The Accurate Reloading Forums
Case Trimmers

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01 January 2010, 21:17
The Bolt Man
Case Trimmers
Which trimmeres work best? Some I have used tend to cause a burr at the case mouth that is difficult to remove with the standard tools.

I would like to have a trimmer that cuts quite fast and cleanly so the typical tools used to chamfer and deburr would require minimal use.

What is available that those of you are using and are happy with?
01 January 2010, 22:21
MickinColo
I like the RCBS with a 3 way trimmer head. It trims, chamfers, and deburrs in one step.

02 January 2010, 02:41
kraky
I'm almost embarrassed to say that I hardly use my elec rcbs trimpro or trimmate anymore and use the super simple lee universal stud with lee cutters. The same also keeps me from having to tumble nearly as much......it's really simple...really fast...and really cheap.

02 January 2010, 02:43
kraky
Go here to see how fast it works with the zip trim....then think how much faster with an elec drill....just set it in your gun cradle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sGHoNd6vfA
02 January 2010, 03:28
enfieldspares
I've only used manual trimmers that you turn by hand being a poor Brit! However of those I had and thought was pretty much junk and RCBS. So bought a Forster from Otto Weber of O K Weber when he used to show in England. Never regretted it. Ever. The best!
02 January 2010, 04:31
MickinColo
I had reservations about posting on this subject. “Everything is junk except for what I use” comments. Have fun weeding through the personal bias. Wink
02 January 2010, 05:05
M4Finny
I have had very good results with the Wilson Sharkfin.


Psalm 109:8 "Let his days be few; And let another take his office."
02 January 2010, 06:37
Bill Cooley
I finally got started trimming a bucket of 308 brass that I had for a while. This is pretty slow work with most trimmers. I had a friend loan me his Gracey power case trimmer. I had used it before so I was a happy camper. This unit only works on bottleneck cases as it indexes on the shoulder. You have to size the cases first. I found a number of cases that weren’t sized and had to re do them, as they won’t fit in the trimmer. I called and ordered a cutter and case holder for 223. The cutter trims the case and chamfers the inside and debures the outside in one step.
http://www.matchprep.com/trimmer.htm

I like the Dillon trimmed but it doesn’t do the deburr and champher and you have to by separate sizing dies for each caliber. You would have to do the sizing job twice because no expander die.
“I had reservations about posting on this subject. “Everything is junk except for what I use” comments. Have fun weeding through the personal bias. ”
MickinColo,
You are right maney do have this problem. The only negative I have is for the trimmers that use collets to hold the case head. This setup is terrible because of the large disparity in case head diameter.
Bill


Member DSC,DRSS,NRA,TSRA
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
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~Will Rogers~
02 January 2010, 06:50
ted thorn
quote:
Originally posted by MickinColo:
I had reservations about posting on this subject. “Everything is junk except for what I use” comments. Have fun weeding through the personal bias. Wink


Thats with every thread on this entire forum at times.

I hate case prep work. It is time consuming. My trimmer is a Lyman with the spin chuck and a drill. It works fine but with burrs to be dealt with later.


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02 January 2010, 06:54
YUMAN
I use the Lee trimmers but I chuck the cutter in the drill motor I dont have to stop the motor to change cases.
Lyle


"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. I would remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."
Barry M Goldwater.
02 January 2010, 23:46
Buliwyf
The L.E. Wilson/Sinclair Utimate Trimmer is what you want.

Go to the Sinclair International website.
03 January 2010, 00:10
M4Finny
quote:
The L.E. Wilson/Sinclair Utimate Trimmer is what you want.


I concur. I saw this little beauty after I bought my sharkfin trimmer. It is a dandy upgrade with mic adjustment for precise and quick adjustments when changing between calibers/cartridges.


Psalm 109:8 "Let his days be few; And let another take his office."
03 January 2010, 01:15
SR4759
I have several different trimmers including Wilson, Lee and Forster. I have also used trim dies, tubing cutters and engine lathes to trim cases.
I find the Forster trimmer to be the easiest and most versatile to use. I have several. The one that does most of the trimming is set up with a 5/16 - 24 TPI high nut so it can be driven with a rechargeable drill or screwdriver. It can also be used to turn case necks.
03 January 2010, 02:55
The Bolt Man
Thanks to all for the many different suggestions.

We all have reasons for liking or disliking a particular trimmer. I do have several and still think there has to be something better. Faster one step operation would be great.

Now I can weed through all the replys and see if there is something that meets my desire and budget.
03 January 2010, 03:52
MickinColo
All the trimmers mentioned in this thread do the job. Some may be better than others for different people but that’s subjective. Good luck to you, I hope you find happiness in one of them. Wink
03 January 2010, 05:45
Doc224/375
Well I'm an Odd sort !. I use two of these and one DC variable speed motor with a sliding rail

attachment for moving in an out .

http://www.forsterproducts.com...og.asp?prodid=623130

http://www.forsterproducts.com...og.asp?prodid=623680

One for trimming and de burring kind of like

MickinColo. does . Then the other one for turning out side necks .

One motor does all the finger wrist turning work I just change trim or neck turning unit as the

dimensions as well as what used to be handles were identical .

See I'm kind of like Ted not real fond of doing the prep work either .

So I'll set around an figure a way to do it accurately as quickly as possible .

Because life's to short to expend all that time prepping .

Now fooling around with the Wife , Hunting ,Fishing ,Shooting tipping a few or brewing up wort ,

BS ing with friends

I CAN Make Time for !. archer archer archer
03 January 2010, 19:06
greenjoy
Wilson trimmer with the Sinclair micrometer adjustment attachment works supper.
Don't forget to order the cartridge case holders for it.