The Accurate Reloading Forums
Best case trimmer for .223?
18 April 2005, 01:07
500grainsBest case trimmer for .223?
What do you think is the best case trimmer for high production .223 reloading?
Thanks.
18 April 2005, 01:39
DennisDillon power case trimmer. I've got mine set up for my Dillon 650 on its own die plate. I use a universal decaping die on the station #1 and trimer on station #4. I use Hornady One Shot or you can also use a RCBS Lube die on station #1.
Gracey.I use it for both my 308 and 223.It trims and deburrs all in one step. It's like a giant electric pencil sharpener
rob
"the older I get, the better I was"
18 April 2005, 02:21
lawndartI can also recommend the Gracey. I use one for my high-power reloading, again for .308 and .223. The Giraud is probably even better than the Gracey. The Giraud's motor is stronger, and spins the brass a lot faster. That makes for a smoother cut. Which ever unit you get, be sure and use a carbide blade.
The Giraud unit is $365.00:
http://www.creedmoorsports.com/store/product.php?productid=16406The Gracey is $227.00:
http://www.creedmoorsports.com/store/product.php?productid=16412&cat=359&page=1Sorry we couldn't hang around Salt Lake through today. Lois is buried in her planning and zoning case, and I am supposed to be reviewing charts (fat chance). We got home at 01:00.
We found the range by the quarry just before we left town.
lawndart
18 April 2005, 08:01
500grainsThank you for the recommendations.
Is the Giraud unit easier to use than the Gracey? Faster? More precise?
Lawndart, things happen; we'll just have to linkup next time.

18 April 2005, 13:03
MADISONI am familiar with 3 trimmers. Two are good but, one is junk. Lyman conventional [yellow/orange] trimmers are excellent. The Lyman Accutrom is junk because I could not keep it adjusted for length.
Forester is excellent. Lee's hand trimmer is excellent.
18 April 2005, 13:51
Taupo HunterThe Lee hand trimmer in a cordless drill chuck. Very fast, cant over trim and you can deburr fast as well. I use this setup for .223, .308 & 30.06. (also very cheap)
7mm Rem mag-162 A-Max
Boom ...splat
19 April 2005, 00:36
lawndartThe Giraud is faster and easier to use. You can use it horizontally or vertically. In the vertical position the chips fall down and away from the cutter head.
lawndart
Edited for screwing up the grammar.
19 April 2005, 02:36
Blob1
Unless you want the name of Dillon or some other fine but expensive piece of equipment, use the lee hand trimmer. I have found it works real good and keeps me within my limited budget. I have found some fancy trimmers will cut more on side than the other especially with to much pressure.

Gracey for me.
Lee and Forster also work pretty well but are tedious for large batches of brass.
The Gracey rocks !
Gonna get some carbide blades from Giraud for the gracey though, serious usage dulls the hardened steel cutters that come with the unit.
I have never used a Giraud to compare it to the Gracey.
Travis F.