Is case trimming necessary for every single load?

[timcar86]

I started reloading .308 and I trim every case. I want to cast and reload for my 9mm but I have a huge bucket of about 2500 9mm cases staring at me and the thought of trimming all of those cases terrifies me.

[Guest Grout]

Generally speaking handgun brass does not need to be trimmed.Not sure about the bottleneck rds but I have never trimmed 38,357,44mag or 45acp

[gregintenn]

I don't trim 9mm. I do trim most every bottleneck case I load.

 

Straightwalled pistol cases don't tend to stretch much like high powered, bottleneck rifle cases do.

Edited March 3, 2013 by gregintenn

[Guest jkb4c]

I don't think many people trim pistol brass. It tends to either not grow like rifle brass does, or I have heard some people say that it actually gets a little shorter. I load .45ACP and have never trimmed a case in several thousand hand-loads with no issues; I'm sure someone will chime in about 9x19 specifically. 

[timcar86]

*wipes sweat off of brow in relief* 

[frankmako]

no case trimming necessary for 9mm.  i have never trimed any 9mm case in my life. i have loaded thousands and shot thousands of un-trimed 9mm.  now, i have trimed many rifle cases.  but no pistol cases in my many years of reloading.  i have also found out the hard way that you don't have to trim the rifle cases much.  when i was shooting long range high porwer rifle matches in the early 80's i was a trimming fool on my 7mm-308, 308 and 30-06 brass.  trimed every week before reloading for the next match.  but it took to long, so i back off trimming and nothing changed.  shot the same no matter trimed or not trimmed.  about every 10 times used i would check the case and trimed if it was needed.  but now for the 9mm you do not have to trim. 

[R1100R]

I have shot a bnuch of 30'06/.308 and trimmed every so often.

Edited March 3, 2013 by R1100R

[DWARREN123]

If the 9mm is to be used for target shooting where every little bit of accuracy is needed then trim all to the same length, the one that works best in your firearm.

If for range or other uses then I would not bother to trim the cases.

[jeff43]

On my rifle rounds ,223,243,30-06,etc.When I resize them and check a few and see if the bolt will close on them.Even if one measures over what the book shows ,they will chamber fine.If you shooting in a match where they measured the groups with a caliper it might make a difference.
Jeff