Can you recommend a trimmer?
- Thread starter mshiermd
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mainebear
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About three months ago I got a Forster original trimmer. What a neat precision made little tool. The craftsmanship on this thing is really good. Works like a charm too. You can also get it with the drill adapter to speed things up a lot.
I know a lot of guys who load a lot (you said a couple of thousand casings) use the $200 & up power trimmers which work really fast, but then how often do you have to trim? how much time to you want to devote to this? How tight is the budget?
Anyway, the Forster is certainly worth a look before you buy.
I know a lot of guys who load a lot (you said a couple of thousand casings) use the $200 & up power trimmers which work really fast, but then how often do you have to trim? how much time to you want to devote to this? How tight is the budget?
Anyway, the Forster is certainly worth a look before you buy.
ranger335v
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A Wilson is the most precise of the practical priced trimmers. It is a bit slow.
I prefer the Lyman "Universal" trimmer. It's almost as precise as the above and significanty faster to change cases. That will be important with the volume you mention. Lyman does have a power driven unit but I prefer the original "Universal" with the power screw-driver operated shaft.
Lyman also has a carbide cutter head that may be helpful with the number of cases you plan to trim.
I prefer the Lyman "Universal" trimmer. It's almost as precise as the above and significanty faster to change cases. That will be important with the volume you mention. Lyman does have a power driven unit but I prefer the original "Universal" with the power screw-driver operated shaft.
Lyman also has a carbide cutter head that may be helpful with the number of cases you plan to trim.
trueblue1776
Member
Lee has a great system, chuck it in a drill, load a case and spin until it bottoms out on your length gauge. All said, runs about $6 in parts plus $3 per caliber you trim.
Bad Flynch
Member
Well, lets see what you really need. BTW, I own 2 Forsters and the Sinclair modified Wilson. I have owned others, including file-type trim dies, so here goes.
Both the Wilson and the Forster will trim all of your cases inside of 0.001". The Wilson is uncommonly slow and better suited to small volume operations like, say, benchrest shooters need. The Forster is a tad faster and is probably better for average needs in that respect.
If you are trimming .223 cases for a case-shucker like the AR-15, then what you need is passably good results and in a hurry, especially if you intend on sitting there until all 2M are done. Get the Lee for this job.
If you are really flush, then get a Gracey powered trimmer; it is really cool and trims cases in a big hurry. I think that Dillon also has some powered arrangements.
No, get the Lee this time around. Minimum investment and you can throw it away if you don't like it and get something else.
File-type trim dies are slower than molasses in January and not that good.
Some of the other brands of end-mill type machines are prone to much length variation.
On last thought, get the Lee for starters.
Both the Wilson and the Forster will trim all of your cases inside of 0.001". The Wilson is uncommonly slow and better suited to small volume operations like, say, benchrest shooters need. The Forster is a tad faster and is probably better for average needs in that respect.
If you are trimming .223 cases for a case-shucker like the AR-15, then what you need is passably good results and in a hurry, especially if you intend on sitting there until all 2M are done. Get the Lee for this job.
If you are really flush, then get a Gracey powered trimmer; it is really cool and trims cases in a big hurry. I think that Dillon also has some powered arrangements.
No, get the Lee this time around. Minimum investment and you can throw it away if you don't like it and get something else.
File-type trim dies are slower than molasses in January and not that good.
Some of the other brands of end-mill type machines are prone to much length variation.
On last thought, get the Lee for starters.
Chris Rhines
Member
I've used the trimmers from Lee (worthless, broke after around 1000 cases), Forster (very accurate but kind of slow), and now I use a Giraud. The Giraud is very expensive, but very accurate and extremely fast. It was well worth the money.
- Chris
- Chris
trueblue1776
Member
$6.00/1000 cases = $0.006 per case
Sounds like a good deal to me.
Picknlittle
Member
I use the little Lee zip drive with Lee trimmers. It's fast, simple, requires no electricity and can be mounted for easy portability. Cheap, fast, efficient.
This is no bull....but search for possum hollow case trimmer .
To trim that many cases on the cheap AND reliable....that is what you need.
http://www.possumhollowproducts.com/kwick-case-trimmers.html
I purchase the trimmer and the power adapter here:
http://www.kinneman.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=404
To trim that many cases on the cheap AND reliable....that is what you need.
http://www.possumhollowproducts.com/kwick-case-trimmers.html
I purchase the trimmer and the power adapter here:
http://www.kinneman.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=404
Bowfishrp
Member
I have only been doing this for several months but I can vouch for the little Lee trimmer. Yeah it is not motorized and yes you have to have a sizer for each cal but it works fine and the price was right. Once you get going it is pretty quick. I have trimmed about 700 rounds of 308 and 223 so far and it gets easier with repetition...like anything else.
Robert
Robert
Roger the Shrubber
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- Oct 9, 2007
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I bought the Forster trimmer some months ago, did not like it and sent it back. Since then, a friend gave me a nearly identical, old RCBS trimmer which I now use all the time. So, if I knew then what I know now, I'd have kept the Forster unit. Really well made.
SOUTHERNHUNTER
Member
I really like my RCBS Trim Pro.It is very accurate.
you guys are too much!
been out of the loop, reloading, etc. for many years now...just restarting and these threads are great.
Although some of you banter back and forth about pro's and con's, nearly every bit of your advice is so helpful to me.....I never did trim.....
I'll go with possum hollow and possibly a turn trimmer like the Forster or C&H (always liked their stuff)....but start simple: Possum Hollow...
I can't thank you enough for all your advice and opinions....I've relearned in a month or two most of what I had forgotten....
been out of the loop, reloading, etc. for many years now...just restarting and these threads are great.
Although some of you banter back and forth about pro's and con's, nearly every bit of your advice is so helpful to me.....I never did trim.....
I'll go with possum hollow and possibly a turn trimmer like the Forster or C&H (always liked their stuff)....but start simple: Possum Hollow...
I can't thank you enough for all your advice and opinions....I've relearned in a month or two most of what I had forgotten....
BigJakeJ1s
Member
If you have a drill press, you can chuck the Lee cutter in the press, and position the gauge tip over a solid part of the table (not a hole!). Then just use a pair of leather gloves to hold onto the brass against the table, and trim away.
Andy
Andy
I use and recommend the Hornady Cam-Lock Trimmer.
I got mine from Midway for $62.00.
It is very well made (heavy duty) and does not flex or twist when using. Best of all, it trims each case to the exact length after you get it set up properly.
Once the case is locked into the shell holder, the case does not move or spin. The cutting head places a nice, even cut.
The case trimming operation can easily be accomplished with one hand when using the Hornady Cam-Lock Trimmer.
Skunk
I got mine from Midway for $62.00.
It is very well made (heavy duty) and does not flex or twist when using. Best of all, it trims each case to the exact length after you get it set up properly.
Once the case is locked into the shell holder, the case does not move or spin. The cutting head places a nice, even cut.
The case trimming operation can easily be accomplished with one hand when using the Hornady Cam-Lock Trimmer.
Skunk
Lone_Gunman
Member
The Giraud is expensive, but it the best BY FAR if you are bulk reloading cartridges like 223 and 308. Not only does it trim, but it also chamfers and deburs, so you dont have to do it as a seperate step. Once you get a Giraud, there is no going back.
judaspriest
Member
+1 for Lee - can't beat the price (as often is the case with their products). Bought 3-4 on various sales, still on my first one...
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