Best way to trim brass

[David LaPell]

I am looking to cut down some brass, (taking .41 Mag brass down to .44 Special length to make a light .41 Special). What the best way to trim up some of that brass, with my trimmer, it will take me a Loooong while.

 

[David LaPell]

I am looking to cut down some brass, (taking .41 Mag brass down to .44 Special length to make a light .41 Special). What the best way to trim up some of that brass, with my trimmer, it will take me a Loooong while.

 

[burch]

Go down to the hardware store and pick up a copper tube cutter. Just cut `em a little long and trim up the rest with your trimmer. I did the same thing when I was making 45colt shotshells out of 444 Marlin Rifle casings. I wanted my shotshell casings the full length of my cylinder. They held a lot more shot.

 

[John R]

Why do you want to make the cases shorter?
They'll load and shoot just as good at full length.
One other thing if you shorten them, your crimp die is going to be useless.

 

[pbslinger]

John R- He probably has a gun chambered for the 41 Special.

I don't have any great ideas for for shortening a bunch of cases that much. I have shortened 30-30 cases to 30 Herrett with a tubing cutter and it isn't easy. I have also used a power mitre saw with a carbide blade for shortening to 30 Herrett and for cutting 375 Winchester down to 375 Supermag.

I drilled a hole the size of the case in the side of a block of 2x4 and mounted the block on the saw. That worked pretty good.

Another trimming method I have used to cut a lot off a case is to put the case in a Lee caseholder for their little trimmer, and mount the caseholder in a drill press vise. I then mounted the cutter in the drill chuck and set the depth stop.

Harbor Frieght sells a mini bench top cutoff saw that seems like it would work well as a brass trimmer:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42307

 

[jjones33]

Either Lyman or RCBS I know did, or still do, make a trim die to fit the press with a hardened top. Run the cartridge in the die to where what you want to trim sticks out, plus a little, and file it off.

 

[tlen]

Who makes a .41 special handgun ? I've never heard of that cartridge.
If one wanted light .41 magnum loads all one would have to do is reduce the powder charges to get the velocity they wanted.

 

[pbslinger]

Who makes a .41 special handgun

Custom gunsmiths, often on an L frame S&W.

 

[czakjm]

To shorten your seating die so it can roll crimp the "41 Special" case...strip it down and gently feed it into the side of a bench mounted stone grinder wheel...as it contacts, turn it back and forth like you're tuning a dial, and occasionally quench to keep the steel from discoloring...you'll be taking off approx one/seventh of an inch...then you can use it to seat/crimp both the 41 Special and 41 Mag...keep a dummy round of both 41's in with the dies for an easy set-up reference...hope this helps...Jack

 

[VonFatman]

Sounds like a fun project...but so far I have no .41 Special guns so I'll have to be content shooting my full length cases.

I can see the appeal of working up wildcats...kind of an adventure of sorts.

Bob