I've seen the light! (case trimming)

[TheCracker]

After hours of frustration trimming 556 brass with the lee trimmer I had enough. The cases kept sipping out of the shell holder when I got the drill going. They would trim a tad too short if it got off center and I still have a wound on my index finger from tightening the shell holder ring.

I ordered the RCBS trim pro and a .22 3-way cutter and the difference is AMAZING!! it is easily 10 times easier and at least 5 times faster!

Im not trying to start a Lee bashing thread since 90% if my reloading equipment is Lee. Lee trimmers are garbage compared to the RCBS that I broke in last night with about 600 cases.
Now case trimming isn't the laborious chore it was!

 

[petrey10]

what did that run ya??

 

[morrow]

If you want an inexpensive and very fast way to trim rifle brass, like 223, the Possum Hollow ones are the way to go. They rock. Work even better when used with a drill press or even better a lathe.

The RCBS 3-way cutter head is cool as it chamfers/deburrs at the same time.

 

[Fmjblack]

I've used the possum hollow trimmer with the power drill adapter to trim thousands of .223 cases. I would really like a Giraud (spelling?) trimmer, but $400+ for a case trimmer just seems ridiculous when my hornady LNL progressive press didn't even cost that much. I wonder how the rcbs compares to the possum hollow in speed?

 

[howlnmad]

It would be my guess that the PH would be quicker. The RCBS you have to insert the case in the holding clamp and then engage the cutting head or work the crank and then desengage and remove. I beleave the PH works off the shoulder and doesn't require any shell holder. I may be wrong on that part since I've never actually used one, just going by the pictures I've seen.

 

[cfullgraf]

After hours of frustration trimming 556 brass with the lee trimmer I had enough. The cases kept sipping out of the shell holder when I got the drill going. They would trim a tad too short if it got off center and I still have a wound on my index finger from tightening the shell holder ring.

You can use an appropriate sized open end wrench to snug and loosen the shell holder of the Lee trimmer. One side of the wrench across the opening and the other across the back. An adjustable wrench might work but fixed sized wrenches have worked fine for me.

Works great at keeping the shell from spinning.

 

[gamestalker]

I've been using the Lee for ever on every cartridge I load, and haven't had a problem. The carbide cutter I'm using is probably some where around 25 years old too. It still slices the brass like butter. But it is a very inexpensive device, that being said, the one you have might be less than perfect.

 

[TheCracker]

what did that run ya??

Cabelas had the trimmer on sale for $92 and the cutter for $43. Plus tax. WAY more expensive that the lee but very much worth it to me.

 

[blarby]

As long as you get your moneys worth !

Thats always the key, money you think is well spent....screw what everyone else thinks

The whole drill thing never looked usable to me... I'm glad I stuck with my zip trim !

 

[TheCracker]

It would be my guess that the PH would be quicker. The RCBS you have to insert the case in the holding clamp and then engage the cutting head or work the crank and then desengage and remove. I beleave the PH works off the shoulder and doesn't require any shell holder. I may be wrong on that part since I've never actually used one, just going by the pictures I've seen.

I think the rcbs with the 3 way cutter head would be quicker. Unless I'm mistaken you have to use the chamfer/debur tool with the PH.

Also the shell holder is super quick and easy. Hooked to my drill once I had a rhythm figured out I was easily doing a case every 5 seconds. I did have my cordless drill. And it was already chambered and deburred.

 

[snuffy]

If the shell was sipping,(sLipping??), out of the shell holder, it was worn out or defective. Or was the operator sipping an adult beverage?

Mine doesn't do that, if it did I would simply use a spare I have. They're not perfect, but they do work, good enough that I don't ever plan on getting something else.

 

[TheCracker]

You can use an appropriate sized open end wrench to snug and loosen the shell holder of the Lee trimmer. One side of the wrench across the opening and the other across the back. An adjustable wrench might work but fixed sized wrenches have worked fine for me.

Works great at keeping the shell from spinning.

I did think of that and it did help but the case still slipped ou occasionallyt. A few times I had to tighten it so tight I thought I might bend the rim in the case.

The lee works and I'm not trying to bash it but I don't like prepping rifle brass and my new system is WAY better and more importantly to me much faster IMO.

 

[TheCracker]

If the shell was sipping,(sLipping??), out of the shell holder, it was worn out or defective. Or was the operator sipping an adult beverage?

Mine doesn't do that, if it did I would simply use a spare I have. They're not perfect, but they do work, good enough that I don't ever plan on getting something else.

Yes I meant "slipping". I started this thread on my iPhone this morning and the iPhone loves to auto correct the spelling.

I love a little whiskey now and then but I don't drink and load. Lol

Ive used my lee trimmers on a good number of 44 mag, 270 win and 308 and really have not had the issues I had the other night so maybe the locking screw is defective? I thought of that as well but after watching a couple YouTube videos I decided I had to have something faster.

 

[EddieNFL]

I would really like a Giraud (spelling?) trimmer, but $400+ for a case trimmer just seems ridiculous when my hornady LNL progressive press didn't even cost that much.

I think mine was $350 (some years ago). If it were stolen tomorrow, I would pay $400.

 

[JimKirk]

I've been using the Lee for ever on every cartridge I load, and haven't had a problem. The carbide cutter I'm using is probably some where around 25 years old too. It still slices the brass like butter. But it is a very inexpensive device, that being said, the one you have might be less than perfect.

Gamestalker ... do you mind me asking what model you have?

Jimmy K

 

[ranger335v]

Lees inexpensive little case trimmer system is clearly meant for low volume needs. That's a fact, not a slam.

 

[flashhole]

I migrated to the Lee 3-Jaw chuck in my drill press. Works like a dream. I did experience the same problem with a standard lock stud. I found it had a small rise in the center. Dragging it across emery paper cured that. I love the Lee Trimmers, they are the only kind I have ever used. Glad you like your new system and kudos for not bashing Lee products.

 

[cfullgraf]

The lee works and I'm not trying to bash it but I don't like prepping rifle brass and my new system is WAY better and more importantly to me much faster IMO.

I agree, trimming is the pits.

What ever tool works for you is important.

All "hand" trimming tools are a compromise when it comes to volume trimming. The one with the process you like is the best.

I also have a L E Wilson trimmer that I use primarily for cartridges that Lee does not make a case gauge for. But I have case holders for my other cartridges as well.

 

[kelbro]

I use the Lee for most everything except high volume 223. There I use the Possum Hollow. Chuck up the tool, trim the whole batch. Chuck up the chamfer tool, chamfer the whole batch.

The RCBS looks like a good tool but I can't cough up $100+ to trim brass + $35 per caliber.

 

[SSN Vet]

I chuck the lee cutter head/depth gage on my drill press, hold the brass in my fingers with one of those tacky rubber work gloves on my left hand so that the case is standing upright on the flat steel table. Then lower the cutter with the quill untill it bottoms out out on the table.

I trim a whole pile this way and then chuck up the RCBS chamfer tool and run the whole pile through again, just lightly pressing the case mouths up against the spinning cutter (not lowering the quill).

This works pretty darn well and if you already have a drill press, is an inexpensive set up.

You'll need a 5/8" chuck for the chamfer cutter however.

For all my low volume rifle reloading, I use the zip trim.

Umpteen hundred pulls and that darn lawn mower hasn't fired up yet

 

[dzelenka]

In a word - Giraud.

 

[bloominonion]

I still love my Lyman universal chucked into my drill press. I can't load the cases fast enough. I'll have to post a picture once I figure out how to get pictures off my camera again...

Also, does anyone know if that 3-way cutter fits into the Lyman, or have a nice set of thread gauges?

 

[TheCracker]

I use the Lee for most everything except high volume 223. There I use the Possum Hollow. Chuck up the tool, trim the whole batch. Chuck up the chamfer tool, chamfer the whole batch.

The RCBS looks like a good tool but I can't cough up $100+ to trim brass + $35 per caliber.

I agree that it is expensive! It dies come with a standard cutting head for any caliber that doesn't chamfer and debur and and the only caliber I shoot high volume is the 556 so I dot plan on buying anymore 3 way cutters as of now

 

[MCMXI]

Hydrostatic Shock, I've been using the RCBS Trim Pro Case Trimmer for two or maybe three years now. It's an excellent tool for sure. I have the three-way cutting head for .30 cal and .223 cal. I trim all of my rifle brass after each firing and sizing and find that it only takes a few minutes to run through 50 cases. The RCBS case trimmer indexes off the case head rather than the case shoulder like the Giraud. Not a big deal unless you have a hard time controlling shoulder bump. Also, I find the RCBS case trimmer to be very, very accurate and precise.

 

[petrey10]

well I am going to save up my bass pro rewards and get the 3 way cutter... i was going to go with the PH but i want to do everything at once.


Do you have any troubles setting up the cutter? Or keeping it set at the proper chamfer or debur setting?