redcar
Member
Does anyone know what size or number of the hornady trimmer pilot for 9mm luger? I looked at the "hornady essentials" online and it says #15 but it only fits a cartridge that hasn't been sized. It wont fit into my sized cases.
hornady trimmer pilot for 9mm
- Thread starter redcar
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It is #15. Why are you trimming 9mm??
If it does not fit, call or email Hornady maybe you have a out of spec one.
If it does not fit, call or email Hornady maybe you have a out of spec one.
forestswin
Member
Part #15 is for 38/357, 9mm, and 380, they are 0.353" diameter. If its larger than that, I'd guess they would send a new one out.
I don't trim 9mm because I haven't found a case that needed it yet.
I do however trim 357 cases and have the same issue. I tried wrapping some Emory cloth around the pilot and spun the handle quite a bit, but that didn't really get me anywhere, the steel is too hard. So, I expand the sized case before trimming. That seems to break some rules on trying to retain correct geometry, but I don't see any difference with groupings on my target.
I had called Hornady and they say reloaders have been doing it like that for years and it works. The other option is to trim before resizing, and measure after sizing, I know its two steps away, but it might work, I have heard others that do it that way, with success.
If anyone has a better solution please post!
And by the way, the next smaller diameter is for 32 cal at 0.307"
Too small
I bought trimmers for my pistol brass when I started out but I never used them more than once. Turns out the advice that it's not really necessary for most plinking use was correct. More trouble than it's worth and the rewards are nebulous for the kind of shooting I do.
Once again, why even bother trimming 9mm brass??
forestswin
Member
please let me know how that goes
gwpercle
Member
Redcar,
Ever since I started reloading, 40 plus years ago, I noticed the exact same thing. Reguardles of make, Pacific, Hornady, Bair, Lyman , Forster....I could never get the pilot into a sized case, on any of them. I have 3 or 4 different pilots in several calibers and the one thing they have in common is they can be used on a fired case but will not enter a resized case. What I started doing, contrary to directions and conventional wisdom is trimming the fired cases then resizing them! It works just fine. Other than getting them all to a consistent length the first time around , not much trimming is required after that. Don't fight the aggravation just trim then size. They will all come out close enough.
Gary
Ever since I started reloading, 40 plus years ago, I noticed the exact same thing. Reguardles of make, Pacific, Hornady, Bair, Lyman , Forster....I could never get the pilot into a sized case, on any of them. I have 3 or 4 different pilots in several calibers and the one thing they have in common is they can be used on a fired case but will not enter a resized case. What I started doing, contrary to directions and conventional wisdom is trimming the fired cases then resizing them! It works just fine. Other than getting them all to a consistent length the first time around , not much trimming is required after that. Don't fight the aggravation just trim then size. They will all come out close enough.
Gary
Instructions for the RCBS Trim Pro state that "trimming is normally done after full length sizing of the case"
It also says that it may be done before resizing.
If done before resizing you are not trimming as square as when it it is sized.
It also says that it may be done before resizing.
If done before resizing you are not trimming as square as when it it is sized.
I believe Hornady, Forster and Redding all use the same size pilot shanks. Forster offers a wide selection of pilot sizes and does have a .351" dia. for 9mm. If you need smaller than that, than you will probably need to have one custom made.
Most of them are made of tool steel and are very hard to cut. One other option you might try is using a Lee trimmer pilot. Even though they are threaded, they can be forced into my Forster trimmer and locked in place with the set screw. They are extra long because they act as a length gauge too, but they can be cut anywhere in front of the narrow band that actually acts as a pilot.
Most of them are made of tool steel and are very hard to cut. One other option you might try is using a Lee trimmer pilot. Even though they are threaded, they can be forced into my Forster trimmer and locked in place with the set screw. They are extra long because they act as a length gauge too, but they can be cut anywhere in front of the narrow band that actually acts as a pilot.
Having never used a Hornady pilot, I found some pictures that showed the groove you mentioned. It shouldn't make a difference. Since the trimmer pilot is a loose fit, it shouldn't require a groove for the set screw to seat into, unlike a neck turning pilot, so as long as the shank is the same diameter it should work.
Also, before I bought a hobby lathe to make my own pilots and etc., I would buy the smaller diameter RCBS pilots in a pinch, which are available locally, and wrap them tightly with masking tape until they would fit snug in the trimmer shaft and tighten as usual. They worked very well also.
I probably load 10K a year, mixed between 9mm minor, 9mm major, .38 supercomp major,.40 minor, .40 major, and .45 major.
I'm anal enough that when I inspect my brass before reloading, I also measure the length on every piece, and have never found any of the above calibers to "grow" like rifle cartridges, but, the do get shorter, and when they get too short, they get scrapped.
I'm anal enough that when I inspect my brass before reloading, I also measure the length on every piece, and have never found any of the above calibers to "grow" like rifle cartridges, but, the do get shorter, and when they get too short, they get scrapped.
As RH45 stated, many handgun calibers don't grow, they shrink, and this is a very good reason why to measure your brass as you reload, especially auto brass that headspaces off the mouth. I'm not as picky with range fodder that is not going to be shot at more than 25 yards, but anything that is going to be loaded for long distance or self defense gets the deluxe treatment.
But growing isn't the only reason to trim either. My analisms also include consistency, even for my range fodder.
But growing isn't the only reason to trim either. My analisms also include consistency, even for my range fodder.
I have always trimmed fired brass before it was resized. But, I have only trimmed pistol brass a few times, and that did prove if the brass was all trimmed exactly the same length the crimp would be the most consistent, and the accuracy improved. But if you taper crimp rather than roll crimp, it is not noticeable. I did trim 38 Special when I shot in a Mod 52, but that was the last one. All my rifle brass is measured and trimmed to length (if needed) after every firing.
Cdog
Member
RH45 nailed it. Rimless calibers that headspace off the case mouth like the 9mm will likely only shorten during their useful life.
Think about it what the brass faces every firing. Slamming into the chamber will pound them down.
FL sized bottleneck rounds that headspace off the case shoulders will require periodic trimming for proper function and safe pressures.
Think about it what the brass faces every firing. Slamming into the chamber will pound them down.
FL sized bottleneck rounds that headspace off the case shoulders will require periodic trimming for proper function and safe pressures.
