First, I must admit that I have a touch of OCD.
What is the best case trimmer that is out there. When I want to trim a case to 2.005, I want exactly 2.005 the whole circumference of the case mouth, any suggestions ?

Paul

I started off with an RCBS Trim Pro (?) case trimmer and it trimmed very accurate when set up correctly, but I had a bunch of cases to trim a lot of brass off and chucked a drill up to it and it worked for a short time and then twisted the shaft. I replaced it with an electric Lyman Universal Power Trimmer and it works okay, but I don't think it trims as true as the hand crank RCBS, but honestly I don't think the ammo I turn out with it is any less accurate.

Luckducker:
That is the same trimmer that I am using. I was wanting something some thing more pression and I don't think that is available in a power trimmer.
I really don't mind a hand trimmer, I have used one for decades. The older I get ,the more anal I seem to get, I guess.

Paul

look at worlds finest trimmer.
little crow gun works, and at the forester hand lathes.

LE Wilson.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul K:
First, I must admit that I have a touch of OCD.
What is the best case trimmer that is out there. When I want to trim a case to 2.005, I want exactly 2.005 the whole circumference of the case mouth, any suggestions ?



Paul

Hello, Paul K.: As you can see from the following photos, I am a big fan of the Forster Trimmers. I didn't like the idea of changing out the collets and pilots each time I wanted to trim brass of a different caliber. As a consequence, I purchased a trimmer to be pre-set for each caliber that I reload for. This way, there is no variance at all in trim lengths. I mounted each trimmer on a piece of 2X4 dimensional lumber, so all I do is just to clamp the trimmer in my vise, and away I go. Cheers. Chip.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul K:
First, I must admit that I have a touch of OCD.
What is the best case trimmer that is out there. When I want to trim a case to 2.005, I want exactly 2.005 the whole circumference of the case mouth, any suggestions ?

Paul

Opps, got the wrong photo.....try this one:

Whole lotta money tied up there.

George

CHIPB:
Now that is an outstanding idea !
I am definitely going to do that. Saves time, brass and several bursts of profanity.

Paul K

quote:

Originally posted by Paul K:
First, I must admit that I have a touch of OCD.
What is the best case trimmer that is out there. When I want to trim a case to 2.005, I want exactly 2.005 the whole circumference of the case mouth, any suggestions ?

Paul

I like my little Unimat lathe, also use the South Bend Heavy 10 sometimes, with a homemade case holder.

L.E. Wilson available through Sinclair International is the best I have used. Tried the RCBS and the Little Crow and I much prefer the Wilson.

The Wilson is micrometer adjustable and is very precise. I really tried to get the Little Crow to work but it isn't precise enough for me.

https://www.sinclairintl.com/r...m-kit-prod54116.aspx

holy cow Chip.
I like tools as much as the next guy but I don't think I could find room for 63 case trimmers.

I have a Forster and a Hornady lathe style. I was loking around at the powered ones as I am getting lazy in my ways these days. Ended up getting a Hornady Powered case prep center, looked at the Wilson and the Giraud, they don't make one of the shellholders I need, and those add up as well when you have to buy a bunch of them. Hornady has to use their shellholders, as they have the nub in the lock collar they have to bear against, but, they send 6 with the unit, and a set of pilots, and deburring tools, and some neck brushes and primer pocket tools.It's an all in one unit, works well for what i've done so far. RCBS primer brushes work on it, am told the RCBS 3 way cutter does as well. If you look at the vids on it, they have have put an indicator on the top of it now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7S2Q0e1VsI

I use the Lee Deluxe Quick trim. It trims, deburrs and chamfers all at once. This is much less expensive than multiple trimmers although that is a good idea too if one can afford it.

I've used the Forster trimmer since the late 60s. I'm sure there are better ones out there, but the Forster has worked just fine for me for more years than I care to admit. I don't have the massive numbers that the previous poster has, I just have two. One is standard, the other is on their short base. The short base works well on pistol brass, but will handle shorter rifle cases as well.

quote:

Originally posted by sep:
L.E. Wilson available through Sinclair International is the best I have used. Tried the RCBS and the Little Crow and I much prefer the Wilson.

The Wilson is micrometer adjustable and is very precise. I really tried to get the Little Crow to work but it isn't precise enough for me.

https://www.sinclairintl.com/r...m-kit-prod54116.aspx

this!
and for production my giraud

quote:

Originally posted by john c.:

quote:

Originally posted by sep:
L.E. Wilson available through Sinclair International is the best I have used. Tried the RCBS and the Little Crow and I much prefer the Wilson.

The Wilson is micrometer adjustable and is very precise. I really tried to get the Little Crow to work but it isn't precise enough for me.

https://www.sinclairintl.com/r...m-kit-prod54116.aspx

this!
and for production my giraud

We have three of these, and love them.

One is setup for short and standard cartridges.

One for the long ones.

And one for the awkwardly large cases like the 700 NE.

Forster, but throw away the crank and chuck the end of the cutter in a drill. Here is a link to it on the Midway website (but it may be cheaper some from some other distributor): https://www.midwayusa.com/prod...nal-case-trimmer-kit

To show how good this design is, I have one which was a knock-off made by Herter's in the 1960's and probably cost in the ten dollar range then. It is still cutting precision case lengths fifty years later (and QUICKLY with the drill).

I use the Lee Case Length Gauge & shell holder & Less Case Trimmer Cutter and Lock Stud. Chuck the lock stud in my drill and do about 100 cases in 10 min. Every one comes out perfect and they are CHEAP. The expensive case trimmer and prep center just sits on the shelf for when I don't have the caliber specific case length gauge on hand.

What Stonecreek says. Clamp in a vise and a cordless drill. Works great!

I started out using a Forster and used it for many years, when I started trimming multiple calibers I did not like the need for more than one collet. I switched to a Lyman trimmer whose case holder requires no collets and have been well satisfied with it. I modified the cutter stop by graduating it in .001" graduations that way I can make precise adjustments with little to no cut and try. When I am just trimming a small quantity I use the hand crank, use a cordless screwdriver when trimming large quantities.

I have a couple different Forster's and use a Drill adapter. This one https://www.brownells.com/relo...apter-prod59416.aspx

The Wilson is the best of the rotary trimmers, at least its the one I prefer, but for the kind of accuracy you want, the only way to go is the $13.00 file trim die..file off by hand what sticks out the top...

Truthfully I suspect one "rotary trimmer" is as good as another.I also have a Forester that I use with my electric hand drill or electric screw driver and an attachment I made, its fast and makes a hard job easy..

I use the file trim die on double rifle cases. lever action cases, pistol cases and any case that you may want to crimp, for a crimp to be right every case must be exact in my opine..the file trim die will do that better than anything else I know of. On occasions with some cases for whatever reason you get a little bump out from the case being too long and they won't feed or chamber in some cases..run the loaded round thru your file trim die and it will iron out the bump and the round will feed and chamber..Just a nice plus.