Recommendations needed: trimmer & neck prep

[arthury]

Hi guys,

I hand-load these calibers :

• pistols
  
  
  

  • 9mm
  • 45ACP
  • 357mag
  • 44mag
  • 500SW
• rifles
  
  
  

  • 223(5.56 NATO)
  • 308win(7.62x51 NATO)

What do you recommend for case-trimmers and neck prep devices?
Thanks!

 

[Shmackey]

I don't trim pistol brass (although that 500 might need it--no idea). For rifle brass, unless you need benchrest-level precision, it's very hard to go wrong with the Possum Hollow trimmers. They're inexpensive, they chuck up nice in a drill, and they index off the case shoulder. You can trim a case in about three seconds, including the motion it takes to toss it into a box. That's a whole lot better than the lathe-style trimmers.

For neck prep, it depends. If you just mean chamfering and deburring, any of the double-ended tools will do fine:



You can chuck them up in a drill with an adapter, and you're back into three-second territory.

If you mean turning necks to get even thickness, that's a whole different ballgame.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

i use possum hollow trimmers with an adapter chucked up in a drill press for my bulk trimming. they work great. the same adapter can be used for most of the double-ended chamfer/deburr tools, so you can do that a lot faster in the drill press as well.

when i want more precision, i use an L.E. Wilson trimmer.

what sort of neck prep are you talking about? neck turning?

edit: wow, get out of my head, shmackey!

 

[Shmackey]

 

[moxie]

Tritto on Possum Hollow and the little Wilson chamfer/deburr tool.

I do no prep for handgun cases, not needed, but also have no experience with the 500.

 

[X-Rap]

I use a Forester trimmer with a variable speed drill attached and hand chamfer tool like the one shown above.
Forester has pilots as well as case neck cutters that will remove excess brass in the neck. I haven't used neck turners but I'm sure there is some benefit to doing it but the accuracy requirement exceeds my needs.
I have had new pistol brass that was way out of spec regarding length so as to make consistent seating/crimping impossible so I would order pilots for your pistol diameters as well.

 

[303 hunter]

I use the Lee cutter & lock stud,and case length gauge. They can be used in a drill,or in a pinch,you can use them by hand.

 

[cfullgraf]

Trimming cases is about my least favorite reloading task.

As said, the handgun cases, except maybe the 500S&W will not need trimming.

i use the Lee system as well as a L.E.Wilson trimmer where the Lee case gauge is not available. Of late, I have been using the Wilson more and it is growing on me more.

The shell holder for the Lee trimmer system can be a pain, figuratively and literally. Some folks chuck the cutter up in their drill press and use the drill press table for the stop. I have not tried that yet.

i have a Possum Hollow and WFT trimmers for 223 Remington but really have not wrung them out much. Look promising but I have not been shooting much 223 Rem these days.

If you have deep pockets, go for a Gracey or Giraud.

 

[GLOOB]

Lee cutter with ball handle, Lee trim guide for the caliber, Zip Trim chuck and the separate Zip Trim chuck spindle accessory for chucking in a hand drill.

$2.00 Lee chamfer tool for chamfering outside the case neck. 2 revolutions with light pressure. (Don't use the Wilson/RCBS/Hornady outside chamfer tools with a power drill, unless at very low RPM!)

Wilson chamfer tool for chamfering the inside. 1/4 revolution with very light pressure. (If your drill is twitchy, just give it a quarter turn by hand).

Just set up the three cutting tools on your bench and work each case through all three in succession.