Case Trimmer Recommendations

lkenefic · Mar 2, 2018

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum but not MDS... I'm slowly getting back into reloading and wanted an opinion on case trimmers. I sold off most of my rifle case prep tools years ago and I've just been reloading pistol calibers on a Dillon 550B. I used to reload .223 for an AR on the Dillon (without huge success) and .308 for a bolt rifle (on a dedicated RCBS Rockchucker). The first tool I'm going to need moving forward is a decent (to nice) case trimmer tool. I've been looking at this one:

https://www.brownells.com/reloading/case-preparation/case-trimming/case-trimmers/case-trimmer-w-micrometer-prod38061.aspx

thoughts? Thanks in advance...

iH8DemLibz · Mar 2, 2018

RCBS manual crank model.

Comes with a lot of different sized neck bushings.

I mounted mine to a block of wood and the block of wood gets clamped in a bench vise.

Silverlax · Mar 2, 2018

Depending on the number of cases you're going to be doing, I'd recommend the wft2 (worlds finest trimmer). I've used it a bit and if I'm loading a large quantity it is quick and works great. Plus with the second version you can switch the neck bushing for different calibers.

Pinecone · Mar 2, 2018

Silverlax said:
Depending on the number of cases you're going to be doing, I'd recommend the wft2 (worlds finest trimmer). I've used it a bit and if I'm loading a large quantity it is quick and works great. Plus with the second version you can switch the neck bushing for different calibers.

This ^^^^^^

Works well.

Just have to resize before trimming, as it indexes off the shoulder.

Jerry M · Mar 2, 2018

I have the one in the OP and a Dillion and a Gracey. I like to keep my options open...LOL

https://www.dillonprecision.com/rt1500-electric-case-trimmer_8_8_26196.html

http://www.matchprep.com/trimmer.htm

Also the Gracey has calibers not available from Dillion. The Dillion is a sizing die also, which sometimes sizes the neck too much for Matches. It's fine for Prairie Dog shooting IMO. Trying to do 2,000-3,000 cases for a week of Prairie Dog shooting and you will have carpal tunnel syndrome in no time. It is fine for 50 rounds of deer hunting ammunition.

Good luck

Jerry

LGood48 · Mar 2, 2018

For only a few dollars more than the trimmer you're looking at you can get the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Prep and Trim System at Cabela's.
Been using it for a couple of months now and it will trim, debur and chamfer your cases very quickly. Need to follow the directions to the letter when first setting up the trimmer head but runs like a champ after that.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/sho...s-case-prep-trim-station/1793986.uts?slotId=1

kstone803 · Mar 2, 2018

Giraud trimmer. I have a gracey with the Giraud upgrades. You're going to end up with one eventually if you reload a decent amount. I went thru a Lee zip trim, rcbs trimmer, little crow wft and eventually bought the gracey. Just skip all the BS steps and buy the giruad the first time.

Speed3 · Mar 2, 2018

kstone803 said:
Giraud trimmer. I have a gracey with the Giraud upgrades. You're going to end up with one eventually if you reload a decent amount. I went thru a Lee zip trim, rcbs trimmer, little crow wft and eventually bought the gracey. Just skip all the BS steps and buy the giruad the first time.

Girraurd trimmers are awesome but can get expensive depending on how many calibers your loading for and the amount of brass your cranking through.

Not_an_outlaw · Mar 2, 2018

I'm in for the Crow Industries World's Best Trimmer. It works surprisingly well.

https://littlecrowgunworks.com/product/worlds-finest-trimmer-wft/?v=7516fd43adaa

kstone803 · Mar 3, 2018

Not_an_outlaw said:
I'm in for the Crow Industries World's Best Trimmer. It works surprisingly well.

https://littlecrowgunworks.com/product/worlds-finest-trimmer-wft/?v=7516fd43adaa

The problem is all these trimmers require a chamfer and debur step after trimming. The Giraud/gracey does it all in one step and does it fast. I can trim 1000 pieces of brass in well under an hour.

BradMacc82 · Mar 3, 2018

Hell, I'm still using a manual crank Lyman trimmer. Have a few of them, each one is set-up for a diff't cartridge so I don't have to re-adjust the length of trim.

I'm cheap, and in no rush.

inkd · Mar 3, 2018

If you are doing volume, the Giraud is hard to beat. It's expensive but worth it.

He has a newer tool called the Tri-Way which is much cheaper and can be chucked up in a drill.

http://www.giraudtool.com/Tri Way Trimmer.htm

HogCommander · Mar 3, 2018

+1 for the Giraud! When I shot rifle a lot I used to dread trimming because of the time involved with a manual trimmer. Bought a Giraud about 9 years ago and absolutely love it. The Giraud is exponentially faster because you don't have to put the case in a shell holder and because it trims/chamfers/deburrs all in one fast process.

lkenefic · Mar 4, 2018

wow! Thanks everyone! There are a few suggestions here that I've never heard of. The Gracey always seemed a bit pricey to me for doing a single task. I guess I just don't need that sort of throughput and can't really justify it. I suffered through a Forester the last time I reloaded rifle calibers. It was painstakingly slow and I never really found a rhythm. The units that are compatible with a drill or a Dremel tool look good. Are these really any more efficient than a hand crank? I also like the idea of the micrometer on the Redding. My bolt gun (.308) is a single-shot set up for prone matches. It responded well to the Federal load using 168-gr Sierra HPBTM bullets, and that's the load I was trying to replicate with a bit of success. My foray into .223 was not so successful. My base load for comparison was 55 gr PMC... I could shoot this into 1.5 MOA all day through a Colt Sporter Match HBAR. The wheels fell off the bus when I tried to go to 69 gr Sierra bullets... I can't recall the powder... anyway, case prep might have been part of my problem...

Again, thanks for all of the suggestions.

Muleskinner · Mar 4, 2018

I bought and use a little crow trimmer from Brownells in 5.56, 7.62x51 and 300BO. It takes about half a second to trim a case. I chuck it in my drill press..I did 1200 cases in about 90 minutes the other night..they aren't cheap but they cut down your prep time significantly..

kstone803 · Mar 4, 2018

inkd said:
If you are doing volume, the Giraud is hard to beat. It's expensive but worth it.

He has a newer tool called the Tri-Way which is much cheaper and can be chucked up in a drill.

http://www.giraudtool.com/Tri Way Trimmer.htm

That is a perfect option for ppl who want the little crow but hate the fact that it doesn't chamfer/debur. Pretty cool

steves1911 · Mar 4, 2018

I have a Lyman lathe type that I can hook my drill on. Works great but tedious for high volume. I bought a giraud
Tri way for 223. Saves hours not having to chamber and deburr afterwards.

inkd · Mar 4, 2018

kstone803 said:
That is a perfect option for ppl who want the little crow but hate the fact that it doesn't chamfer/debur. Pretty cool

I want to get one for .300Blk

kstone803 · Mar 4, 2018

inkd said:
I want to get one for .300Blk

You should do that and let me borrow it.......

wabbit · Mar 5, 2018

I have a Trim-it case trimmer for .223 and .308 which works really fast and is better than the hand cranked trimmer I had before. The setup takes some time since you would adjust it a little bit at a time and measure the final cut, but once it's set, you wouldn't change it.
https://www.brownells.com/reloading...immers/trim-it-ii-case-trimmer-prod80329.aspx

Case Trimmer Recommendations

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