After using my father in laws reloading stuff for years I finally got all my own stuff set up in a dedicated room, finally!!! I had just about everything, but needed a case trimmer, I looked at what was out there, and saw that every trimmer needed seperate pilots, collets, etc. then I saw the LEE zip trim, It was cheap and I wanted to save a few bucks, I figured at $15 I didn't have much to loose, I got the universal 3 jaw chuck and the ball cutter and the case length gauges, to make a long story short this is the best trimming set up I have seen, I just use the 3 jaw chuck for all my cartridges and insert the applicabe length gauge, I can quickly and extremly accuratly trim my cases, I timed myself, it takes a little bit to get the hang of the set up, but I trimmed and deburred a tray of brass in about 15 mins. like everything lee, some of there stuff is cheap and worthless while others work better for a fraction of the price, this is one of them

Thanks. I have been wondering if they were any good.

that trimmer has a whole lot of admirers...it just plane works.

And to think I laughed like mad when I first saw the ads, Reminded me of trying to start a lawnmower. But hell now I might have to get one.

Hey C C

Every so often the Lee Zip Trim will break. I'm on my 3rd one now. As soon as it breaks I'm on the net ordering a new one. What happens is the coil spring inside breaks where it is attached. You can fix it but it is a real PITA with little plastic inserts that keep the spindle from going backwards. I managed to fix one half-way and keep it in reserve to use while waiting on the new one.

I mounted mine on a piece of 2x4 and clamp it in a vise. There are four steps I do to each of the cases when using it:

1. Trim the cases like you mentioned
2. Chamfer the case mouth inside and out
3. Spread some Flitz on the outside by squeezing a little out of the tube along the case and spreading it with one of those sponges that come in the top of a bullet box (TSX & Accubonds) and then holding a rag against it to polish it while spinning the case. Works great!
4. Clean and smooth the inside of the neck with a 22 caliber brush with steel wool wrapped around it. Gets all the burrs off and takes the sharpness off the chamferred edge.

Anybody want to buy a Frankford Arsenal tumbler or a Lyman manual trimmer? Sell cheap.

I would bet Lee would give you a new one for free??? I really like it, using the lee gauges there is no setting the lenght with a traditional trimmer or changing bullet holders or anything, Mine is mounted on a peice of 1x6 then I C clamp that to my countertop and go to town. I can't belive how much better it works than a regular trimmer, I did have trouble at first with the universal chuck but some oil and operating the thing like it needs to be has fixed that and now its a snap

I've always used Lee trimmers but chuck the shellholder in my cordless drill instead. The ball handled cutter is nice when doing a lot of cases.

RCBS Trimmer is what I use and suggest!

Wilson, not the fastest but by far the most accurate.

After using others I've settled on the Lee coupled with the ball cutter and a cordless screwdriver. What I really like about the system is there is no need to even pick up a set of calipers whilst trimming. While I have the case in the holder I also chamfer, very fast.

Yet another option is to use the RCBS x-sizer dies - trim the cases once and never again.