Inexpensive and fast; case trimming Nirvana

Status
Not open for further replies.
berettaprofessor

berettaprofessor

Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
3,419
Location
Kansas
For those looking for fast case trimming at a bargain price, I recently discovered that Lee makes a 8/32 threaded cutter adapter for their manual case length gauges. And I read that the Hornady Case Prep Duo deburring and chamfering heads can be switched for any 8/32 threaded tool. So, I purchased the aforementioned during a Cabelas 10% off sale, getting the Case Prep Duo for $49.48, put the three together, and I've got a rechargeable use-anywhere power trimmer for around $66 (the Lee pieces are about $8 each). To switch out for another caliber, switching to another Lee case gauge at $8 is much cheaper than buying another World's Best Trimmer or other dedicated caliber trimmer.

Now, some of you will be thinking that I should have bought the Hornady Power Case Prep Trio ($112 @ 10% off) so that I could keep both the deburring and chamfer heads on as well as a trimmer gauge and you would be right....except that right now there is a Hornady promotion for a free box of 100 bullets to purchase the Case Prep Duo. So my $49.98 Case Prep Duo really cost about $15 after I receive the $34 value box of 150 grain bullets that I would have eventually purchased regardless. I couldn't turn it down.

Did I mention that all this was "free" since I used Cabelas credit card points (generated by the missus) for the whole purchase?:D

Lee bits.JPG Hornady Case Prep Duo.JPG
 
I'd rather have a root canal than crank my old Hornady lathe one more time.
Click to expand...

I have a Hornday lathe type and I don't know if it's that bad, but......close:)
My WFT made me smile for weeks!
Trimming .223 brass was no longer a pain in the brass.

Cool setup with the Lee bits and the Hornady, hope it works out well for you.
I always have to remember to take the most expensive free bullets not the ones I shoot the most.
 
Charlie98 said:
Interesting. I'd rather have a root canal than crank my old Hornady lathe one more time... and I like cheap.
Click to expand...
I picked up the drive attachment for the Hornady Cam-Lock Case Trimmer. Using my power screwdriver/wine bottle opener from Black & Decker cut trimming my .300 Blackout cases (formerly .223/5.56 cases) a snap. Then a quick touch with my Case Prep Trio (chamfer, de-burr, case neck brush) and I’m cranking out cases 5 times faster. Still...I’m always looking for a better solution. The new Lyman case trimmer looks interesting.
 
The cheapest way I have ever done it was taking a hunk of bar stock and drilling a hole the OD of the case head almost all the way through, then finishing it out with with one that’s the OD of the neck. Next I turned the head end so it was even with the case head and then turned the other so the OAL was my trim length.

At the time I didn’t have any other choice, just used what I had. Insert case and touch against a belt sander. Quicker than a number of methods and more accurate that others too.

EE8354F8-3F26-4881-886E-ADCDC9C12E59.jpeg

6022F560-9D8E-4167-8C7A-6317038F1923.jpeg
 
markr6754 said:
I picked up the drive attachment for the Hornady Cam-Lock Case Trimmer.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, mine is the old Hornady 'Pacific' trimmer... and Hornady doesn't support it anymore... so, no power attachment. Yes, I could probably make one, but it seems like there is a better solution.
 
jmorris said:
At the time I didn’t have any other choice, just used what I had. Insert case and touch against a belt sander. Quicker than a number of methods and more accurate that others too.
Click to expand...
Like the threaded trim dies, but they are not cheap, for the press where one uses a file.
 
Yes, that’s what made the idea pop into my head but I wanted something easier to make and faster to use.
 
Unfortunately, mine is the old Hornady 'Pacific' trimmer... and Hornady doesn't support it anymore... so, no power attachment.
Click to expand...

If the handle threads on all you need is an adapter from a gearmotor to the threads on the shaft.

I used an old power window motor for one of my Forster trimmers.

E9B9CEB3-2822-48D0-A1CC-A8F8973F5482.jpeg
 
The issue I have with those style Lee trimmers is the shell holder. Takes a long time, comes loose, something doesn't work & that's the hang up. For a handful of something it's fine, but for large batches....I'd never want to trim 1,000s & 1,000s with it.

But your setup is opposite mine - I spin the holder with a drill, hold the cutter stationary. With your tool, can you skip the shell holder and just press a quarter over the primer pocket or something to keep that out of the equation?
 
Easier to adjust, WFT has a ball bearing vs the case shoulder rubbing against the plastic(?) body of the tool.

Pony up for the WFT, or similar trimmer, and you'll like it better. Worth the extra cash? Only you can say, but you have to try one to see. :)
 
I tried one of those Lee adapters with a power trimmer but the thing tighted the case holder down so tight I had to struggle to get it loose. I have the Lyman Universal with the power adapter anyway.
 
But your setup is opposite mine - I spin the holder with a drill, hold the cutter stationary. With your tool, can you skip the shell holder and just press a quarter over the primer pocket or something to keep that out of the equation?
Click to expand...

I loktited the threaded part of the holder so the base stays put...and just slide shells in and out of the holder like we do with a press, keeping them from rotating with a finger. It doesn't take much pressure to hold it still while the cutter turns.
 
Pony up for the WFT, or similar trimmer, and you'll like it better. Worth the extra cash?
Click to expand...

If it helps I think my WFT was reloading $ very well spent. Trimming .223 brass is no longer a chore.
I chuck it up in my HF 1/2 Russian hammer drill turn hammer off and go to town.
I don't bother measuring any more to see if the cases need to be trimmed, faster just to run them through, if they need to be trimmed they trim, if not they don't.

After getting it I thought :cuss: I sure wish I would have spent the money and got it sooner.....
 
If it helps I think my WFT was reloading $ very well spent. Trimming .223 brass is no longer a chore.
Click to expand...

Well, truthfully, I have a Frankfort Arsenal 4-head trimmer dedicated for 223, which is pretty slick but it's a $160 piece of equipment. I just don't want to change the settings every time I want to trim a caliber I shoot less often. And I couldn't see buying one for each caliber, no matter how much I like it.:cool:
 
I have quite a collection of WFTs

Another thing to note about them. They locate off the shoulder so if you’re running a chamber that’s cut with a custom reamer (not to SAAMI spec) it might not work with a standard trimmer. All you have to do is send them 3 case and they will hone it out to match, and they do that for free
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Reeferman
  • Locked
Which case prep center?
2
Replies
38
Views
4K
GW Staar
GW Staar
7
  • Locked
Case prep tools
Replies
19
Views
3K
jim243
J
Smurdman
  • Locked
Trimming/Prepping .223
2
Replies
27
Views
2K
rdinga
R
T
  • Locked
Initial Case Prep and Trimming
Replies
2
Views
656
stans
S
GarySTL
  • Locked
Case Prep Center Recommendations
2 3
Replies
57
Views
4K
silicosys4
S
Back
Top