Improved: Making 300 Blackout Brass with Lee Power Quick trim system
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ส.ค. 2024
- This is an improved video for making you own 300 blackout brass using the Lee Power Quick Trim die and cutter. I made this to incorporate lessons learned since the last video I posted on topic several years ago. #TTFPowderStand
I really like your inventive approach, not just that, however your ability to show the problem and the way to solve it. You also have a knack for seeing the shortcomings in products and how to make them better. Keep up the good work.
Thanks brother for the very nice comment!
I call'em the way I see'em. Btw, I have been casting some shotgun slugs that have devastating results. been keeping busy myself.
Most people have no idea what a terrifying weapon a regular old shot gun can be. Slugs really up the game. Loved you getting to shoot with FC45LC by the way.
Steve and I are Buds. He visits the Seattle area, That won't be the last time you see us shooting together. He and I both were competitors and relate on the same level. He is a gem of a guy. Ya, Slugs are, You are right about that. I have been watching some of the Russian guy's videos, I can understand the language, However, I can understand what they are doing. They have a need and it's the mother of invention. You should check them out with some of the things they make. Dave.
Thank you for driving home the tip on accurate cuts within a couple thousands. Ive been making 300 savage from 308 with lee Deluxe trimmer. And each case takes me over 10 minutes per case after cut off saw. Over working my lee trimmer.
Glad this gave you some ideas.
Lots of quality information to help gain that extra accuracy everyone wants. You go the extra steps to really bring that about. Thanks for all of your quality videos! Hope you had a great Independence Day!
Thanks bud, had a great day hope you and the family did as well.
We did! My sons' families and I got together and made our own fireworks noises with several firearms, most notably my 1942 M1 Garand.
I appreciate all of the information. One thing I might add, for those who care, is that you also don't want any of the burrs left at the top of the case to become imbedded into the tops of the dies, thus affecting every shell you run through it afterwards.
Good Video.... and don't forget to turn off the Gas, and Never turn on Light switch #1 !!!! I just got my first 300 Blackout shipping today.... Can't find ammo (Dec 2020) but got a few extra (haha) 5.56/223 brass to do... I already use the LEE Trimmer and the Collect sizing on other brass.... *reloading since 1972. and that Imperial Sizing Wax ! The Best !! - using since 72 also... I had a good teacher back then... I also have and use the foot switch for my Router for 80% stuff. Yep, you have a good set up there and really know your stuff.... Thanks...
What a nice comment, sorry i missed it when you posted
Hey TTF. Even though I'm not in the 300 Blackout business I like to watch your videos because every time I do I learn so much. In this one all about the ins and outs of the Lee trimming gear I also use. May consider that foot switch setup. So thanks again.
A lot of the info translates to using the trimmer on other cartridges as well. Thank you for the very nice comment.
Thank you for a well done video. There is lots of good info here.
Thank you for your kind comment. The use of the Lee collet die as a finish move really improves the quality of converted cases.
Thank you - I just started reloading 300 blkout and this is very cool.
The 300blk is a great round and if you explore its unusual range of of Performance possibilities as a shooter and reloader it will teach you more than any other cartridge I'm aware of.
Killer info here. That’s basically the way I do it, but I love the foot switch drill set up.
Adding the drill and foot switch setup is the bomb. It actually is more consistent because the downward pressure is
always the same. Once I get going it is within .001" - 002" variance. With most being right on the money.
Great update, Lee sizing lube is water based and comes out easy and in tumbler and works as well as Imperial and easier to apply. Glad you updated drill with a stay on button for 1 hand operation but if you invested in a lyman universal power trimmer you would have been happier, cheaper and less work with micrometer adjustment.
Loved the clear focus you have on describing what your doing while doing it I have just reloaded 303 British and I spent definitely alot more time making the case exact length then loading besides position powder measurement.
This is the second video that I have seen where the user had the same kind of case trimmer. Since this video was made, there are a number of better devises out there that use an actual end mill, and they work much better, and are much sharper. one is the Little crow case trimmer, and then there was another made by a guy in UT that was a bit too similar to the Little Crow so he had to stop making it. Good video though.
You bet, there are a bunch of ways to trim brass now and you can really spend some money doing it. This is inexpensive and still works. I havent felt the need to change up for my limited volume.
@@TreeTopFlier Yep, when you are starting out, you tend to try the cheaper ways first. Some work better than others.
Lee trim system is awesome! I have it and love it!
People dont realize most trimmers take their reference from the bend in the neck to determine trim length. QT uses total length so you dont stack tolerances. Best practice.
Holy smoke. Seems like there would be no time to go out and shoot doing it this way.
Thanks for sharing👍
Thanks for watching
You're the best man! I do think I am going to have to get with Lee and see about getting some new blades cuz no matter what I do the inside chamfer is leaving a really small bear on every case that I do. I also found the 1/4" bearing at my local Home Depot for around 50 cents or so.
Do you think this video explains it better? Here is a link for the cutter parts: leeprecision.com/deluxe-power-quick-trim-parts/ If your ordering, I would go ahead and get the molded parts kit too.
TreeTopFlier it definitely does a great job of explaining it. When I watched your other videos about it and you mentioned the WD-40 I actually chose not to use WD-40 and used a little moly grease because I had already ran into the issue of the case of spinning from the Case Lube after sizing. I appreciate the link and I will definitely use it.
Thank you 😊, subscribed
Thanks for subbing!
I've always set my jig by using a good case. Because after I trim, I'll get a stretch when I size the neck.
Ive tried that but my cheapo clamp always deflects left or right when i tighten it. Maybe just me?
@@TreeTopFlier never had an issue yet. And I've learned to always remove burrs before sizing so it doesnt leave a bunch of crap in the dies and cause em to wear out/get scratched up.
Know how to do that...
How bout start with .300 blkout BRASS & show how to do that with quick trim handle & lee quick trim die
This video is a how to convert 223 brass to 300 blackout using the power quick trim system to set final trim. If you just want to use it to trim 300 black cases, thats easy. Put in the right shell holder. Screw the quick trim die into the press till it touches the shell holder or more for handle position ease. Put the cutter in the top without the steel extension ring, run a case in and run the cutter with a drill or powered screw driver. Use the black plastic ring to change the amount of trim up to .010"
Hint of a factory crimp as a cherry? Thanks so much for sharing your empirical knowledge
on this process. I will apply the appropriate steps to my other caliber cases. People rag on Lee stuff 'cause it's not industrial machine shop redundant and priced accordingly. They miss the point. The engineering for the purposes intended is mostly brilliant. I've been loading pistol ammo on an old 1000 for at least 15 yrs, and it's now a bit of a rattle trap, but works just fine. Are loaders using magnum pistol powder at all for BO?
Sorry Thomas, I just saw this. Yes for supersonic people use large pistol/revolver powders. H110 is a favorite and the most productive I am aware of.
Question on that collet die. Would that allow you to use a thicker brass - say . 14 or . 15 at the neck and take it down to the .011 that you like?
Would save a lot of culling of the range brass that I normally pick up. Thanks
I havent checked for that but it may be able to do some of that. If your making your own the neck naturally has a taper to it because it is formed from the body of the case so it may have that capacity. It would also depend on how much pressure you can apply with your setup.
Question: Wouldn't sizing the case before the cut-off step eliminate the chamfer/deburr step? The 5.56 brass case shoulder is smooth and there would be no chips to contact of get stuck in the die. The trimmer will then chamfer and deburr. Am I full of it here?
Its a good observation, and you are not wrong, it would work that way. I cut, then size because I want the case laying flat on the side when the chop saw hits it, not teetering on the new, narrower neck. Also, you would have to go back and run it through a die with a sizing ball in it to set neck tension or like I am doing here by, using the lee collet die as a finishing step. To be clear, I am not worried about the brass chips from cutting doing damage to the die. Brass is soft and the dies are hard steal. Why I am removing the spurs left from cutting, is I do not want the excess material to influence the shaping of the neck when it goes through the die. This is an improvement I've added from my first video on this topic. As time goes by I have really come to appreciate the essential roll the brass plays in accuracy.
I'm fairly new to reloading myself, but at 13:35, couldn't you run them through your tumbler and have it clean off the lube as well? Seems like you're creating more work by cleaning them twice.
Also, Why not use a drill press for cutting/trimming your brass instead of making a drill press out of your reloading press?
Any feedback is appreciated.
You sure can run them through a tumbler to get the lube off, I was only doing a small batch for the video so I mostly just wanted to let everyone know that if you use the Lee quick trim die for this you need to clean the lube so the die can grip the case. As for the drill press. The die and quick trim cutter I am using is designed to be used in a press, not on a drill press. I was just showing an adaptive way I found to drive the cutter with a drill and be hands free.
Are you still using the Lee Turret press? What tricks have you learned to make the best reloads?
Do i still use the turret press? You BET! love that thing. If i could have just one press it would be the LCT. I enjoy reloading, so I enjoy using different presses just because. Sometimes I want to use my 1968 RCBS cause it's cool. My best tip is to make great rounds, you need great brass, whether you buy it or condition it via sorting, neck turning, annealing etc.. There isnt as much magic in the actual press as people think. And as far as the actual round you can measure the qualities dimensionaly right on the bench. is it concentric, is the shoulder in the same place round after round, overall length etc.
Thanks
Interested in the Lee Collet die, but doesn't the sizing die on my Lee Pro 1000 do the same thing during the sizing? Ima newbie just gettin into it...thanks!
Great video; learned a lot. Do you tumble after this step before priming and loading?
I like to form clean brass, so the brass is already pretty clean when Im doing this. Depending on how many Im making, if its just a few, I will just wipe them down. If its a bunch, then yes I may throw them back in a tumbler to get the grease off. If you wet tumble them with SS pins it will kinda blend down any sharp angles.
Thank you for the informative video. But unfortunately the design of the jig uses the body taper of the brass casing to locate the cut, so it would be pretty complicated to make that adjustable. Also deburring before final triming is a wasted step as the final triming process deburs it.
What about forming before you cut then you can clean the mouth and trim have you tryed to do it that way? Asking because i have been thinking about trying to make some that way
You can do that but I like the flat part of the 223 case wall to lay in the jig and be supported on both sides of the cut. Unless you use a mandrel or collet die later, you will still have to run it again with the expander ball in to set the neck tension. There is more than one way to do this for sure.
@@TreeTopFlier was asking because i have not made any yet but i have a need to start and your insight i think will be very helpful. Thank you sir.
I wish my trimmer would cut through the brass that fast. Im using mixed head stamps, military brass. Wonder if that has anything to do with it??
i doubt it has anything to do with brands. i find the trimmer to do best with a trim of no more than about .010 thousands it gets bogged down with much more.
So when you installed the die into the press did you just run it down as low as it goes? Do you raise the ram and run it down until it contacts the shell holder?
I am talking about the trim die.
Yes, it's just to the shell holder, you can adjust the die deeper to set the handle higher for comfort. The adjustment is on the cutter.
Great video 👍 . Where on line do you find your Lakecity brass? And how much do you pay per case? Thanks again!
Sorry I dont remember where it came from. I bought a bunch and stored it probably 5 years ago. The price lookes to be about the same $69 per 1k. I poked around and found these guys. www.armorally.com/shop/lake-city-556/
Seemed fair, also if you run across spent blanks those work also.
Can you link in the tools you used, trim length and finished trim length?
Think this is what you are looking for.
I trim to 1.360"
fsreloading.com/lee-precision-quick-trim-die-300-aac-blackout.html
www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/power-saws/cut-off-saws/2-in-mini-bench-top-cut-off-saw-62136.html
www.amazon.com/dp/B00H27XAAG?ref=vse_pfo_vwdp
leeprecision.com/deluxe-power-quick-trim.html
goodness.. thats a lot of work haha. i think id rather just buy brass
LOL...I know I'm late to the party, but I'll just pay the high price of ready to go ammo. I could only dream of having enough time to play like this.
do you anneal your brass too?
I usually dont but it would be a good idea. If I had a machine that controlled timing and heat that would be ideal. Annealing these small thin wall cases by hand can be hit or miss. Also, I try to make these videos for everyday reloaders who probably dont have big budgets or high end equipment. Thanks for watching.
@@TreeTopFlier I just asking because seem everyone anneals but I am like you, have no machine or the money to buy one. I did thought about trying the glow method with a torch and a socket but I haven't jump on it yet...
How did you get the Lee quick trim to get low enough to cut case short enough
the die is caliber specific. it is designed to stop the cutter at the exact spot for the length. The cutter has a fine tune ring that lets you adjust +- .005 thousands.
@@TreeTopFlier I could not get mine to trim low enough to reach max case lenth
@@renosmith9931 Strange? Did you remove the steel bushing? It comes with a knurled bushing installed. It's a spacer for larger cartridges. You have to remove it for small cartridges like blackout. Check your die instruction sheet it gives the specific setup of the cutter for each cartridge.
No sir I did not my dumb was watching another video an he said that it was Supposed to be removed like a dummy I did not read the instructions very good but thank you so much for your input and concern everybody has been awesome trying to help the old people through thanks again my man you have been for men you have been tremendous
Do u wet tumble the brass after it’s been formed?
I usually dont, but some people do. It does seem to smooth out any rough edges if you use pins.
Concentricity
Not sure if your commenting or questioning. Are they concentric? As much as any other round, however, if you really want a concentric brass add neck turning and fireforming, then they are spot on.
@@TreeTopFlier you mispronounced the word. I was correcting you, lol.
@@NOTSOSLIMJIM lol, I get a little tongue tied sometimes 🤣
@@TreeTopFlier lol, watch any of my videos. I fully understand.
So what is the final trim length for necking it down?
Not exactly sure what you're asking but Ill try.
When I chop the brass, I try to get 1.360" (the final target length). The brass I use has been fired and not resized yet. once the brass has been cut I run it through the resizing die to resize AND form the new neck. Since the brass has not been previously resized it will grow or get longer, usually out to 1.368" or so. This gives a little extra material to final trim and square the neck, back to 1.360" Note: If you are dealing with already sized brass 223 brass you will have to lengthen your initial cut by about .008" so you have some trim room. The spec for final trim length is 1.348" to 1.368".
Hope this helps
@@TreeTopFlier sure does! Thank you so much. I guess I could have just read the directions that came with the LEE QT die as well. Thanks again and thank you for the video!
My LEE trimmer attachment only spins the brass in the holder.
NOT ONCE HAS IT EVER SUCCESSFULLY TRIMMED A PIECE OF BRASS, EVER!
Something seems wrong with the setup. I would be happy to help see if I can help. What case are you trimming? The trimmer is universal for the different caliber specific die. Some dies require the bushing installed. Some do not. My first guess would be using it where the bushing is called for without it.
Would you wet tumble again??
If I wet tumble after resizing to get the grease off I wouldn't
Seems like all that time spent fine tuning bargain machines to make 300 blowout, one might as well get the Dillon press that has the cutter and die built in.
Sell me some brass please 🙏
Oh no, thats way too much work! I only do it for personal use. Pretty sure processors have 300 blk available though.
is there any way you could get closer to the camera with your hands - youre freaking me out
lol
I have two comments.
1: Please don't take this the wrong way, I mean it very respectfully. As a fellow do-it-yourself video maker (not as many as you, obviously) and as a teacher, your video was very long. You could have cut 20 minutes out of the video by not over-talking your points. You spent 10 minutes talking about the trimmer and messing with it before you even used it.
2: The RCBS case trimmer seems superior to me. It seems like it's much easier to set up, and it's much more simple to motorize. I'm wondering why you went to all this effort instead of just using the Trim-Pro.
One hundredth