Yet another way to make 300-221 fireball brass

[people]

daveinsvaz How many reloads do you get from blank cassings? Have you ever tried any 220gr?

[Garrett]

Be careful using this method. I just chucked up my hand drill on my RCBS Trim Pro and started making brass chips. About 50 pieces in, the thing bound up and stopped.

I looked everything over, and I had some pretty big gouges in the shaft of the trimmer, and it was really hard to turn.

I was able to clean up the gouges with some fine sandpaper and everything is fine now, but it has me wondering. RCBS sells a motor for this specific trimmer, and they also sell a hand drill adapter. However, I don't think removing 3/8" from the case was what they had in mind.

I think I might go back to cutting the cases and just trimming the last little bit.

[kdiver58]

I would recommend that any one doing this with the trimmer add a little extra synthetic lube to the bushing. It's not just the speed it's the extra time per hour that the cutter is cutting. Normally you would only be trimming for a few seconds every minute.

I'm lucky I have a lathe with a collet and a collet stop :)

On the brass question ... I'm up to 3 reloads on one set of Remington UMC .223 brass I cut down.

Happy 4th all

[daveinsvaz]

To 'PEOPLE':
Haven't reloaded the modified blanks but twice and no problems, so far. Made up about 300 cases and am happy with the result.

[people]

daveinsvaz Thank you I have about a little less than 1000 of them. I would rather use them for cassings than using regular 223 cassings.

[320pf]

Originally Posted by 320pf

In an earlier post someone came up with a way to make 300-221 fireball brass using a small tube cutter to cut 223 brass near the shoulder. The next step involved running the brass into the sizing die and then trim to length.

Well I tried this method and it was way too slow. But it led to another method to form brass that is pretty quick.

First, with the .223 collet installed, trim .223 brass past the shoulder to a length of 1.365". I use a Foster trimmer with an attachment for a drill.



The brass at this point will look like a long version of a rimless 357 mag.



Run this brass into the sizer-deprimer die and you have a 300-221 fireball case.



I can make about 100 cases in little over an hour.


320pf

Since this post, I have updated the method. I now use a Forster power trimmer.

Here is the starting 5.56/223 brass mounted in the Forster power trimmer.



Here is the "trimmed" intermediate-step brass.


Run this brass into the sizer-deprimer die and you have a 300-221 fireball case.



I made these cases over a Saturday afternoon.



I hope that this helps those who are looking for ways to make 300-221 Fireball brass


320pf

[Colohunter]

So that just attaches to a drill press? Do you have a problem with the cutting blades bouncing off of the case mouth? I tried doing that with a lee cutter, though I don't have the base, so I was holding the case with my fingers. It takes me way to long to make the brass using the Redding trim die, I would love a way to make it faster.

[320pf]

Originally Posted by Colohunter

So that just attaches to a drill press? Do you have a problem with the cutting blades bouncing off of the case mouth? I tried doing that with a lee cutter, though I don't have the base, so I was holding the case with my fingers. It takes me way to long to make the brass using the Redding trim die, I would love a way to make it faster.

If I do not use the 22 pilot to start the cut it does chatter sometimes. If you want to make a S--t load of brass in short order and do not have access to a Dillion power trimmer or Dillion 650/Super 1050, this is a low budget way to go. I got the Forster power trimmer from MidWayUSA

320pf

[Colohunter]

Okay, that makes sense to use the pilot, but you don't have to switch pilots once the hole opens up past the size of the 22 pilot? I may have to check that out.

[JFettig]

Colohunter, you will not be able to hold that case in your fingers tight enough to trim the brass. You need something MUCH more rigid.

Jon