up is ok but messy and you still have all the other prep work. If volume is your quest, the power trimmer from RCBS is your answer. You can put a cutting head on it that chamfers the inside and outside case mouth at the same time. A real time saver. I run thousands through mine annually.
 
I use a Lyman case trimmer with the cutter shaft that is turned down to fit the chuck on an electric drill. The case trimmer is doing fine, but I have just about "killed" my second electric drill.
 
For the small amount of .223 that I reload, I use a Lee trim die. It has a rotary hand crank. Does the job quickly, and chamfers the edges as it cuts, so when you finish trimming to length, you are done. It is also adjustable, so you can trim to the length you want, rather than a predetermined length.

You can convert it to drill powered if so desired. The hand crank works fine for the amount I do.

I can't imagine using a file to trim. That would be a no go design in my opinion.

Not every company has the best for you product in every category. I use a lot of Lee equipment, but have a number of different "colors" on my bench.
 
Your RCBS Trim Die is perfect for a moderate amount of case forming and trimming. Of course the mouth of every case needs to be beveled inside and outside after the file process. What that trim die does is wear out files. I use a middle quality line file in 8" smooth bas***d cut. This file is dedicated to use only with the trim dies. When it is fairly well worn down I make a knife out of it and replace it with another like it. This is another great RCBS product. ..............
 
Trim dies are hardened steel , and they must be pretty hard because my file doesn't cut the top , just slides over it.
They work and are simple to use , I have one in 30-06 , bought in 1968 , still using it and haven't cut the surface yet (46 years of use). It will dull a file before the file cuts it. The hand crank trimmers get tiring fast...I'll take a trim die in a press any day.
Try one , you just might like it !
 
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I find trim dies to be tedious to use, but trimming a quarter inch off of a case with a hand-powered or drill-powered trimmer is also tedious.

The only one I used a lot was to convert .30-30 Winchester cases into .30 Herrett. Fine hacksaw (a coping saw?) then the file, but it seemed to distort the case mouth a lot, many needing bending back to "almost round" with a small screwdriver shaft or something before you could resize the case and get the expander ball inside.
 
An acquaintance of many years ago was a friend of Elmer Keith's actually had a few of his guns. He claimed that Keith felt a loading die set was not complete without a trim die, but he used it to straighten out case bulges caused when crimping, it does work.

As said above its a slow way to trim
 
I have a 243 trim die used so much it has almost had the caliber worn off. Worn out more files than you can believe. Used with many thousand 308s turned into 243. I have them in most larger caliber "hunting" rifles. I also use a 308 set up with spacers to make 7.65 Argentine from 06.
 
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