In loading for a big bore revolver does it make sense to trim before resizing or after? What makes for a more uniform finished round or does it not matter?
Thanks

I usually trim and deburr beforehand.

When you size a straightwall case it will grow slightly in length. I trim once after the first FL sizing, if necessary, and seldom have to after that.

Agree...have had good results with checking the straight walled cases after resizing. Usually no trimming is necessary and if maintained in lots they tend to stay of uniform length which is needed for consistent bullet seating/crimp.

X2

You have to re-size first..then trim.

Case length in a big bore revolver is all about the crimp. When you are loading, make sure to seat the bullet in a separate operation,. Then come back and crimp.

This is pretty easy to do with a .125"x 1" washer. The washer is placed under the big jam ring on your die while you are seating to prevent the crimp(er) from contacting the case mouth.

After all bullets are seated, remove the washer and back your seating stem out a little ways and crimp...this way you never have to reset your crimp and your seating stem can be easily (re)set by just running the stem down onto a loaded or dummy round.

The washer that I use was actually an RCBS accessory that came with a 38spl/357 die years ago.


Because I hate trimming! This is what I do;
While you are crimping pay close attention to the "Feel" of each crimp...it is pretty obvious to the feel if you get a long or short case in the mix. I set those aside and mark them with a Sharpie and shoot them for practice and "fix" them the next time around.

cool thats what i was thinking as its that way with rifles but wanted to be sure it held for handguns.