Whats the best trimmer for handgun cartridges?

[James THR]

Whats the best trimmer for handgun cartridges?

Any suggestions? I'm thinking of getting a Lyman Universal Trimmer.

 

[Uncle Don]

You don't need to trim handgun cartridges. They will almost always wear out before they would expand in length to the point you would ever need to trim them.

 

[Matt Dillon]

I use the Lee trimming system with a cordless drill. Very fast, and results in uniform crimps.

 

[Gatofeo]

Yep, the Lee Trimmer with a cordless drill here, too. I buy the cutter with the big wooden ball on it, for an easier grip.
Lee makes a lock stud with a 1/4 inch stud to chuck into a drill. This is a great combo.
The Lee Chamfer Tool, after trimming, may be held in the off-hand for a quick-spin chamfering.
I disagree that pistol cases never need trimming. They DO stretch, particularly the .357 and .44 Magnums, in my experience. To get a uniform crimp, particularly a roll crimp into a bullet's cannelure or crimping groove, a consistent case length is mandatory.
I check all my pistol cases for length, before loading. It's a good habit to get into, especially when using cases new from the factory. I've encounted newly manufactured .38 Special and .44-40 brass that exceeded the maximum length. God knows how it left the plant that way, but it did.

 

[Steve in PA]

I've been reloading the same .44mag cases (Remington) for several yars and they have not grown at all. In fact, in the 15 or so years that I have been reloading I have never seen a handgun cartridge grow.

Of course, if you are getting different results from your particualr gun, then you may need to trim them.

 

[joneb]

I have experienced variations in lenght of my revolver cases up to a 1/100 " and the case mouths has been out of square 5/1000" with once fired brass. Before I started trimming my revolver brass, I could not get a consistant roll crimp. Now all is as it should be.

 

[LAH]

I use the Lee and a drill for nearly all my brass, rifle or handgun.....Creeker

 

[James THR]

I was always under the impression that it was most important to trim handgun cartridges because of the uniformity required when crimping.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I use the Lee trimmer and a drill for my .44 mag rounds. 10MM and .45 ACP never see a trimmer but every rifle round does.

 

[joneb]

I only trim cases that head space off the rim, for a consistant roll crimp. I have had no need to trim cartridge cases that head space off the case mouth, my dies for semi-auto use a taper crimp.