Converting 32 S&W Long cases to 32 S&W

[Pondoro]

My case trimmer will not adjust far enough to trim 32 S&W long cases down to 32 S&W.

I am considering buying a "sacrificial" straight router bit and using my drill press to shorten the cases. I'd grab a shell holder in my drill press vise and come straight down on it with a 3/8" to 1/2" mortising bit, using it like an end mill. I can set a stop on the drill press.

Does anyone have better ideas or cautions?

I have lots of 32 S&W Long cases but 32 S&W's are very hard to find. Starline will sell me 250 but I was thinking more in terms of wanting a few, to see if this gun can shoot.

 

[fkienast]

I use Forster Power Case Trimmer to hold the case on the drill press.

 

[tndrfttom]

Forster makes a "Power Case Trimmer" drill press trimmer. It has a quick release collet shell holder that bolts to the table of your drill press and the cutter and pilot go in the chuck. By adjusting the drill press table you can trim to just about any length. It takes some fiddling to get it lined up and the stop on your drill press adjusted to limit the travel but it does work. Lyman used to make a similar rig which you can occasionally find on fleabay. I had one of these - it was a pain to set up right and if you ran it too fast it would chatter and tear-up the case mouth.

What I use today is Forsters "Original" case trimmer. I've drilled extra holes in the frame to move the shell holder and the cutter head closer together. I'm not sure you could get it close enough to do .32 S&W without modifying the aluminum base.

 

[Bruce51]

Maybe a quick and easy solution would involve a Dremel with a cut off wheel.

Drill holes in a piece of wood that are the width/length/height of the cases.

Slide the cases into the holes drilled near the outside edge and cut them off.

Nothing to buy if you already have the Dremel and the wheel.

The wood block sets the length and will help keep the mouths square.

BLM

 

[Beemer-mark]

Just buy the Lee trimmer and use your drill. Be prepared to clean up a lot of trimmings.

 

[Alk8944]

Just buy the Lee trimmer and use your drill. Be prepared to clean up a lot of trimmings.

^^^^^^^^^ What he said! While the Forster "ower Case Trimmer" would be preferable, $75 or so just to cut, probably, a few dozen cases doesn't make much sense!

 

[rwsmith]

Lee.....Lee.....Lee

For a few bucks you can buy the Lee tool and the .32 spacer, chuck it in your drill press or hand drill and trim like gangbusters. You can do 100 in about 20 minutes.

You can get going for under $20. Then if you have other size cases to trim, you only have to buy the spacer for about $3. Cheapest and fastest way i know.

 

[nicky4968]

The Lee zip drive works great with their trimmers.

Lee stands behind it, too.

 

[wiley]

Starline is offering 32 S&W as of today

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

Maybe a quick and easy solution would involve a Dremel with a cut off wheel.

Drill holes in a piece of wood that are the width/length/height of the cases.

Slide the cases into the holes drilled near the outside edge and cut them off.

Nothing to buy if you already have the Dremel and the wheel.

The wood block sets the length and will help keep the mouths square.

BLM

I have done something similar to 410 shotgun wads in preparing them for use in 45 ACP shells made from 308 brass. in this case, if the needed brass cannot be found, I would insert the case in a wood lock just a tad longer than needed. trim it with a dremel diamond wheel, then finish with a trimmer of your choice. I am at current making two styles of overtheshot cards one for the 45 and on for the 500 S&W. JMHO

CAUTION HERE: KEEP YOUR FINGERS AWAY FROM THA CUTTING WHEEL __

 

[DWalt]

I have never trimmed .32 Long to .32 S&W, but I have trimmed many .32 Mag cases to .32 Long using a Dremel tool and cutoff disc by a method very similar to that described above in #4. With a little practice, it's very simple to do.

 

[rwsmith]

Whoe....

I have done something similar to 410 shotgun wads in preparing them for use in 45 ACP shells made from 308 brass. in this case, if the needed brass cannot be found, I would insert the case in a wood lock just a tad longer than needed. trim it with a dremel diamond wheel, then finish with a trimmer of your choice. I am at current making two styles of overtheshot cards one for the 45 and on for the 500 S&W. JMHO

CAUTION HERE: KEEP YOUR FINGERS AWAY FROM THA CUTTING WHEEL __

That is something that I've never heard of. Well, you heard it here.

 

[Drm50]

I have used Dremel method to cut cases off close and finish up
on trimmer. Worked for 44auto mags, which would be about same deal as making 45acp shot shells, 455 from 45 Colt. Did a lot of this before power trimmers came out. Saved a lot of blisters.

 

[H Richard]

Why ruin 32 long brass, Starline Brass has begun to offer new 32 S&W brass. If you aren't familiar with Starline, it is an excellent brass, and often sold via Midway and Brownells. I believe they will sell direct from the factory. Pistol Reloading Brass for Sale - Starline Brass - Maker of America's Finest Handgun Brass