World's finest trimmer set-up hints?

[DocV]

Fedex just dropped off a WFT for .223 cases and a set of reloading dies!
Are there any tricks to setting the trimmer? It just looks too easy!

[DocV]

Setup turned out to be a hair on the 'not-so' side of easy. The WFT trimmer instructions said to either measure the trimmer and use that measurement to make the adjustment ( huh?) or to use a reference case. I tried both methods. I think.

Truthfully, the trimmer measurement and I just didn't get along. I am to blame for that without doubt.
Color me

The reference case approach turned out to work but was an adventure - meaning things went wrong quickly. My first guess for a reference case was to locate a case at the .223 trim length. A bit of digging turned up some cases measuring 1.750. I selected one of these as a victim.

I placed my victim case into the WFT and brought the cutter face into contact with the case. My guess was this approach would set trimmer too deep. I was not disappointed. The result was a case measuring 1.748. Being of a retentive nature I was not satisfied.

I searched my brass for a case measuring 1.752 to no avail. I decided to use a longer case. I found one case measuring 1.762. Set the cutter so that it touched the case mouth and trimmed the case. The result was a case measuring about 1.758. I then stepped the case down until I achieved a 1.7505 measurement - close enough for government work.

[Jumping Frog]

Does the WFT reference off the case shoulder or the OAL?

[DocV]

Does the WFT reference off the case shoulder or the OAL?

Off the shoulder.

[Jumping Frog]

Does the WFT reference off the case shoulder or the OAL?

Off the shoulder.

So you need to full length size the cases first, then trim to length, right? That will be the only way to set the shoulder at a known length from the case rim.

[LTUME1978]

That is correct. I full length resize for my 5.56 every time but neck size only for my 6.5 as that ammo goes in a bolt gun. The trimmer won't accept a case that has been neck sized only. FWIW, the case for the 6.5 did not need trimming but I wanted to try the trimmer on that brass. I was finally able to get some new brass recently. The sized case goes in the 6.5 trimmer just fine.

[DocV]

Right. I ran the brass through a full sized die before trimming. Used a light smear of Imperial wax on my fingers before sizing. All of my Federal brass was already below the trim to length. My Lake City 5.56 brass all needed trimming. I chamfered and deburred even though the brass looked fine without that step. I tumble before sizing and after trimming.