Chamfering

[DartonJager]

When I first started reloading bottle necked rifle cartridges (30 years ago) I purchased a RCBS reloading kit that had a double ended champhering and de-burring tool which was designed to be used on any caliber up to .458".

I used it as per its instructions but still was shaving off shards of copper jacket when I seated my flat based bullets. Consulted my manuals but they weren't much help. Called Redding because I was using Redding dies. The tech a very friendly and polite guy told me I needed to get a VLD champher tool and to make myself a case mouth polishing tool using 0000 steel wool. He also suggested I switch to a boat tailed bullet but I said my gun shoots Nosler Partitions in to nice ragged holes and I just bought a considerable number of them all the same lot# so I would be understandably very unwilling to ****can 500 perfectly good bullets that shoot very well from my gun.

I ordered a VLD champher tool from IIRC Natchezz or Midsouth and took an old section of aluminum pistol cleaning rod shortened it so it would work in my Dewalt battery drill took a copper bore brush wrapped it in 0000 SW and bloused the steel wool so it would polish both the inside and outside of the case mouth. To check to see how well it worked I seated then pulled a few bullets on unprimed or charged cases and they looked essentially untouched. My copper jacket shaving issues were solved.

I still to this day do this as part of my reloading process for all my rifle cartridges from 223 to 450 Bushmaster.

 

[DartonJager]

Speaking of deburring/chamfering tools: I've been using the same one by RCBS for about 35 years, and have wondered if I should replace it with a new (sharper?) one. Any thoughts?

I do not know how many rifle rounds you reload each year but I reload for and shoot eight different calibers. Some like my 7mmSTW , 300wm, and 338wm post load development only about 20-25 rounds each a year my 300wsm about 50, others like my 35 Remington, 6.5x55 a lot more. My 308 Winchester more all others combined. I'm doing load development right now for my newest bolt rifle in 450 Bushmaster and already are at firing 124 reloads for it.

I've been using the same Lyman VLD tool for 30 years and best guess several thousand cases thus far as far as I can tell it's still working well. Please bare in mind the copper zinc alloy is pretty soft to begin with and the VLD tool is made from steel.

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

Speaking of deburring/chamfering tools: I've been using the same one by RCBS for about 35 years, and have wondered if I should replace it with a new (sharper?) one. Any thoughts?

I've been using mine for 50 years and it still seems the same as the day I bought it back in the early 70's...no use changing now..

 

[Heather]

I do not know how many rifle rounds you reload each year but I reload for and shoot eight different calibers. Some like my 7mmSTW , 300wm, and 338wm post load development only about 20-25 rounds each a year my 300wsm about 50, others like my 35 Remington, 6.5x55 a lot more. My 308 Winchester more all others combined. I'm doing load development right now for my newest bolt rifle in 450 Bushmaster and already are at firing 124 reloads for it.

I've been using the same Lyman VLD tool for 30 years and best guess several thousand cases thus far as far as I can tell it's still working well. Please bare in mind the copper zinc alloy is pretty soft to begin with and the VLD tool is made from steel.

What load ya got for the 338 wm? I'm interested in making one

 

[skipglo]

I trim to size first, then chamfer and debur every load! Everytime....

 

[VinceMule]

The chamfer is actually a bullet guide for starting the bullet into the case. So, I always put a heavy chamfer on the inside of the case mouth...heavy. Dry lube helps tremendously, and Imperial makes some of the finest.

Also, good idea to run the brass through a neck sizer to iron out the imperfections prior to chamfering. This also uniforms the neck grip on the bullet.

 

[WapitiBob]

The end of the case neck sits in space, touching nothing. The id/od chamfer is what determines the amount of case neck contact with the bullet and the chamber wall.

 

[misterc01]

I always Chamfer and Deburr my cases. Even the new ones

 

[Heather]

I never thought to chamfer and deburr every case, thought it might mess up their life time. Guess I was totally wrong!

I always Chamfer and Deburr my cases. Even the new ones

 

[Lenny Foffa]

Always chanfer and de burr lightly then clean the inside of the neck ! Every time ,every case ! I like the VLD Chamfer tool .

 

[Heather]

Always chanfer and de burr lightly then clean the inside of the neck ! Every time ,every case ! I like the VLD Chamfer tool .

Looking at getting one right now.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I always chamfer and debut every time I load. I bought this VLD chamfer tool hoping to use it in my Forster beburring tool base but the diameter is too large.

Nonetheless, this thing is so sharp even using by had is no issue.

McJ Tools Reloading VLD... Amazon product ASIN B07QHDJ2QB

 

[Texis]

I chanfer every brass prior to pushing in the pill. I use a Lyman hand ream, count the turns and attempt to use a consistent pressure. "If" I miss one (it happens) I can definitely feel the difference in seating... rough and much more pressure required. I sit those aside as barrel warmers.
I stopped deburring the OD a couple of years back. It didn't effect anything. Rifle chambers smoothly and shoots .300-.500.

 

[VenatusDominus]

I just got the Lyman 7777800 Case Prep Multi Tool. Works great!!!