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

I bought a Trim Doctor years ago. I wonder where in my gun room it is? This could take a while!

i just trimmed some alcan 10 ga paper hulls on the hull trimmer the guys showed how to make a while back..it really done a good job on the paper shells you would not have known them from factory 2 7/8 length even though they came from 3 1/2 inch... made some 000 buckshot loads outa them... charlie

Trimming paper hulls
 

Attached are photos of the Accurate Hull Trimmer I hand make to order. Available in 2 1/2", 2 9/16" or 2 5/8" for 12 or 16 gauge. The AHT allows you to trim every hull exactly like the one before it (using a box cutter) because the measurement is taken from the bottom of the hull, not the basewad. Hull trimming accuracy suffers using a mandrel as the measure for cutting. When the mandrel is inserted into the hull the trim quality is subject to the difference in basewad depth in the hull which changes over time and firings. The AHT is always from the base of the hull to the point of trim.

You'll need to full length size your hulls if once or more fired as the AHT is made to new shell specs. It comes either 12 or 16 gauge in your choice of size for $8 including mailing. PM me if interested.

As Angel Cruz PM'd me after he got his 16 gauge AHT, "What a neat gizmo. I'll be able to use this for the rest of my life!"

xxx