Got a new toy today

[grubbylabs]

Thanks to the thread about how painful it is to trim countless 223 cases I came across the link posted on the little crow gun works trimmer. Yes it is spendy and I would not recommend this for every caliber one shoots, I am certainly not going to buy one for my 300 win. I just don't shoot it enough to justify the expense.

But if you find yourself with a large number of rifle brass to trim, this thing is awesome. It is easy to set up easy to use, and very very fast. It does make quite the mess, but well worth it in my opinion.

I used a case I had already trimmed to set up the depth and one miner adjustment later I was trimming brass so fast I could not believe it. Great product but expensive.

 

[mljdeckard]

Looks good, but, would a Lee case trimmer cost a whole lot less?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/107333/lee-case-length-gage-and-shellholder-223-remington

combined with:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/136199/lee-case-trimmer-cutter-with-ball-grip?cm_vc=sugv1107333

or:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/476992/lee-case-trimmer-cutter-and-lock-stud?cm_vc=sugv1107333

?

 

[jim243]

While I agree the little crow is an outstanding case trimmer, it is just out of my reach price wise.

However, Lee has just come out with a new case trimmer that has worked wonders (it still requires more work than the crow) at a price that is affordable. I recently acquired one and the 223 die it uses.

Jim

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/717013/lee-deluxe-quick-trim-case-trimmer

 

[grubbylabs]

Maybe I missed something in the add for those Lee products, but I did not see the part where you attached it to a drill or other motor that causes the trimmer to trim the case in just a few seconds, without me spinning it.

Sorry but I already have a manual case trimmer, Its a great one made by Hornady. I just don't like trimming a couple hundred cases by hand like that. Hence the trimmer that is powered by something other than me.

And Yes it does cost more than a Lee product, but unlike many of the Lee products I have owned, it is likely a life time product. I believe the the saying that you get what you pay for.

 

[357Shooter]

I just a the Little Crow WFT 223 a few weeks ago, I trimmed over 3000 cases in a several sittings, I think my average (only a guestimate) was around 650 per hour. It's a great product for bulk jobs, more accurate than anything I've used, and pretty effortless. I also have a Hornady with power adapter, not even close!

 

[mljdeckard]

(Yes, the third link I posted can be used with a drill.)

 

[jstein650]

So it eliminates the need to secure the brass rim in the little holder like the basic Lee does? (where the mandrel on the cutter stops up against the shell holder)
Does it leave much of a burr? I've also read that those that neck size only have had trouble with it; true?

 

[grubbylabs]

I did not find very many cases that needed deburing, but there is going to be some of that. I don't know about the sizing difference as I FL size all my brass.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

looks like a good solution, likely quicker than standard trimmers.


It makes for a better read if you read the product description as "***" instead of "WFT"...... That's what I read at a glance...

 

[Shmackey]

It seems like a more expensive version of my Possum Hollow trimmers--probably a little more refined, with nicer materials, but not any faster or more precise.

 

[Walkalong]

The WFT differs from the PH trimmer in that the part that the shoulder stops against does not rotate and scrub against the shoulder, as it is the inner race of a ball bearing. This helps hold down heat buildup. It cuts a little better and the case mouths barely need any work. I still lightly deburr and chamfer because I am OCD about it.

I have both PH and WFT trimmers and use them all. The WFT is nicer, but pricier. When doing 1000 cases, I am not going to use anything slower.

 

[grubbylabs]

I have never used the Possum Hollow one let a lone seen it but this one is pretty quick of the over 100 cases that I trimmed last night they were all right were I set them to be trimmed at and only 2-3 of the first few I did were not square.

 

[Walkalong]

I did 500 .223 cases last week with a PH. It didn't take long at all, but I need to wear a glove on my right hand to keep from getting a blister holding the case from rotating while trimming when doing that many all at the same time. That slows things up a little. The WFT doesn't try to rotate the cases as much as the PH does due to the bearing design. You don't have the drag on the shoulder and case body. I really like them.

 

[Shmackey]

Ah I get it now. Guess I'll look at this kind for a new rifle caliber, but no reason to toss my PH trimmers for calibers I already have.

 

[GLOOB]

I did not find very many cases that needed deburing, but there is going to be some of that.

the case mouths barely need any work. I still lightly deburr and chamfer because I am OCD about it.

So, in other words, yes? You still need to chamfer? No matter how little or how few, it is just as easy to chamfer them as to inspect and admire each case... then chamfer some of them... just a little... That would be like measuring each case to see which 25% need a 2 second trim with your WFT. Of course you don't do that. You just trim them all, right?

 

[Walkalong]

What's the point?

Plenty of people don't deburr or chamfer at all, which is my point.

While I don't agree with not deburring and chamfering after trimming with whatever trimmer you choose, the WFT is going to cut clean enough for a lot of people.

It won't cut clean enough for the pickier of us out there. I am going to take the time to do it, under power (Slooow speed), as it does not take long at all.

So, in other words, yes? You still need to chamfer?

I depends on how picky one is, which is my point.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Thanks for the heads up. I ordered one for myself today to try on my Service Rifle brass.


Will let everyone know how I like using it.

 

[stavman11]

Looks good, but, would a Lee case trimmer cost a whole lot less?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/107333/lee-case-length-gage-and-shellholder-223-remington

combined with:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/136199/lee-case-trimmer-cutter-with-ball-grip?cm_vc=sugv1107333

or:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/476992/lee-case-trimmer-cutter-and-lock-stud?cm_vc=sugv1107333

?

I have all of those.... Chuck it in My Drill... and about 1 outa 12 POP out of the case holder and i STAB myself....LOL
Plus it takes a lot more effort to Set the case holder on the Case... HOPE it is secure..... and Trimm case..... it does work well for my .357 since i dont need to trim NEARLY as many as my .223


The WFT is the BOMB... besides the motorized ones that re over $300.... I love it....

Funny I was just inside chamfering a couple hundred rounds I did the other Day on my WFT..... LOTS faster and easier and SAFER for Me....

My $.02

 

[grubbylabs]

That would be like measuring each case to see which 25% need a 2 second trim with your WFT

Well in the over 100 cases that I did the other night, none needed to be trimmed again.

Its amazing how a review of a product becomes a bash on it because it was not a cheap piece of crap made by Lee.

While I do think Lee makes some good quality stuff, the vast majority of their stuff is questionable, to me it is obvious as to why it is so inexpensive.

I am not a die hard fan of any one brand, I have quite the mix of stuff on my bench, but I am the type of guy who chooses to spend his money on quality tools when possible.

 

[stubbicatt]

The WFT in 308 is working well for me. I intend to use the tool on my 6.5x47 brass once I get that up and running, and so I experimented around with cutting depth. Using the tail of the tool and the tail of my calipers, I was able to arrive at a cutting depth +/- .003" pretty quickly. I *may* get another WFT and just set it for the 6.5x47 and leave it, but... we'll see.

I have used many trimmers, and for the hobbyist or occasional shooter/reloader (which I have been on and off through the years) I really like the Lee trimmer with that rod that goes into the case and limits the depth of cut. Really uniform trimming with that tool.

Once set, if I wanted to do a bunch of brass, I would opt for the Dillon trimmer.

All of these tools have their features and their quirks.