This has probably been done to death, but...
I decided today -after a bruise in my hand- to retire my old Forster rig. So what's the hot setup with a power rig? Is there anything better/faster than the collet case holder?

[ 08-18-2003, 05:31: Message edited by: Pedestal ]

Measure the case length with a dial caliper, chuck in your lathe, then turn the neck down with a dial indicator to correct length. It goes pretty quick with a little practice.

Pedestal,

May I suggest you get yourself a Wilson trimmer?

There non better. We trim literally thousands of cases, and found this to be the most accurate and easiest to use.

We have tried all power operated models, none of them are as accurate as the Wilson.

Sinclair sells an adapter for the Wilson that allows you to use a battery powered screwdriver. It works very well. Speed and accuracy. ...ol blue

Lee sells one also, that I use in my cordless drill. Cordless screwdrivers usually don't have the speed or battery life to do hundreds of cases.

I'v got a Wilson and swear by it for rifle cases.I use the power screwdriver att. and it is fast and accurate!But I recently started reloading for pistol again and discovered that it kinda sucks for that! They tell you the cases have to be pressed into the cartridge holders with an arbor press or tapped in and out with a dowel. Don't have an arbor press and the tapping in and out is SLOW to say the least!I'll probably pick up a Lee or something cheap for that.I am disapointed that they(Wilson) can't come up with something better for pistol cases.
Jeff

Thanks for the tips, folks. I'll take a look at the Wilson. Uh, anybody got a URL?

I got my Wilson trimmer Kit from Sinclair International.

http://www.sinclairintl.com

I recomend the kit with the "stand" and the clamp for the shell holder.

The trimmer is not only very accurate for length but it also cuts the neck square to the body. If you really want to you can also Square up the case head?

muck

Maybe not the most high tech, and arguably not the most exact, but the absolute fastest is a Lee trimmer. Chuck the cutter up in the drill press, and dispense with the shell holder. Just use your fingers to hold the case, and let the pilot bottom on the table. You need a good spot on the table, or a flat-ground plate to do this, but it is super fast!

At one time I was forming 357 Harret rounds from 30-30 brass. This required opening up the brass to .357 diameter and trimming almost 1/4 inch off it. I got me an ELECTRIC Lyman Trimmer and have been satisfied with it ever since. RCBS, makes one. Who else I do not know. If you do lots of cutting the Tungston Carbide Cutter might be a good investment.

jsr

The new "Q-type" pistol case holders for the Wilson trimmer work pretty well - these have a small steel bar that wedges the case into the holder against the case rim. You do have to keep the "lock" bar in the same orientation to get a consistant case length.

Sinclair sells a power adaptor for forester trimmer for 9.95. I have trimmed with one of these and a power screwdriver for several years. very fast and seems very accurate to me.