Do you Trim or Not?

I bought a trim-kit for 45acp, but honestly? They don't stretch. Every year or so I try to trim a few - nope. Nothing to trim.

Similarly have a kit for 9mm, and same issue - simply not enough change to warrant the effort.

Otoh, yes: my 06 and 223 trim kits get used periodically. Further, folks say you need to anneal those necks periodically.

I honestly don't think I've ever trimmed any .45 ACP cases. I've measured them here and there but that's about it. I've had shells that are no longer usable for various reasons but length hasn't been an issue.

Jon.

I've reloaded my cases a couple of times now and no issues. I understand the low pressure generally means a long serviceable life, less stretching over time. That being said, if you're worried at all, grab some calipers and look up the saami specs. you can always put anything long in a separate bin for an eventual trimming party.

Sorting small vs large primer, some tighter/crimped primer pockets have been my only nuisance issues to date.

I’ve used gifted, bought used and found range pick up 45acp brass, both commercial and military for as long as I’ve shot, I’m 72, and never trimmed any 45acp or even checked the length. I DO believe in using a lee bulge buster religiously. 45acp brass fired from pcc’s, pistols and revolvers are all over the place in external dimensions. A bulge buster gets them back to original dimensions [even the base] so they chamber in anything.

I use a Dillon case gauge for loaded .45 ammo, but never trimmed handgun ammo.

Have never trimmed any straight wall pistol cases. Bottle neck cases (rifle) do get trimmed.

I don't believe I've trimmed my 400CB cases, either - well, not a surprise as the mandrel has a 452 base to fit mouth - not the .400 - but still.

Started reloading in the 70’s and have never trimmed a pistol case.

Whenever I buy a new batch of brass I take the time to trim them all to the same length. All new brass usually measures shorter than the SAAMI standard .898. I have never seen a .45 ACP case that was that long. Most are .890" to 894". I really don't care if they're a little long or short but they need to be trimmed to the same length so when you crimp the round the crimps are consistent as well. Measuring brass over the years it appears that they actually get shorter - not longer. Just make sure the crimps and the O.A.L. are consistent.

Taper crimp- No
Roll crimp- Yes

I saw a piece once that they wondered how many times you could reload pistol cases.

They started out with 100 .38 spl cases, and then to speed it up, dropped it to one case.

The loaded, fired and reloaded that case 111 times before it finally split.
They didn't trim it one single time.

So unless you have some brass that is just totally off, my experience and that experiment tells you that trimming .45 acp pistol brass probably isn't needed.

Out of habit, I measure all my brass, and I’ve occasionally found the odd, long, .45 ACP case. Doesn’t happen often, and I’ve no idea why, but I’ll get an excessively long case in range pick up brass occasionally. Once trimmed, you’ll never have to bother with it again. The idea of a long case that doesn’t allow the pistol to go fully into battery prompts me to take the time to check every case, before introducing it into my regular .45 brass supply.

Michael W Cuber said:

Out of habit, I measure all my brass, and I’ve occasionally found the odd, long, .45 ACP case. Doesn’t happen often, and I’ve no idea why, but I’ll get an excessively long case in range pick up brass occasionally. Once trimmed, you’ll never have to bother with it again. The idea of a long case that doesn’t allow the pistol to go fully into battery prompts me to take the time to check every case, before introducing it into my regular .45 brass supply.

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All very true - otoh, brass that refuses to play-well-with-others succumbs well to the HAMMER method.

I'm more than a bit OCD when it comes to reloading. Yes, I trim pistol brass. A uniform crimp is necessary for consistent accuracy and consistent ignition. Especially with slower burning powders.

I’ve found that ‘minute of sass marshal’ is very forgiving. [Never shot bullseye.]

Baltimoreed11754 said:

I’ve found that ‘minute of sass marshal’ is very forgiving. [Never shot bullseye.]

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Bullseye is one thing. Long-range (50~200yds) metallic silhouette shooting with a big-bore revolver is different. And longer-range (out to 1000) with a straight-wall rifle round like a 45-70, 45-90 or others is a higher level still. Good ammo requires precise attention to every detail of every component and the reloading process.
I build dies that cut .005~.010" thick metal. The clearance between the punch and die cutting edges is .0005". They're expected to last a few million cuts. ''Close enough'' isn't good enough. I put that kind of attention to detail in everything I do.

As a mentor once said, "Quality is like buying oats. If you want nice clean oats, you must pay a fair price. If you are satisfied with oats that have already run thru a horse, that is a good bit cheaper!"

I have loaded and shot well over 100K rounds of .380, 9mm, .38/.357 and 45acp over the last 20+ years. These rounds were fired in competition (NRA Action Pistol, IDPA) and general target shooting. Never trimmed a case. Never had a malfunction due to case length. IMHO, for those calibers trimming is a time waster.

👆👆👆Drail and Rod are both spot on. I have never found a piece of 45 ACP that exceeds the spec.
Straight walled pistol brass actually shrinks, bottleneck rifle rounds need to be checked and trimmed if necessary. Now, as mkk41 mentions, you will get more “consistent” crimps if you check every single piece. I am not good enough to enjoy the benefit and don’t bother sorting by headstamp either! The one thing you should pay more attention to are those frickety frack damn small primer pieces that sneak through security!😖

I've never trimmed a straight-walled pistol case in my life.

Bottle-necked cartridges are another issue.