Press Case Trimmers; Good, Bad, any Ideas?

[jasonprox700]

I have read a little about case trimmers that you put into a press.  These sound like they would be great; they would take up less area and they are suppose to be pretty accurate.  I would imagine that they would also be faster too.

I thought about buying one, but I wanted to get some opinions before I threw the money down on something that was inferior to a regular rotary trimmer.  I can never seem to get a consistant cut length on the case.

Has anybody else used one of these?  What was your impression on them?  Any suggestions on brand?

[Maryland Hunter]

jasonprox700,
I've never used the trimmers you are talking about. I believe that they are called trim dies.
I personally use the Lee trim length gauge and ball cutter. This setup works great for me. Cheap, accurate, fast, and I use the trim gauge to clean out the media from the primer hole as well.
Hope this helps.

MH

[Don Fischer]

Yea I think he is talking about a trim die. It's very hard steel that you run a case into then file off the excess that protrudes from the top. Probally work alright but that some old stuff. I think I'll stick to my trimmer.

[jasonprox700]

Trim die is what I meant, thanks for the correction. 

[The Sodbuster]

Before I bought my case trimmer I bought a trim die for .22-250.  I like the case trimmer much better.  I get more consistent results using the trimmer than I did with the die.

[gdolby]

sodbuster,
 I use trim dies and am happy with the results. How are you getting inconsistant trims? is there slack in your shell holder ? I'm new to reloading so there is a lot that I don't know just curious. Good hunting...Bill

[PA-Joe]

Get a set of Lee Trimmers. Can't beat them.

[jro45]

I agree with P.A.-Joe,

Those Lee case trimmers been working for me for a long time.

[The Sodbuster]

Gdolby:
All I can tell you is that with my RCBS trimmer, all my cases are within a few thousandths when I trim them.  I got more variance than that with an RCBS case trimmer in a rock-chucker press for .22-250.  Couldn't tell you exactly why, I just ordered the case trimmer and never looked back.

[PaulS]

Trimmer dies are not meant for trimming cases for firing. They are meant to get a formed case in the ballpark so you can fireform it and use a case trimmer on it. Get a case trimmer -I have two different type and they are both very accurate. One is a Forster which uses a collet to hold the case and the other uses a rim clamp that holds the case. They both use a cutter and a pilot to hold the shell centered while trimming. I gave up resetting the trimmer for each different case - I made a set (actually two sets - one for each trimmer) of bushings that hold the trimmer out from the smallest setting for thr rounds I shoot. I pull the shaft put on the correct bushing and slip the shaft back in. Trimm that case type until I am done. When I change cases I just slip on the right bushing and trim away.
Paul

[kyote]

I have a lyman,ole herters,RCBS and a whole slew of the lee case trimmers I think they are sweet and easy to use.you can not really adjust the length of the cut except for shorter.and all it is,is a needle bearing inserted in the gauge.I even have them for pistol brass they are fast and easy once you get a ryhym going.
I must say when going for long range and accuracy.I use the ole lyman as I want the case neck as long as is exceptable to the chamber of my rifle.
that does not mean the lee does not do a good job.just that I don't normally do a bunch of cases with the lyman.

[Davemuzz]

The odd thing is, when you read about keeping your sizing die clean, and the area around your sizing die clean, it just seems to me that you are adding a bunch of brass dust to the press area that you are doing your best to keep clean so you don't put crud into your sizing die.

I dunno, seems like a dog chasing it's tail.


Dave

[PaulS]

My trimmers are mounted to the face of the bench and the press on top. The trimmings land in a small pan that is put in place under the trimmers. There isn't any mess on top of the bench. It is just like cleaning up the lathe after doing some work on it. It has to be kept clean but using it makes a mess. all part of the job.
Paul

[bubbadoyle]

I use a trim die for making 357 herret brass from 30-30 brass.  Once the 30-30 case is sized I then run it up into the trim die and tear the brass off of the thop with a pair of needle nose pliers.  Once you get it figured out, you can actually tear them off very square and clean.  I still set the die to leave some to trim with my rcbs case trimmer but the first 1/4 inch gets torn off.  I don't think I would ever use a trim die unless there was a substantial amount of brass to remove.

[Waldog]

Take a look at the L.E. Wilson trimmer system.  This is an old system, in that it has been in production for 50-60 years, and is one of the best.  The trimmer is VERY SIMPLE and is dead on accurate.  So much so, that many dedicated target shooters use this system exclusively, including Bench Rest shooters.  What is unique to this system is that the shell is held by the body and not the head as on all other trimmers.  You need a "shell holder" for each shell  The shell holder looks like a short piece of barrel chamber that is cut so that about 1/2" of both ends of the case showing.  You then hand hold the holder in the trimmer and trim away.  What makes the trimmer so accurate is that on most rifles the bolt/breech face is not exactly 90 degrees to the bore of the barrel.  As a result, the case head of a fired case is rarely in line with the bore.  That's why when you use a trimmer that holds the case by the head you usually have to use some sort on an alignment pin in the case throat to center the case.  It's a good system, just not as accurate as the Wilson.   The body of the case IS in line with the barrel resulting in a better alignment with the trimmer.  The shell holders are cheap, about $6-7 from Midway.  You don't need a different shell holder for all cases. Any shell in a "Family" of cases will use the same shell holder, I.E. 30-06, 25-06, .270, 280 , or 250 Savage, 300 Savage, 22-250, etc.  The Wilson trimmer also has primmer pocket reamers and inside neck reamers for use in the trimmer.  It's a great system and, if I'm not mistaken, cheaper than many other trimmers, including shell holders.