Is anyone using a "trim die", i.e. a die for the press where you insert the case in the holder, raise it and file off the excessive case length. Read about it in the Hornady manual, seems much easier that the traditional way...

I've been using them (RCBS brand though) for 40+ years. Work just fine. Never had a problem with any of them.

Not only are they often less expensive than most firms' sizing dies or seating dies, but if you cut the body of the die off substantially, you can make a "shoulder die" out of one. That is you can use it to move the shoulder back on brass you may need to do that for.

Just adjusting how far the die is screwed into the press will allow you to put the shoulder wherever you want it.

I have quite a number of them that I use for forming cases. I then use a piece of hacksaw blade in a saber saw to cut off the excess case. I have never used a file with one since it sort of goes against my grain to run a good file against a piece of hardened steel.

I use a couple of trim dies. They're most handy when you need to shorten a case a lot like I do when making 357 Herrett cases out of 30/30 Winchester cases.

Running a file over one goes against my grain as well but I do it and haven't worn out a file yet.

They work great for making major changes to case size, like the Herrett conversion previously mentioned. Otherwise a bit slow for my liking.