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hakeswill wrote: I have been told that I wont ever need to trim the cases reloading pistol cartridges is this correct? I dont need to buy a case trimmer or deburring tool?

Pistol cases tend not to lengthen, but that can depend on the crimp applied and the velocity they are shot at. In my pistol days I found that automatic rounds tend to shorten rather than lengthen but revolver rounds did lengthen a bit, never so much that they went over the maximum length. How ever the cases did need trimming to keep them all the same length and keep the case mouths square, this is important for even boolit retention. Same case length is also critical in revolver, or rifle, rounds that use a roll crimp, if the cases are different lengths then the roll crimp will not be consistent and you could get bulging.

I always trim my brass when I first get it to ensure consistent length and evenness, then monitor case condition from there on. The Lee trimmer is cheap and effective even although it will only trim to a fixed length.

hakeswill wrote:What is the thickness of the stock extension you have on your gun Simon? Is it 6mm?

I have been told that I wont ever need to trim the cases reloading pistol cartridges is this correct? I dont need to buy a case trimmer or deburring tool?

I aslo forgot to ask how is the balance of the gun with the bar? Would a counterweight not improve it on the end of the rod?

4mm. Balance of the gun? It's never going to be a proper pistol, but by buggery it's far, far better than before "the chop"! Yes it is a little muzzle heavy, but that just aids the hold and aim IMO. I trimmed my cases when I got them so they were uniform for the crimp. Probably have close to ten reloads on some of them and very few have needed trimming again...

The cases I have are once fired and have been resized but they are 1.27" but my book says they should be 1.285"mm so I wouldnt like to trim them shorter, plus I dont think the lee trimmer would take anything off. They do seem uniform at that length, the guy I got them from said he hadnt trimmed them just fired cleaned and resized so that is the original length.

I would measure your cases to ensure they are all the same length, if not they will need trimming to get an even crimp that doesn't damage the boolits. You can get the Lee to trim the case a bit shorter by putting a washer between the shell holder and the lock stud.

Could I match up all the cases that are the same length and crimp all those and then adjust the die for the others?

The difference between them is only about 0.002" is that enough to matter?

Yes if you get case lengths similar enough to make meaningful batches.

And the case mouths are square.