Lee case trimmer shell holder coming undone

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Lee case trimmer shell holder coming undone

Post by franc » 01 Dec 2014, 2:14 pm

Hi guys,

Need some help with trimming here.

I've picked up the Lee trimming system where you have the shell-holder goes in the chuck of a drill and you push the length gauge+cutting bit down the brass to trim.

Problem is the shell holder constantly comes undone so the brass doesn't rotate against the cutter.

Doing something wrong? Busted shell holder?

Thanks.
Remington 700. .308 Winchester.
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Re: Lee case trimmer shell holder coming undone

Post by sbd3927 » 02 Dec 2014, 12:10 am

Shell holder screws onto lockstud which has hex bit for holding in drill?
So the screwing in of the lockstud is what holds the shell? The pics on lee site aren't clear http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/CLG.pdf

Is the drill turning the right direction? :) Can you turn the case by hand once its locked up? Maybe you are trying to cut too fast and its grabbing the shell?
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Re: Lee case trimmer shell holder coming undone

Post by franc » 02 Dec 2014, 11:01 am

Yeah mate, the stud is in the drill with the screw down shell holder.

Shell goes in, screw down the holder, shell is held in place and you power the drill.

The drill is going the right way... It trims but the vibration I guess is making the holder come lose and unscrew up so it's not holding the shell and the holder spins below the shell while the cutting bit holds it in place.

Comes lose about every shell half way through.
Remington 700. .308 Winchester.
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Re: Lee case trimmer shell holder coming undone

Post by Lorgar » 02 Dec 2014, 11:03 am

Never had the shell holder come lose with mine.

.243, 7mm-08 and .308 being trimmed.

sbd3927 wrote:Maybe you are trying to cut too fast and its grabbing the shell?


No such thing in my experience.

Trimming all mine in a 24v cordless I just gun the drill to trim and the holder doesn't release. If anything it tightens when used.
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Re: Lee case trimmer shell holder coming undone

Post by sbd3927 » 02 Dec 2014, 11:11 am

Hmm. So maybe try slower for less vibration, and alternatively faster like Lorgar so it grabs hard? Must be a sweet spot somewhere. A rubber washer under the shell might work too, could later glue it to top of the screw if it worked.
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Re: Lee case trimmer shell holder coming undone

Post by Old Fart » 02 Dec 2014, 1:14 pm

You haven't got lube into the thread of the shell holder from the rest of your case prep have you?

Give the shell holder a clean and de-grease it.
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Re: Lee case trimmer shell holder coming undone

Post by nords » 02 Dec 2014, 1:14 pm

Maybe make it dirty so it sticks instead of cleaning it :lol:
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Re: Lee case trimmer shell holder coming undone

Post by Lorgar » 02 Dec 2014, 1:17 pm

Old Fart wrote:You haven't got lube into the thread of the shell holder from the rest of your case prep have you?


We might have it here.

I just spoke with a mate who has the lee for his .308 and .300WM.

I size and tumble my brass before trimming and it works for me.

He was sizing his cases and trimming them before tumbling and was having the shell holder come loose too. When he switch to tumbling before trimming which takes off the lube it fixed the problem for him.

Try that?
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