What case trimmer is best?

[lykoris]

ok, a friend told me he found it a PITA to have to go through his brass with a deburring tool after he trimmed it with the dillon trimmer. I've seen it in operation and it's a nice set-up albeit loud.

that was the deciding factor for me in getting the Giraud.

nice 1050 btw.

 

[dmazur]

I reload reasonable volumes of rifle calibers (.30-06 Sprg and .243 Win) and I get pretty good results with the Hornady trimmer.

I checked a lot of trimmers before buying this one, which I guess is kind of "medium priced" at around $100.

Hornady cam-lock trimmer

This design grips the base of the cartridge with a standard shell holder (no "collet") and provides a consistent length to the rim after trimming. Within rim thickness manufacturing tolerances, this is pretty good. The other end (the cutter) turns and that end has the "micrometer" adjustment. So, you set an approximate length and clamp it, then dial the cutter end until you are at the desired length. Pilots keep the cutter centered and square.

The only problem I noted (which was probably operator error) was that it works a lot better if you insert the pilot before clamping the shell holder.

Hornady sells inside and outside chamfer heads, and I tried these and didn't like them. It's easier for me to just use the two-ended Wilson chamfer tool before tossing the brass in the "done" bin. Higher volume reloaders may be happy with three passes through the trimmer (trim, inside chamfer, outside chamfer.)

 

[4Shooters]

Hornady Cam Lock Trimmers

Hornadys' trimmers are great, however be aware that not all shell holders will work with this product. The camlock requires a larger hole...rcbs shellholders are a no go. After talking with Giraud Tool back at Wanenmacher's I think that will be a future purchase worth saving up for.

 

[Clark]

I like to trim with an RCBS 3 way cutter mounted in the mill, with the case secured by Lee shell holder lock stud, and operated with a pair of vise grips.

This is the fastest except..... I like no trimming best, and it turns out most load books are wrong about max case length.

Once the case is determined to be short enough [with reality, not load books] then the Lee Collet die use will keep it short after subsequent firings.

 

[rsilvers]

Dillon does not chamfer like the Gracie.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

I don't use the Lee system anymore except for pistol brass (when it needs it).

I switched to the Wilson trimmer for rifle brass. I use the hand crank, but they offer a power adapter for it. Sinclair had really sweet accessories for it, including a micrometer adjustment, and while they are very nice, they are also not at all necessary for easy, accurate trimming.

It is incredibly accurate, square and consistent. It does not need pilots, and does not use a collet to grip the case head/rim. It uses a taper-bored cylinder to grip the tapered case body. Unlike other tools, the case holder simply keeps it centered and square to the cutter, and an adjustable stop for the case head sets the trim length, immune to variations in rim thickness.

In spite of the quality of the unit and its results, it is pretty inexpensive, ~$40 for the base trimmer, and ~$8 for a case holder. Each holder fits an entire family of cartridges that share the same case body (e.g. 308/243/7mm-08 or 270/280/30-06, etc.).

Regarding the comments about inserting the pilot into the neck prior to tightening the collet on the case head, that is true of any trimmer that grips the case head and uses a neck pilot.

Andy

 

[Brian10]

I own a forester and a rcbs with all the bells and whistles both now gather dust in the corner. I took an old battery drill bolted it down used a gel cell battery, trickle charger,and remote foot switch. couple that with the Lee cutter stud setup and a large wooden block (yes square) glued to the handheld cutter and I am at least five times faster than the other ones. No destroyed brass to set it up each time either, then use RCBS chamfer tool before removing ( also modified with a better grip in the center) and WOW can I go. Almost forgot,I wrapped self vulcanizing tape to the drill chuck so that it can be rotated to hold the brass from below when tightening the lockstud. See no aspirin just more time to reload.

If you could post a picture of this setup it would be great...

I've been thinking about mounting the lee cutter and the chamfer tool on a wooden wall. The shell holder will go in a powered hand drill and I can then trim and chamfer, but your solution sounds better.

 

[roc1]

I also think the Hornady works great. I would get the adapter if you trim a bunch.I trim small amounts so hand method is ok. I think for a very small batch the Lee is fast and works great but not good if you trim a pretty fair amount of brass.
roc1

 

[wild willy]

You posted that your volume is low and listed four cartridges Get a Wilson

 

[RVenick]

I am amazed at the simplicity of the Possum Hollow trimmer. Has anyone used one with any regularity? I was all set to buy the RCBS Trim Pro with the 3 way cutter setup and run it with a drill but, I am now thinking about the Possum Hollow Trimmer.

 

[Walkalong]

I chuck mine up in a mini hobby lathe. Works great, very fast, 2 to 3 seconds each. You do still have to deburr and chamfer. You do need a way to power them to be useful.

 

[RVenick]

I think if I buy the drill attachment it will also work with EJS, Forster, RCBS or Wilson Deburring Tools. At least that is what their website says.

 

[JimKirk]

For you folks with RCBS and other draw type collets, who have problems getting consistent lengths due to varying rim diameter and extractor marks....go to this link and look at post #22:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=500593&highlight=RCBS+Color

and then this link to follow upost #6 & #10
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6326953#post6326953

Simply stick the case on the stud(one for large primer and one for small), hold the case with your fingers and turn the handle.

Walkalong found that it did not work to well with power, but it does work good for me with hand power.

Jimmy K