The part of handloading I do not like. I have a Lyman acculine.(manual trimmer) I'm having trouble getting it to cut consistently, sometimes just to cut. The head shouldn't be dull since it is only about a year and a half old. I might have trimmed 3-400 hundred cases with it. It cut good the first time but after that it was down hill fast. Do I need to replace the cutter or get a new trimmer? I'm thinking about a motor driven. Any suggestions?

quote:

Originally posted by raybass:
The part of handloading I do not like. I have a Lyman acculine.(manual trimmer) I'm having trouble getting it to cut consistently, sometimes just to cut. The head shouldn't be dull since it is only about a year and a half old. I might have trimmed 3-400 hundred cases with it. It cut good the first time but after that it was down hill fast. Do I need to replace the cutter or get a new trimmer? I'm thinking about a motor driven. Any suggestions?

The thing I've found about the accu-trimmer is that if you are cutting off more than a couple thou it acts as if it is dull. I too have had trouble getting consistent lengths.

I'd like to know what the fix is too because I have just started loading fro some calibers that require forming cases from existing rounds and I need to trim as much as 3mm off. I also have an RCBS trimmer but have yet to receive the required pilots so I don;t know if it is any better. I'm anxious to see what works.

raybass -

not to steer you away from the lyman, but have you tried lee's trimmer?

it seems to me that it works very well and at a total price (universal cutter/lockstud plus gauge for your cartridge) of under ten dollars, it's pretty hard to beat!

the lock stud comes capable of being chucked into a cordless screwdriver or drill. this makes it very easy and quick to use. my kids and i can do over 200 cases while watching a movie on saturday night.

Doing that many cases you will be MUCH happier with a power trimmer. The RCBS Casemaster (I think?!) is easy to use and very consistent.

Best way yet is to find out if you really need to trim or not. Check out the inserts at Sinclair that are about $6-8 for specific calibers. You can actually check your gun and see what it's particular trim dimensions are based on the way the chamber was cut. In many of my guns I have another .015" over sammi spec. I actually have a couple of factory 300 win mags that have so much room that I never have to trim the brass for them. If your time is worth any money at all these things will pay for themselves really fast.

Thanks, I think part of the problem is with the brass flowing behind the insert(.277) while cutting. The insert should be countersunk in the cutter head. I'll just get another trimmer after I look at some different brands.

quote:

Originally posted by raybass:
The part of handloading I do not like. I have a Lyman acculine.(manual trimmer) I'm having trouble getting it to cut consistently, sometimes just to cut. The head shouldn't be dull since it is only about a year and a half old. I might have trimmed 3-400 hundred cases with it. It cut good the first time but after that it was down hill fast. Do I need to replace the cutter or get a new trimmer? I'm thinking about a motor driven. Any suggestions?

I hear that, I hated trimming until I bought a power trimmer. I’ll never turn a crank by hand again.

If you trim over a hundred cases on a regular basis, I'd suggest getting a Dillon RT 1200B case trimmer. They fit right on the press and size while trimming. They have a shop-vac hose connection that takes care of all the trimming chips too. Not cheap and not offered in all calibers, but really slick!

Then there's the inexpensive route...... the old trusty Lee drill type case trimmers. You'll start to get a little tired of the trimming chore after about 100 cases. But it beats the heck out of any hand crank type trimmer for speed and ease.

Get a cutter for each trim pilot caliber you have. Have some sized cases ready. Put red or blue Loc-Tite on the threads of the pilot then adjust the trim pilot in until you get the exact trim length you desire and leave it there.

I actually like the Lee Trimmers for the volume I do but unfortunately I have a predilection for non-mainstreem cartridges.

I have an old RCBS collet type and new RCBS trim pro with the press down to release plate case holder and a Forster collet type and a Lee cutter shaft hand type..the RCBS trim pro is fast and easy to change cases and seems consistant for me....I mounted it on a board base and made a cradle for a rechargeable-replaceable battery screwdriver....and used a nutdriver socket on a nut put on the handle shaft of the trimmer.....turns the steady speed and cuts according to how hard you press the cutter againist the case....saves money over factory unit and is quick and accurate with a little pratice.....lube shaft after use and check cutter for buildup....hth...good luck and good shooting-loading!!

quote:

Originally posted by tasunkawitko:
raybass -

not to steer you away from the lyman, but have you tried lee's trimmer?

it seems to me that it works very well and at a total price (universal cutter/lockstud plus gauge for your cartridge) of under ten dollars, it's pretty hard to beat!

the lock stud comes capable of being chucked into a cordless screwdriver or drill. this makes it very easy and quick to use. my kids and i can do over 200 cases while watching a movie on saturday night.

I use the same tool and I rate i very highly !

Another vote for the cheap Lee tool

I went from the RCBS trimmer to this and I like it a lot beter

Lee trimmers all the way!

No more blisters, no more inconsistant trim lengths, no more large burrs left on the inside and outside to chamfer off and cheaper to boot.

quote:

Originally posted by woods:
Lee trimmers all the way!

No more blisters, no more inconsistant trim lengths, no more large burrs left on the inside and outside to chamfer off and cheaper to boot.

+10 The best thing Lee makes!
Wwwwwell, maybe along with their collet die.

quote:

Originally posted by tasunkawitko:
raybass -

not to steer you away from the lyman, but have you tried lee's trimmer?

it seems to me that it works very well and at a total price (universal cutter/lockstud plus gauge for your cartridge) of under ten dollars, it's pretty hard to beat!

the lock stud comes capable of being chucked into a cordless screwdriver or drill. this makes it very easy and quick to use. my kids and i can do over 200 cases while watching a movie on saturday night.

I also use the Lee trimmers. I do mine by hand and got a good feel for how much I take off. Excellent tool and very inexpensive.

Tony

Lee trimmers are the greatest, fast, accurate and inexpensive! Get the ball handle cutter, lots easier on the hand. I use the Lyman with power for rounds that Lee doesn't cover.

Sometimes I feel like tossing the brass in the grass and using the weed whacker!

i bought a "mini chop saw" from harbour frieght ..

put a tail stock on the "Table" to act as a depth setter..

CHING!!!!!! trims to .001 consistently

Thanks guys, I think I'll try the Lee first and see how that goes. I like the drill motor idea. I'll give it a shot.

Heck, I must be the only guy around who much prefers a Trim Die in a Rockchuker over a Cutter. I have three trimmers and absolutely hated them regardless of how I powered them.

On a whim I bought a Trim Die for my .350RM and have never looked back. I now have them for all my calibers and absolutely love them. They are a bit slower to use, but do a great job for precision and it's impossible to screw it up. One of the really nice parts of a trim die is that they also work as a "go-no go" case length determiner. If there's brass above the die head, trim it. If it's too low, you can see how low immediately.

Anyway, just a disenting vote here: Trim Dies for me!

Raybass,

Can't really add much to what has been said already, but FWIW here's my experience with the Lyman:

As you noticed, the brass burr moves in between the pilot and the cutting head if you'e trimming a lot off the case. Real pain to pull the case off the pilot. The answer is somewhat laborious - trim a little, de-burr, measure and trim a little more..... I think that this burr is what is giving you the impression of dullness.

I gave up on using the trim length limit setting sleeve (for want of a better term) a very long time ago. The damn thing moves ever-so-slightly with each case I trim. Just can't get the grubscrew tight enough to hold it consistently. This is a hassle, as I am constantly measuring, trimming and de-burring. The upside is that, with a little practice, I am able to hold all but zero tolerance on my case lengths. I seldom if ever do more than 50 cases at a sitting (and even that might be spread over a couple of evenings), so it's not really a huge issue.

My friend and my son (who use my facilities) far prefer the Lee Zip Trim. It's very quick, and if I had to buy now, knowing what I know, I would probably also have gone the Lee route.

quote:

Originally posted by Rikkie:

My friend and my son (who use my facilities) far prefer the Lee Zip Trim. It's very quick, and if I had to buy now, knowing what I know, I would probably also have gone the Lee route.

I use the Lee Zip Trim also, they're cheap and do an excellent job


mount it on a piece of 2x4, clamp in a vise and it is much easier on your forearms than holding up that drill motor. Get the universal 3 jaw chuck

I grew so tired of trimming cases with a rotary case trimmer
that I switched to file type trim dies.

with a sharp chainsaw "guage" file (the flat single cut file made for trimming the raker teeth) the brasss cuts fast and cleanly
and needs less deburring than a cases done with a rotary trimmer.

AD

I use RCBS and Hornady fileing dies making neck sitzing in the same way.

I like the Lee trimmers too. For those of you with odd ball or wildcats, Lee will make you a trimmer if you will send them a case and the length you want to trim it to and they'll do it for not a lot of money. Kudude

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:
Heck, I must be the only guy around who much prefers a Trim Die in a Rockchuker over a Cutter. I have three trimmers and absolutely hated them regardless of how I powered them.

On a whim I bought a Trim Die for my .350RM and have never looked back. I now have them for all my calibers and absolutely love them. They are a bit slower to use, but do a great job for precision and it's impossible to screw it up. One of the really nice parts of a trim die is that they also work as a "go-no go" case length determiner. If there's brass above the die head, trim it. If it's too low, you can see how low immediately.

Anyway, just a disenting vote here: Trim Dies for me!

Trim dies are great for touching cases up but I've found them impractial when you need to shorten a case that needs forming.

I use a Wilson case trimmer for the most part with a drill spinner if I have over 100 or so cases. I like the Wilson because it is the most accurate and consistent I've found. I also have or used all the ones mentioned plus several others used or sold to the BR crowd.

The Lee "power spinner" looks interesting and I like gadgets, but I don't know if cranking a handle isn't easier than jerking a rope. I got rid of all my rope start boat motors long ago.

I like the Wilson because I can microadjust the length, use a drill with a primer pocket cleaner and/or flash hole uniformer to quickly clean and debur, then put the case a drill spinner to chamfer the case mouth inside and out plus clean off the sizing wax and also inspect the case for problems.

The trimming process therefore serves several purposes yet is just as fast as using my lyman power trimmer which usually just sits under the bench unless I am loading a few thousand cases in several calibers for varmint season, in which case I just trim mindlessly and do the other operations in later steps.

I use the Lee trimmer case holder in a drill sometimes for some of the standard size cases like 308, 223, 30-06...it depends on the phase of the moon, what my dog suggests, how much caffeine I've consumed and so on...

'Njoy

quote:

Originally posted by Rikkie:
Raybass,
I gave up on using the trim length limit setting sleeve (for want of a better term) a very long time ago. The damn thing moves ever-so-slightly with each case I trim. Just can't get the grubscrew tight enough to hold it consistently.

Some one, probably here on AR, a year or two ago told me to put a pellet of lead shot under the grub screw. (They come with a nylon looking ball under it.) I also degreased the shaft in that area, and haven't had any trouble since.

More spinning and less pressure may help also.

That RCBS powered case trimmer is a sweet machine. Fast and chamfers at the same time. I take my brass to my friends bench and can whip out a batch in very little time and with essentially no effort.

I'm going to try chucking the Lee into my neat little SKILL power screw driver. Great tip!