Hey guys,

I just bought the Lee trimmer (with the wood ball grip), and I have a question on how to set it up. It comes with the length gauge that you screw into the cutter. How far do you screw this in? All the way?

thanks,
vanbuzen9

Yes, all the way. The first few time you screw the gage into the cutter you will encounter a bit of resistance. It sometimes helps to wrap a paper towel around it and use pliers to seat the gage all the way down against the cutter. Does not have to tight, just screwed in all the way.
After years of staring at them I finaly bought a ball end cutter. Sure is a nice gadget! makes things allmost comfortable!

I agree, they are a nice little unit for case trimming and extremely quick to use. I've even shimmed them with a wafer thin washer or few on the threaded end(diameter permitting) to slightly adjust trim length.

The key is to stop spinning when they stop cutting ASAP to avoid any dimpling to the base stop. They hardened this over the years by switching from an aluminum base but the guide pin is also hardened (really a needle bearing). I use a cordless drill on the shellholder end to spin the case. Spin slowly.

Wrote a quick tech not on this a few years back.

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tips/archive_tips.htm/56

Regards and have fun

If you have a little time this winter ask your Library for an interlibrary loan of the book: Wildcat Cartridges by Richard F. Simmons. On page 314 there is a description and drawing of the Longo Pilot Case Trimmer by Herbert R. Longo. There were several ideas along a similar vein at this time. Lee improved the trimmer quite a bit.

If you have a little time this winter ask your Library for an interlibrary loan of the book: Wildcat Cartridges by Richard F. Simmons. On page 314 there is a description and drawing of the Longo Pilot Case Trimmer by Herbert R. Longo. There were several ideas along a similar vein at this time. Lee improved the trimmer quite a bit.

Hi William,

I have a 1947 copy of that book. Thought it sounded familiar once you mentioned it above.:D This is a fascinating book of the early experimenters/wildcats. Also fascinating is the early equipment, some recognizable and some not.

I'll check through it again.

Regards, Contender

Headstamp,
It is a great book. I just wish they would have thought to put a few more dimensions in it!
The two most interesting things I come out of it with are that there is nothing new - if you can think of it someone has tried somthing similar, and I have to admire what these men were able to do with so little equipment. You can acomplish a lot with determination and enthusiasim!

Yes. I agree. Probably the most way out thing in it is the "Double Jointed" cartridges that PO Ackley was fooling around with then. They look like rocket stages.

Also the experiments with duplex loading because they had such a limited availability of burning rates of powder back then.

Right now is truly the golden age of handloading with all that is available in the way of tools and components. Those guys could only dream of it back then.

Just make sure you wear a dress shirt and tie and vest like they did when you are at the loading bench. :D

Regards

[QUOTE=Just make sure you wear a dress shirt and tie and vest like they did when you are at the loading bench. :D
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Oh my!
I must confess I shot this weekend in walking shorts, flip flops and a Past Pad! Well, i was wearing double hearing protection!