Hey Kurt

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johnl
Posts: 812
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:59 pm

Hey Kurt

Post by johnl »

I’m wondering what you use to trim your big 50? I have an old Lyman universal trimmer but the 50-90 head won’t fit in the chuck. My cases range from 2.495” to 2.505”. I like to trim all of them to the recommended 2.490”. Thanks John.
Kurt
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Re: Hey Kurt

Post by Kurt »

HI John

I use a Forester but if I was to get a new one it would be a L.E. Wilson.
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Don Kenna
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Location: Malta, Montana

Re: Hey Kurt

Post by Don Kenna »

When I got my .50-90 Shiloh Sharps about eleven years ago, I found that I couldn’t get the necessary shell plate for the RCBS case trimmer I’d been using for years. I’d had the same problem with the .43 Spanish case several years before, and had bought a Lyman trimmer specifically for that task. I don’t recall what model it is, but it uses the regular reloading press shell holders. I seem to recall that I had to buy at least one Lyman shell holder as the RCBS shell holder wouldn’t fit the trimmer. Other than that, it worked fine.

A few years ago, I switched to the Wilson case trimmer. There are a couple of cautions in purchasing such for use with black powder cases. First, anyone loading black powder rifle cartridges should get the upper components for the .50 BMG trimmer (cutter, etc.). The standard trimmer cutter is too small for .50 caliber cases, although the .50 caliber cutter will work fine with any smaller cases down to .22 caliber. These should, however. be mounted on the short base of the standard trimmer. The long base normally supplied with the .50 BMG trimmer is too long to work with many black powder cartridge cases. The short base works perfectly for me to trim everything from .38 Special to the .45-110 and the .50-90’s 2.5-inch case. While I don’t have any rifles chambered for any of the 3.25-inch cases (and have no intention of ever owning any), I have determined that the short-based Wilson trimmer will accommodate such cases. The folks at L.E. Wilson will work with you to assemble such a special order/configuration trimmer at virtually no extra cost. Please don’t ask me to go into detail about how I know all this. Suffice it to say that I acquired the knowledge the way I learn most things—The hard way.

Wilson does not carry shell holders for the .50-90 (same as .50/70) as a stock item, but they will make a special order shell holder for little additional cost if you provide them a case. They also made a .44-77 case holder for me on special order that works fine.
Dennis Armistead
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Re: Hey Kurt

Post by Dennis Armistead »

I'm using the RCBS high capacity case trimmer and have very good results.
Dennis
Experience trumps intelligence every time.
Straightneck
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Location: Western North Carolina

Re: Hey Kurt

Post by Straightneck »

my 2 cents worth, why do you want to trim to 2.490" ?,, I thought with our BP cartridges it was recommend and best to be full chamber length with cases. if you have Starline brass as I do very few are that long to start with,, I have 100 new 50-90 Starline ranging in length from 2.479" -2.491" .. only 2 at 2.491 most range 2.483 -2.487, of the 100 cases I'm shooting only 2 have made it to 2.5" as they grew my paper rings went away
Most advise I've seen here says don't trim new cases they will most likely shrink in length when fired,, I would do a chamber cast and not trim shorter than chamber

Mason
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Eric Johanen
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Re: Hey Kurt

Post by Eric Johanen »

Plus 1 for Kurt. About the only brass that is long enough from the package is 45-70 Winchester at 2.1 or a bit longer. I only break out the trimmer after a number of loadings to square up the mouths that exhibit unevenness. Longer is better in my rifles and paper rings are uncommon. Short brass is reserved for greaser's seating so a lube groove is exposed at the end of the chamber. One thing that seems to make a difference with brass is to neck size only. Really makes a difference with case length control. My luck has been better that Kurt's as about half of the 50 2.5 has measured 2.495 and are reserved for paper patch, the rest are for greaser's and I file a small nick on the rims to keep them separate.
johnl
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Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:59 pm

Re: Hey Kurt

Post by johnl »

Thanks gents. Basically I want to trim my brass to the same length. I’ll drive down to the big gun show in Victoria B.C. today. Lots of local stuff plus a few vendors from the mainland. Maybe out of the sea of plastic and black guns they are some old guys with some steel and wood plus some reloading stuff :lol: Failing that I’ll call Brownell for the Wilson trimmer.
johnl
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Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:59 pm

Re: Hey Kurt

Post by johnl »

Well no luck at a trimmer but I bought a Frankford steel pin tumbler kit. I don’t know how guns shows in the US works but up here most old well used stuff is priced higher than retail :(
Woody
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Re: Hey Kurt

Post by Woody »

Same here. Rarely does the affordable treasure show up, but I am always optimistic. Only twice in the last 12 years since I moved back to Indiana, have bought a firearm at a gun show. A NM M1 for $1K and 1896 Krag rifle for $450. I wasn't shopping for either, but had to jump. Turned the M1 around but wanted to keep the Krag.

As for trimming 50 cal brass, I've never needed to. When I had a 50-90, they didn't need it, and my 50-70 still doesn't after 35 plus years. I don't fire it all that often, but did some plinking at Friendship with it last weekend. Good fun.

Woody
Richard A. Wood
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Kurt
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Re: Hey Kurt

Post by Kurt »

You can stretch cases some using a slight roll crimp with a fresh annealed case and a hard bullet but don't over do the roll crimp you can pull the case neck off.
For the Shiloh's with the standard 45 degree chamber end transition I trim the fired unsized cases .005" short to keep the bullet from pulling a sized case that will be longer then a unsized case past the chamber end. A chamber end of 7 degrees like what Orville used or the 4/1.5 degree compound with a tight neck chamber end I use short cases don't bother as long as they are all the same length.

Kurt
The reason a dog has so many friends is because he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery"Winston Churchill
johnl
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Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:59 pm

Re: Hey Kurt

Post by johnl »

I hear you Woody. Last gun I bought at a gun show was mint S&W 52 with 4 mags for a song, but that was many moons ago. So Kurt you say you trim .005” short, what length do you trim your cases to? Both my Shiloh big 50’s have their standard chambers. Thanks John
Kurt
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Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 10:28 pm
Location: Not Far enough NW in Illinois

Re: Hey Kurt

Post by Kurt »

John I very seldom have to trim the .50 but I trim the cases when needed to 2.36" from the front of the rim, not the head stamp.
I think the Shiloh chamber is 2.440" from the front of the rim, but I'm not sure since I measured the cast.
Kurt
The reason a dog has so many friends is because he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery"Winston Churchill
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