Motorized Case Trimmer

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Morrey

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Greetings. I am looking for a motorized case trimmer to make life a bit more simple. I mainly stick to .30-06 and .308 Win brass, and would not call myself a high volume loader. When I load, I typically do it in 50 round batches but in a very precise way.

I have a manual RCBS Trim-Pro trimmer mounted on my bench beside my RCBS trim mate. Cranking the Trim-Pro handle begins to get tedious as I am developing arthritis in my hands. I think I can take off the crank handle and chuck a drill on the shaft, but not sure now easy that will be on my hands. I figure much easier than I am doing it now.

I know there are other real nice trimmers out there albeit a bit spendy. Has anyone else found a good solution? Thanks!
 
There is an attachment that replaces the crank & Screw, (Seems like MidwayUSA has them) the attachment then fits into a battery powered Impact Drill/Driver. Then it is a fairly simple task, insert Brass to be trimmed (Assuming it is already set), then press the drill & Attachment towards the Brass, and it trims it to the size that has been set. Then repeat.
 
I use the trim-it for .30-06, .308, and .303. Large quantities.
 
I went for the Trim-It as well because of the easy micrometer adjustment on the trim length that seems to be a problem with some of the other ones available out there. It is a time saver for me that works well and delivers very consistent results.
 
After messing around trying to trim .223 and .308 cases on the Hornady Case Trimmer, I came across the "World's Finest Trimmer" by Little Crow Gunworks. Not only is it a lot more consistent from case to case (my experience is +/_ .001), its extremely easy to set up and use as you can see in this YouTube video:



When I bought mine, you had to purchase a dedicated tool for each caliber. Now they have improved the design so you just need the housing and can buy inserts for each caliber you need to trim.

You can order it through Midway USA, Sinclair, Amazon or directly from Little Crow Gunworks.

I process about 1k cases at a time and this trimmer has been an amazing time saver.
 
JO JO said:
that looks like a lot of runout on the trim it
Click to expand...

This is because on the bearing is supporting the case. This fit can't fit be very tight because you would have difficulty pulling the case out once it is trimmer. The "Worlds Best Trimmer" just uses the bearing for the initial support. As the case gets to the correct length, it actual seats on an angled shoulder that fits the neck of your case. Thew cut is always square to the case.

Also, there is no need to pay the extra $50 for the micrometer adjustment. You simple keep a case that is the correct length as your master. As you see in the video, the setup is as easy as pushing the master case into the trimmer, pushing the cuter against the case mouth, nad tightening the setscrew to hold the cutter in place. I have done 500 .308 cases and the case length as stayed within +/- .001 through the entire batch.

The only way this trimmer could be better is if they make one for trimming my .38 Special/.357 magnum cases which take 5x as long and are not nearly as constant on my Hornady lathe trimmer.
 
I have my RCBS Trim Pro directly attached to a corded (or cordless drill) with a shaft.(basically a threaded bolt) RCBS sells a shaft but it it is junk and is not directly attached it just floats or wedges in there and comes out.

I made a little "cradle" to hold my drill level to the trimmer so it slides back and forth. Same concept as the RCBS motorized version only $100 less.!

I just leave the drill running and slide it back and forth. It is a older variable speed drill that can lock on any speed.
 
I have the Hornady case prep center, and it is a piece of garbage, avoid at all costs...especially if you have arthritis or hand/wrist problems.

050012-case-prep-center-lg-01.jpg


I also have an RT1500, very expensive to purchase initially and expensive to expand calibers, but its the bees knees for trimming large amounts of brass rapidly and its easy on the hands, and I can mount it on my LnL press and complete all sizing, depriming, and trimming in one pass.

For someone who is going to go low volume, limited calibers, and who has bad hands, I'd recommend something like the WFT
 
There is no "consumer" device that will beat the Dillon trimmer to make it fast and easy.

However, I did make and adapter to connect a 12v power window motor to a Forster that was given to me, it beats cranking and was free.

DSC02033.jpg
 
silicosys4 said:
I have the Hornady case prep center, and it is a piece of garbage, avoid at all costs...especially if you have arthritis or hand/wrist problems.

050012-case-prep-center-lg-01.jpg


I also have an RT1500, very expensive to purchase initially and expensive to expand calibers, but its the bees knees for trimming large amounts of brass rapidly and its easy on the hands, and I can mount it on my LnL press and complete all sizing, depriming, and trimming in one pass.

For someone who is going to go low volume, limited calibers, and who has bad hands, I'd recommend something like the WFT
Click to expand...
Here is what I have.
nu2jTXMl.jpg

I find it as good as sex. The six station below I have mounted a brush, chamfer, deburring, pocket reamer, pocket cleaner, and a pocket uniformer.
I am sorry that you have a paper weight. But to help you I will buy it from you for $100.00. Just PM me.
 
DRAINSMITH said:
Here is what I have.
nu2jTXMl.jpg

I find it as good as sex. The six station below I have mounted a brush, chamfer, deburring, pocket reamer, pocket cleaner, and a pocket uniformer.
I am sorry that you have a paper weight. But to help you I will buy it from you for $100.00. Just PM me.
Click to expand...

Sweet, thats a nice setup.
Have you ever done 1k .223 surplus LC brass at a sitting?
The ones with the primer crimp, many of which have been fired in a machine gun and so size extra long, with a lot of brass to trim.
I have. The Hornady SUUUUCKS at it..
I know that I've already had to send mine back for a rebuild under warranty after the cutting head literally fell off and went rolling across my bench. I found the cutter doesn't turn fast enough (maybe 100rpm) to cut cleanly, brass that hasn't been cut off cleanly binds between the case and the cutter, which puts stress on the head every time you have to "pop" the shell off of the head.
Love me them proprietary shell holders too. I mean, why make the shell holder universal when you can make a slight change to the diameter of the hole and viola, necessitate proprietary shell holders?
The internal gears are plastic. For chrissake, plastic on a unit that's a heavy cast aluminum shell. I'd rather have a plastic shell and durable gears.
Have you been able to get a consistent, straight trim? I haven't, best I can get is "plinkin" straight. Since the cutting head doesn't turn faster than 100-200rpm, you can watch the brass not being so much cut off as ripped off, leaving an inconsistent trim.

After killing my hands prepping 1k .308 rounds...bloody blisters and all...and taking the better part of a day to do so, I gave up and went with the RT1500.
Boy its nice to be done in an hour, measuring brass and finding an even trim.


So I found that the Hornady case trim center, in my case, is only good for doing inconsistent and crooked trims on low volume rifle brass I produce for accuracy or hunting. Not really what I need. For the money you pay it should either be faster, or more precise. Not slow, tedious, and imprecise.



first station, RT1500. Second station, .223 deprimer/sizer to restore neck tension.
 
Last edited:
DRAINSMITH said:
Once again......$100.00. CRICKETS!!!
Click to expand...

Wow! on a $500 machine factory fresh and unused after a warranty rebuild? Gee, I dunno why I'm not jumping on that.


But hey, I'm glad yours works for you....if it does. I notice you never answered my question about getting a straight trim, or how much .223 brass you've run through it, lol

:thumbup:
 
Last edited:
silicosys4 said:
Wow! on a $500 machine factory fresh and unused after a warranty rebuild? Gee, I dunno why I'm not jumping on that.


But hey, I'm glad yours works for you....if it does. I notice you never answered my question about getting a straight trim, or how much .223 brass you've run through it, lol

:thumbup:
Click to expand...
Yes mine runs great. The brass is straight. I have run 8,000 to 9,000 .223 and about 5, 000 308. Now those "plastic" gears you are talking about are made form the same material that the "plastic" gears that lift a 200 lbs + garage door. If it can handle that I am sure they are good enough for a trimmer. And as far as me offering $100.00 I wouldn't do it, but you never know.
 
Here is the add-on power source for powering the RCBS Trimmer
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/228870/rcbs-trim-pro-case-trimmer-power-conversion-unit-110-volt
I have now been able to locate the attachment that works with aa drill. I am real busy today, but I will take a picture and post it here.

Thanks, Dan. This unit is attractive to me since all the components match up from an engineering standpoint. Some of the drill mounted case trimmers are interesting but as with many drills, there is a distinct chuck wobble. I am leaning to the RCBS power unit to match my trimmer. Thanks!
 
silicosys4 said:
Wow! on a $500 machine factory fresh and unused after a warranty rebuild? Gee, I dunno why I'm not jumping on that.
Click to expand...

I shouldn't jump in the middle of this, but....if someone offered me $100 for something that sucked, I'd be all over it
 
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