Help buying a case trimmer for pistol.

[20nickels]

I'm on the market for a case trimmer for .38 and .45 target guns. Is there anything to look for, stay away from, innovations, or just plain bargains? I'm partial to anything that can be motorized. Nickels.

 

[Ol` Joe]

For the little bit of trimming straight walled pistol brass needs, I`d go with a set of Lee trimmers for each. They are cheap, easy, and can be used with a dremmel or cordless drill.
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1214581561.2476=/html/catalog/casecon.html

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I'm with Ol` Joe on this one. Get the Lee if you absolutely need to trim pistol cases with some speed economically.

regards,

Dave

 

[Bboomer]

I shoot/load them both a lot but I've yet to trim either one to this day.

 

[20nickels]

Tks Joe. Lee trimmers on the way!

 

[Matt Dillon]

Lee Trimmers are great, and by the way, I consider trimming pistol brass essential if you want consistent crimps.

 

[20nickels]

My crimps were all over the place. Hence the purchase. I like the low cost of the Lee trimmers. Bought it in three calibers.

 

[dmftoy1]

FWIW - never found the need to trim any pistol brass.

Regards,
Dave

 

[DEDON45]

Never trimmed pistol brass... but for my rifle calibers, my Lyman universal trimmer works fine... good price, easy to use, works.

 

[Walkalong]

The Wilson is the best, the Forster is next, then the RCBS. I have and use all three. I use the Wilson for 6 PPC Benchrest brass. I use the Forster and RCBS for everything else.

I trim revolver brass to get a more uniform crimp. I do this after they have been fired once and resized. I never trim auto brass for pistols.

 

[straightShot]

I've never even considered trimming my .38 and .45 cases. It works for me.

 

[floydster]

I also never trim pistol brass.
Floydster

 

[BAT1]

I also never trim pistol brass, only rifle brass.

 

[HJ857]

In the minority on this one. I trim 9mm brass using the Lee Zip Trim. It's fast and I think it's a simple step to ensure a fully spec'd cartridge. My 9mm loading is so consistent it's boring, but I like that in my own OCD sort of way.

 

[Uncle Chan]

I've been shooting 45LC for years. Some of the cases have been loaded 20 times or more. Never trimmed a case. Roll crimp is perfect.

 

[dennisH87]

Wilson trimmers are good. Check out Sinclair International's web site.

 

[ForneyRider]

I bought Lee trimmers with all the extras for .45ACP, .41Mag, .223, 270, 7mm Mag, 8x57, 375H&H.

Pistol calibers have never needed trimming. I check them with the trimmer from time to time.

I touch up the rifle calibers after every firing, even with neck-sizer dies.

Lee stuff is very affordable and can do small batches without much fuss. Like someone else said, you can use it with a cordless drill. I do.

 

[zeke]

Am pleased with RCBS powered case pro trimmer for handgun and rifle brass. Am extremely pleased with their powered work station for chamfering the trimmed brass. Have noticed a significant increase in accuracy when using a mixed batch of cases (range pick ups), after they are trimmed to the same length. And ya only have to do it once.