Guns International

To trim or not to trim... (38 Spl brass)

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  • GP40X

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    Jan 1, 2021
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    League City, TX
    If you want pretty 38 where the cannelure shows the same amiunt of "daylight" across the batch of mixed headstamp, you have to trim AND throw away Hornady cases. There is no way around that if that is your goal. I trim 38 but I can't sell a box where it looks like the cannelure wanders, even though it doesn't.

    If you just want functional ammo and dont care if the cannelure looks like it is wandering then a big middle finger to trimming and move on to other things.
    I could give a flip about pretty cases as long as they are clean. But why toss Hornady cases? I bought 2 packages of 200 count Hornady 38 Special brass and now you have me worried.
     

    TexMex247

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    May 11, 2009
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    Occasionally I'll trim and weigh some cases to make the closest thing I can to "match grade" ammo. I don't anneal or turn case necks though. Usually the differences are negligible.
     

    Adept

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    Mar 8, 2020
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    Northfield, TX
    I could give a flip about pretty cases as long as they are clean. But why toss Hornady cases? I bought 2 packages of 200 count Hornady 38 Special brass and now you have me worried.
    Measure the brass. Hornady uses shorter cases for the LeveRevolution loads due to the longer tip needing to stay under max OAL. I first found this on the .45-70 loads. If your packages are standard .38Sp then no worries.
    I have loaded .38's more times than I can count, plinking loads don't stretch the brass. Use as little flare/crimp as possible and watch for splits in the neck.
     

    Polkwright

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    Mar 3, 2021
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    Houston, TX
    I don't get a lot of splits at the case mouth. Even though I tend to give a pretty good flair because I only load lead bullets. Most of my case loss is due to longitudinal splits in the body. I don't notice anything when fired.
    20210310_181745.jpg
     

    Deavis

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    Oct 20, 2011
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    I could give a flip about pretty cases as long as they are clean. But why toss Hornady cases? I bought 2 packages of 200 count Hornady 38 Special brass and now you have me worried.

    Their more recent cases are shorter to accommodate their flex tip bullets. You'll notice it as soon as you see one, they are super obvious when you see them on the machine. If you look in their manual they list shorter trim to lengths when using the flex tip bullets. If you bought brass for reloading from them, they should be fine. I'm pretty sure they don't sell the shorter version commercially but I could be wrong.
     

    Pistol Pete

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    May 10, 2010
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    The only time I have trimmed revolver cases was on some .44 Mag cases. I had Fed, Rem and Win. Major difference in length. One brand was much shorter than the other 2(all new brass). I did have to trim all to the shorter length. What a pain.
     

    TreyG-20

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    Measure the brass. Hornady uses shorter cases for the LeveRevolution loads due to the longer tip needing to stay under max OAL. I first found this on the .45-70 loads. If your packages are standard .38Sp then no worries.
    I have loaded .38's more times than I can count, plinking loads don't stretch the brass. Use as little flare/crimp as possible and watch for splits in the neck.
    I bought some FTX 458 bullets just because some of my 45-70 brass is from hornady. If I recall correctly it is almost a 1/10th of an inch shorter.
     

    xdmikey

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    Nov 27, 2009
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    cypress, tx
    If you want pretty 38 where the cannelure shows the same amiunt of "daylight" across the batch of mixed headstamp, you have to trim AND throw away Hornady cases. There is no way around that if that is your goal. I trim 38 but I can't sell a box where it looks like the cannelure wanders, even though it doesn't.

    If you just want functional ammo and dont care if the cannelure looks like it is wandering then a big middle finger to trimming and move on to other things.
    I started to trim 38s to make pretty Ammo but after three rounds I gave up.
     

    tonelar

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    Aug 9, 2009
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    I could give a flip about pretty cases as long as they are clean. But why toss Hornady cases? I bought 2 packages of 200 count Hornady 38 Special brass and now you have me worried.

    Run them through your lever gun... You’ll be bringing less of them home.
     

    Texas45

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    Dec 10, 2020
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    Not where you are
    Run them through your lever gun... You’ll be bringing less of them home.

    I have no problem gathering the ones out of my Model 77 Ruger.
    I most often work the action slowly and drop um right in my other hand.

    And I dont trim my 38/357 cases for reload.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    hornetguy

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    Feb 21, 2021
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    Even though I tend to give a pretty good flair because I only load lead bullets.
    It helps if you use a Lyman M die... you don't have to use quite as much flare, and the bullets seat more easily, and with less deformation/shaving. Those dies are designed for lead or flat based bullets.
     

    Polkwright

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    Mar 3, 2021
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    Houston, TX
    It helps if you use a Lyman M die... you don't have to use quite as much flare, and the bullets seat more easily, and with less deformation/shaving. Those dies are designed for lead or flat based bullets.

    I've tried to use a version of those but had some difficulty. I normally load on a Dillon 450 so I need a powder-through-expander die. One of the mold makers has some for the Lee Auto Disk that I tried. I ran into problems getting it where I wanted and gave up. I should try them again.
     

    Coyote9

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    Jan 13, 2020
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    I currently have 315 pieces of once fired brass from various manufacturers and 100 pieces of virgin Hornady brass waiting to clean and was thinking about going ahead and trimming them to 1.145. My question is how often do you trim your straight walled brass?
    I shoot mostly mid velocity target 38 special. I trim ever other re-load to eliminate micro fractures which would grow into splits.I trim my .357 combat and hunting loads every time for the same reason.
     
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