Here’s a recent project for a Wilson Case Trimmer Holder. Came across the trimmer via a horse trading deal. I have used an RCBS trimmer for 25 years or so and have most of the pilots and all the collets. But this gave me an interesting option. My intent was to set it up to do a single caliber/case length and not change it. I also wanted the ease of swapping out the trimmer to another one that is set up to do a different caliber if another trimmer ever comes along. I don’t like the Wilson stands because they require the disassembly of the trimmer to put it on or take it off the stand and since one of the goals is to not to have to adjust it, I decided on this design. Thanks to a friend that has an awesome shop complete with a vertical mill and lathe along with some good sized aluminum pieces, this is the result.
Basically, it’s a couple blocks of aluminum bolted together to give the height needed to turn the crank with a groove milled in the top for the trimmer to drop down in. Two thumb screws hold the trimmer in place. Want to swap to another trimmer? No big deal. Loosen the thumb screws and lift. Drop in the other trimmer and tighten the thumb screws. Finger tight is all that’s required. This trimmer has been adjusted to trim to 1.750 and as long as I have it, that’s where it will stay. Yep, that’s 5.56/.223 specific although it will work on any case with a 1.750 trim to length with the proper shell holder. I ran 5 pieces of “test brass” across it once I got it adjusted and deburred them … the pic is of one of them. Don’t think I can get much closer than that.
OH …. I have it bolted to a 1 x 6 piece of Oak just like all of my loading gear except the press. Even though my work bench is 17 feet long, I don’t want space permanently taken up with trimmers, powder measures, priming press, and such. So I mount them on the oak and use C-clamps to clamp them to the bench when I use them and store them when I am not. It just takes seconds. My press is mounted on its own stand so I can move it out of the way as well. I have too many hobbies that require bench space! Typical old dude, I know! I would advise using the oak if you do this. Pine and Fir didn’t hold up to the C-Clamps too well. I have never replaced a piece of the oak in 15 years.
Enjoy ….