doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Has anyone cut 2 3/4 shells to 2 1/2?

If yes, how d'you do it?

I owe a box of shells (and a couple of favors) to a person who's got a 2 1/2 gun but hasn't yet shot it for lack of shells. I thought it would be a nice touch to load some 2 1/2s for him, but cutting the shells with scissors doesn't seem to work very welll - it's kind of messy and they don't come out quite even. Are there any better options?

Shell trimming is very easy to do. Some use an exacto knife and a dowell with a mark that is 2 1/2" above the hull base when inserted inot the hull. Cut to the mark as you turn the shell around the dowell. Works well for just a few hulls.

I have a home made rig that trims shell as fast as you turn them. Easy to do a case in an hour.

Another trick is to put a cutoff blade/disc from a dremel tool in a drill press. Set the table 2 1/2" from the edge of the disc and rotate the hull as the disc trims the end.



All systems cost less than $10.00 to make or use. just pick the right one and go to work. By the way Federal Papers trim very well and look perfect in any double. Old style AAs can be used and this is a good way to get rid of some with cracked mouths. They often trim back to perfect hulls.

According to Moats in Shot Talk 'Loading the Short Shells' (Shooting Sportsman Magazine Sept/Oct 2003) you can buy 'Trim Doctor' for about $30 from http://www.ballisticproducts.com/ or take a 5/8" dowel, make couple small holes a bit more than 2,5 inch from the end, and with a hammer drive an X-Acto blade through at slight angle.

The exacto blade through a dowel works fine for me. If you need a diagram to figure this out send me a PM.

find the right pipe for your shell,cut it off to the length needed [minus the rim thickness],file square or to size,stick shell in-use exacto knife.

The Oct/Nov Shooting Sportsman magazine has some articles on production loads of that length in 10 and 12 gauge if I recall. I got some brass hulls from Midway and can turn those on a lathe for shorter 16 gauge chambers 0n at least one gun I have.

A bandsaw would be a fast way if you have one. Just lay a shim on the table so they are not cut at an angle.

If you have access to a lathe get yourself a piece of brass bar stock turn it dodn so as it will fit into shell and go all the way to the bottom mark what is sticking out ans turn that to make a step down that goes 1/4 inch below the top of the hull, then you can gety avery sharp knife cut down to the ledge and then spin off the 1/4 inch and presto you have hulls that will load to 2 1/2 inch

Hotrack

Here is a simple hull cutter you can amke in a few minutes. I have a Trim Doctor from BP and it is no faster.

Trim doctor is awkward to use. Shells don't rotate easily on mandrel and you don't always get a square mouth.