Thread: Ok you clever buggers...

What about modifying your case length trimmer and do them when loaded.
Put a short drill bit where the mandrel would go.
I'm thinking of my Redding one

Originally Posted by widerange

What about modifying your case length trimmer and do them when loaded.
Put a short drill bit where the mandrel would go.
I'm thinking of my Redding one

Yes I have a Lyman universal and spent 30 minutes ruminating with it in front of me. The size of the drill bit would require either a chuck to replace the cutter head on the shaft or a stepped drill shank. Then there would need to be a sleeve outside the drill bit at the correct diameter to slip over the bullet onto the brass in order to stabilize the cartridge and hold it centered. The case chuck does not have sufficient locking strength to hold a loaded cartridge centered on its own.

Actually a clever feller would make a chuck to fit these little hand lathes and make them a very useful multi-purpose tool. Hint hint you fellers...

The Lee system has more potential because the brass chuck will lock a cartridge tight. Then a bit of tube to fit over the cartridge with the drill bit centered at the correct drilling depth. Wrap the tube with some tape to give finger purchase on the blunt end.

The cartridge would spin held in the shell holder on drill attachment with drill held in vice. As you would for case length gauging, chamfering, etc. Left hand operates drill with cartridge chucked up, right hand holds drill bit assembly and slides on to the cartridge until drill bit hits projectile nose and completes cut to required pre-set depth.

Possibilities there with precision by touch and feel. Getting the drill bit centered in the tube and set to correct depth would be my challenge.