Case trimmer recommendation

1
Any recommendations for a case trimmer?

I'm starting to reload 6.5 creedmoor on a single stage press, at the moment I don't need one that can process brass in bulk. But I know how these things go and I'll be tempted to get a .223 conversion kit for the Dillon so maybe one that can process one in bulk.

Re: Case trimmer recommendation

2
For bulk, I like the World’s Finest Trimmer. It works on a drill and isn’t as adaptable between calibers as most. You can get a dedicated one in 223 when the time comes.

I run an old school Wilson, which is very precise. Sinclair makes a base and a micrometer length adjustment as accessories for it.

A nice flexible setup that does reasonably accurate work is the Forster. I do bulk ‘06 on one that’s been attached to a motor. If I push, I can get the brass to cut a little shorter than the setting, so consistent technique is important.

There are also some press-mounted options that I don’t know much about.

Seen a nice looking newer one that I haven’t tried, but the name escapes me. It’s advertised on Accurate Shooter, which is an excellent resource for this sort of stuff.
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Re: Case trimmer recommendation

3
I run the World's finest trimmer 2- it is the one with replaceable cartridge inserts so you can swap calibers which is handy. That said, adjustments are a bit wonky on it- I have one perfect case saved in every caliber that I use to set it.

If I wasn't already invested in the WFT, I'd probably get the eztrim trim it 2 instead. Micrometer adjustments and whatnot, but more spendy.

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Re: Case trimmer recommendation

4
I've tried 3 different systems so far.
Lee Cutter/Lock Stud + Length Gauges - These worked fine, but gripping the tool for more than a few cases really made my hand cramp up. It looks like they have a tool to hold it but in the end it couldn't keep up with my growing pile of brass.

Lee Power Quick Trim- This one mounts on the press. I could never get a consistent trim with this thing, it would either not touch a too long case or eat a case down way past where I had it set, it also made a mess all over my press and was still awkward to use.

Frankford Arsenal Case Trim and Prep Center - This thing has a case trimmer, a chamfer, deburr, and primer pocket cleaner that all spin from a single motor, it sits on your bench as a separate tool. Its a bit spendy but right now it handles everything I've tried to trim. It does a nice, consistent job and having the chamfer and deburr tool right there makes it easy to do in three steps without moving around too much. I don't use the primer pocket cleaner because I rotary tumble my brass but they also sell and upgrade kit that comes with a primer crimp removal tool. This ate through my box of to-be-trimmed brass pretty quickly. So far I don't feel like I need another solution.

Re: Case trimmer recommendation

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Eris wrote: Fri Feb 01, 2019 12:08 pm That makes me wonder - can dies from one manufacturer be used in a press from another?
yes. not sure if it applies to ALL, but they're made to a standard size.
i've used rcbs and lee dies in my dillon press with nary a problem.
Last edited by lurker on Fri Feb 01, 2019 12:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
i'm retired. what's your excuse?

Re: Case trimmer recommendation

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Eris wrote: Fri Feb 01, 2019 12:08 pm That makes me wonder - can dies from one manufacturer be used in a press from another?
Yes, I use Lee dies in my Dillon press and Hornady dies in my Lee press. You do have to make allowances and adjustments. For example I use Dillon locknuts with the Lee dies and put then on the underside of the toolhead because the Lee dies are shorter than the Dillon dies.

Re: Case trimmer recommendation

21
Case trimming is the biggest pain in the neck of reloading. Before you spend a lot of money, think about what you want this for. Some trim systems don't work well with certain designs of cases. Some trim systems are low capital investment, but are a lot of work. I've worked with the Wilson & Forster mini-lathes, one of the Lee systems, an RCBS file trim die, and finally the Giraud. If accuracy is your only consideration, the Wilson or one of the file trim dies are probably what you want. As I get older, the hand-powered mini-lathes become unworkable, but most of them have a spud you can attach to the lathe shaft, allowing a electric hand drill to power them. Some of the mini-lathes have a small motor to power them. Very occasionally, I do thousands of cases in certain calibers, all at one time, so more set-up time and much higher cost of a Giraud can be justified.

For most of these systems, a bit more capital investment will cut set-up time, so look at the accessories also. A 3-way cutter is available for some of the mini-lathes and for the Giraud, and saves the grief of having to inside and outside chamfer, after trimming (such is available for some of the RCBS and Forster, and possibly others). Accessory lathe shafts and stops are available for the Forster mini-lathe, and may be available for others, allowing you to leave the cutter/shaft/stop set up for when you next trim that caliber. I already mentioned the spud for powering most of the mini-lathes with an electric hand drill.

My father had the money for a Giraud, but could not justify it to himself. Long ago he got a Wilson because it was about all that was available. When they came out, he bought a Forster, and I eventually followed his lead. The darned set screws that Forster uses on the three I have had, are crap, and while the rest of the machine is first rate, you should replace the set screws at your earliest convenience. There are certain calibers with odd rim designs such as the .30-40 Krag where I do not trust the rim clamp of the Forster, and go with either a Lee or RCBS file trim die. I finally bought a Giraud when faced with several 5-gallon buckets of .223 brass.

Re: Case trimmer recommendation

22
NuJudge wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2019 8:07 am Case trimming is the biggest pain in the neck of reloading. Before you spend a lot of money, think about what you want this for. Some trim systems don't work well with certain designs of cases. Some trim systems are low capital investment, but are a lot of work. I've worked with the Wilson & Forster mini-lathes, one of the Lee systems, an RCBS file trim die, and finally the Giraud. If accuracy is your only consideration, the Wilson or one of the file trim dies are probably what you want. As I get older, the hand-powered mini-lathes become unworkable, but most of them have a spud you can attach to the lathe shaft, allowing a electric hand drill to power them. Some of the mini-lathes have a small motor to power them. Very occasionally, I do thousands of cases in certain calibers, all at one time, so more set-up time and much higher cost of a Giraud can be justified.

For most of these systems, a bit more capital investment will cut set-up time, so look at the accessories also. A 3-way cutter is available for some of the mini-lathes and for the Giraud, and saves the grief of having to inside and outside chamfer, after trimming (such is available for some of the RCBS and Forster, and possibly others). Accessory lathe shafts and stops are available for the Forster mini-lathe, and may be available for others, allowing you to leave the cutter/shaft/stop set up for when you next trim that caliber. I already mentioned the spud for powering most of the mini-lathes with an electric hand drill.

My father had the money for a Giraud, but could not justify it to himself. Long ago he got a Wilson because it was about all that was available. When they came out, he bought a Forster, and I eventually followed his lead. The darned set screws that Forster uses on the three I have had, are crap, and while the rest of the machine is first rate, you should replace the set screws at your earliest convenience. There are certain calibers with odd rim designs such as the .30-40 Krag where I do not trust the rim clamp of the Forster, and go with either a Lee or RCBS file trim die. I finally bought a Giraud when faced with several 5-gallon buckets of .223 brass.
The Giraud is a fine tool, but I discovered the hard way it does not work very well if you want to neck size

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