Trimming .223

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stiffdogg06

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I know .223 can be tedious. One thing I hate doing is trimming. I currently use the Lyman Case Trimmer. When I start prepping my .223, I will tumble all my brass one day, trim all of it another day, etc. So trimming 1k+ cases on the Lyman can be very tiresome.

My question is, does anyone trim ON the press with say a Dillion RT 1200 or possibly with the Lee Quick Trim Die? I'm a budget reloader so a $250 trimmer is normally out of the budget for me because I can just buy a new Lee Press :)


Thanks guys!
 
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I'm just signing in to see what people say, as I just went though trimming/deburring/chamfering about 600 of these cases... I have more to go.
 
I hate trimming with a passion, which is why I sprung for the Dillon RT1200 many, many years ago, and the dies to do .223, .308, .30-06 and .243. It seems .223 has to be trimmed every time it's loaded, which is why I only load it about every 5 years, and then I do a batch of about 5,000 rounds. I'm about due again, and I'm dreading it..........

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
I love my cts ( I think that's the name) I bought it off ebay for $42 works great about 5 seconds each case. I did 500 in one sitting no problem
 
For mass quantities of .223 I use a Lee trimmer spindle and cutter in a drill press.

Hand hold the case on the drill press table and it becomes the depth stop.

I can trim them as fast as I can pick them up and throw them down.

rc
 
I have the case holder from a lee trimmer in a drill on my desktop, put a case in, have the trimmer with guage in the other hand and just insert and spin the drill slowly. But it does wear on your hands pretty quickly
 
You're going to eventually learn to hate any trimming method that requires you to hold the case(keep it from spinning) in your hand.
 
I don't do mass trimmings.
I can't sit or stand that long.
Maybe 150-200 at a crack, but that's it.

I DID spring for an expensive trimmer - a Lyman Power Trimmer.
I love it & will cry when it breaks.

I've found that federal brass doesn't grow much - atleast not the 223 load I use.
So if I trim, it's every 5th reloading or so.
 
I'm good for an hour on my hand crank Lyman Universal. I can get in maybe 300, but I have no fun doing that though it isn't hard to do, just tedious. I have the power adapter coming as we speak, because I have around 4k of .223 that will need processing some day.
 
I do not have one but I was looking at the Worlds Finest Trimmer for the 223. It looks extremely fast. I currently use the Lee trimmers and I will say if very motivated I get between 7-10 per minute but it will work your hands. The knurled nut tends to make my fingers sore after a while.

www.littlecrowgunworks.com/wft.html
Heh, bout time someone mentioned that one. You can get it for 68ish some odd bucks from a variety of online sources. Size your brass, chuck the WFT in a drill, and trim the brass. It'll take a few seconds per piece. I personally use a Giraud for 223, but for 6.8 and .308 I use the WFT- very simple, effective, accurate, and quick.
 
I realize this suggestion does not fit your budget, but a few years ago, I bit the bullet and bought a Giraud because I shoot a few thousand rounds of .223 per year.

I no longer dread reloading rifle rounds because I can process about 500 cases per hour. The Giraud trims, deburs, and chamfers the neck all at once - just a few seconds per case. I stop at 500 cases per session, because my fingers begin to cramp up from such a repetitive task.
 
I use a Forster Original (you have to buy a Forster Classic or Adapter kit to resize long action cases).

http://www.forsterproducts.com/catalog.asp?prodid=700289

Currently at MidwayUSA, it is going for 96.99 for the kit (includes trimmer, pilots, and collets). Just the trimmer is 64.99 but you'll have to get the appropriate collets/pilots, so the kit is probably a better deal.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/614276/forster-original-case-trimmer-kit

You can also buy a power adapter for a drill, to turn the cutter, but honestly, it is so easy and fast using the hand crank, you probably won't need it. Then again, I've never trimmed more than about 100 at a time... I bought the adapter but have never used it.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/644779/forster-case-trimmer-power-adapter
 
If you are going to be doing any really large quantities of 223 or 308 brass you should consider the Giraud. It may be a little on the pricey side, but it is a quality machine which trims, deburrs, and chamfers all at once. I know I don't mind doing the trimming anymore. My last batch of 5k was done before you know it.
 
I have the Dillon RT 1200 for my XL650 press. While it does a great job of trimming without effort (I cycle the cases through the press after initial tumbling in a de-prime & trim cycle before secondary tumbling) it does not taper/chamfer the case neck. So if you a a finicky reloader you will still have to run the brass across a chamfering tool.

I'd give somebody a shiny new quarter if they came up with a tool head for the RT 1200 that trimmed AND chamfered!
 
I've been using the Lee trimmer for years and it works very fast when used with a drill. I just take my cordless and set it on the bench, it probably takes from 5 - 10 seconds to trim, ream, and chamfer each case. I don't know of any other method that could be any faster, or that would justify spending a bunch of money.

GS
 
I use the lee trimmer and cordless drill also but i also have to use a hand debur and chamfer tool. Since i only load 20-60 rounds of rifle ammo at a time, this works fine. I can't imagine doing 1000's of 223 at a time like that though, would take forever. If i were shooting 1000's, i would figure out how to justify the Giraud or something similar.
 
I'm lazy when it comes to .223 reloading. I don't trim any of them. So far, no issues. 6.8 SPC, .243, .30-06 I trim the first load out.
 
I keep seeing the WFT recommended over and over again. I finally went and found video of it's use. I already have a Hornady Cam Loc trimmer but even it gets tiring after a few hundred cases. The WFT definitely appears to be worth the money. .223 is probably the only caliber I'll get one for. For all of my other rifle calibers, I don't reload enough to justify a WFT for each caliber. Giraud trimmer is too pricey for me right now.
 
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