trimming paper shells
 

i have received a bunch of 12ga federal papers i need to trim to 2 1/2 inch

what do you guys use to trim the paper hull, will the utility knife in dowel do a neat job or do i need to make a proper cutter?

Rick, I don't reload but I know a few guys use just that an xacto (spelling?) blade and a dowel to cut down the hulls. I think Asphalt Dave did a post on that a few years ago, might want to try a search.

Thanks I have them set up for 10 gauge plastic hulls

Just wondered if they worked on paper - of course there is one way to find out

I have put a screw in the end of my homeade trimmer so that I may make length adjustments as needed for different length shells.

did it cut the paper shells ok..i ve never tried cutting a paper shell on my cutter i too have the set srey for varios lenths but only use the 2 7/8 cut on the 10 ga hulls rite now... charlie

I made a jig for short 10 , 12 , 16 and 20 gauge shells . And cut them all paper or plastic on a bandsaw .

I use a single edge straight razor in a dowel for paper - never tried the band saw for paper, just plastic. You can buy a box of 50 razors pretty cheap at the home improvement stores. Painters use them quite often.

thanks Paul

I had tried the utility blade set up that I use for plastic and that just shredded the mouth of a paper shell.

I just tried a single edge razor blade and got neatly trimmed hulls

I believe because they're thinner - easier to get a " razor sharp " edge.

I use a thing called the trim doctor works on all ga. shells