Case trimmers

Ok, so this is the reloading process I HATE most.. I have had and used, the Lee trimmers, a Lyman and a couple RCBS trimmers.. they are all fine if your trimming 20 or 30 cases but if you need to trim 500 these little trimmers just don't cut it..

I shot a lot of 06, 308, 223 and 243 and trimming on these small trimmers was just killing my hands. (old guy arthritis)

So I got the "Worlds Finest Trimmer" from https://www.littlecrowgunworks.com/

I mount mine horizontally in a variable speed drill and just push the cases into the trimmer. I had tried a drill press but that was just too slow. I can trim 400 or more in an hour and it doesn't kill my hands. After trimming all I need to do is debur and i do that using the Hornady battery gizmo..

I’ve not used one of their trimmers but I am very much interested in trying one. I have used primarily the Lyman universal. Both with and without the power attachment. With power attachment it’s much better. For that type of trimming, I normally do about 100 then I move on. So if I have 500 to do I’ll stretch it out over several reloading sessions.

A guy at the club bought a trimmer like that. I think his will do straight wall as well as bottleneck cases because he shoots several straight wall cartridges in our matches. I think he paid $100 for his. If you don't do straight walled, it's not an issue.

I use one to trim 223 brass , and it works wonderfully on the large volume trimming .

I'm pretty happy with my Dillon trimmer - that way trimming is not a separate process. Decap, size and trim at a single lever pull - can't be happier :)

Turns out my friend bought the Frankford Arsenal version. Bottleneck only.

Looks like a great tool for factory cartridges, unfortunately I also shoot a LOT of wildcats and improved cartridges too.

I used to use the little crow but switched to https://www.giraudtool.com/giraud-tri-way-trimmer.html

It trims, deburrs and chamfers all at once.

I also have several WFT's. They work great on all my bulk calibers.
I found that they work better with a carbide end mill than the HSS one.

Now that's a neat solution to a tedious job! I'm gonna build me a couple of those...

Years ago decided hand cranked trimming was really over rated for entertainment value and started using my battery drill to power my Forster trimmer. Then using the tools in the Lyman deburring tool in a short piece cut from the end of a broken cleaning rod in the drill can quickly and painlessly debur and chamfer the cases.

I took an old lyman universal trimmer and removed the universal shell holder end and the crank from the base. I mount the shell holder end in my lathe and the cutter end in the tail stock. All I have to do is change the pilot as necessary and set the travel distance.

The Lyman has served me well for years, and with the case neck turner, it handles all of My Odd-Balls and Wildcats..
The Lee system is so Dummy Proof...I use it exclusively for Factory stuff!!!! Fast too, with the shell holder made for a driver..

RCBS Trim Pro Case Trimmer 3-way Cutter. I give it a five star.

If I only have a few then Forster hand crank trimmer and a good chamfer tool.

Hello:
And me doing several groups of 500 at a whack and an old timer puts his vote on the Dillion Precision RT1200 case trimmer which is press mounted and adjusted to trim length easily .
Pretty accurate and fastest in my opinion.
Plus the trim die resizes as its trimming so no changes from trim length when you resize after trimming.
Think Dillion Precision has a newer model now called the RT1500 .
Do a search on the internet its worth the money if your into lg volume case trimming.
HEAD SHOT

The little Lee kits will work but they are labor intensive and if you use them in a electric drill, the little tip that fits into the primer flashole wears fast. I found that out the hard way. I was trimming 8x57mm converted brass and it was a good thing I have a habit of checking my work as I go. I trimmed the first couple of cases and check them with calipers and they were just under the mid point that I usually trim my cases to. I trimmer about 20 more and measured them and found the little tip was wearing already. Most were just barely minimum and the last few were about .02 below minimum and you could measure and watch the measurements getting shorter and shorter every few cases. I tried another trimmer guide and it lasted longer but again after about 50 cases it was showing the same pattern--getting shorter. I haven't used a Lee trimmer kit since. I now use C&H trimmers or L E Wilson. The Lee's just will not hold up when using a hand drill to trim. They do just fine if you don't use them with a power drill. my experience anyway, james

Quote:

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Originally Posted by recumbent

I used to use the little crow but switched to https://www.giraudtool.com/giraud-tri-way-trimmer.html

It trims, deburrs and chamfers all at once.

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I did the same.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TNsailorman

The little Lee kits will work but they are labor intensive and if you use them in a electric drill, the little tip that fits into the primer flashole wears fast. I found that out the hard way. I was trimming 8x57mm converted brass and it was a good thing I have a habit of checking my work as I go. I trimmed the first couple of cases and check them with calipers and they were just under the mid point that I usually trim my cases to. I trimmer about 20 more and measured them and found the little tip was wearing already. Most were just barely minimum and the last few were about .02 below minimum and you could measure and watch the measurements getting shorter and shorter every few cases. I tried another trimmer guide and it lasted longer but again after about 50 cases it was showing the same pattern--getting shorter. I haven't used a Lee trimmer kit since. I now use C&H trimmers or L E Wilson. The Lee's just will not hold up when using a hand drill to trim. They do just fine if you don't use them with a power drill. my experience anyway, james

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I will check mine...thanks for the heads up...