Trim dies?

[B. Miville]

Anyone here use trim dies?  I am thinking of getting one for .223 because my Lyman case trimmer, with the universal chuck, does not like to hold the small case heads too well (so far it seems fine with larger case head calibers like .257 roberts on up).  I figure at the very least I can actually kill two birds with one stone since supposedly trim dies can also act as case length guides, and I would save myself sorting through a bunch of cases with the ole calipers.  Give a quick zip with a file and then deburr.  But are they really worth it?  I would be doing high quantity, and considering right now making sure the .223 cases are not slipping out of the chuck head of my Lyman takes more time than it probably should, I figure it may be worth a try. (plus I guess you can't beat the tolerance repeatability of the trim die  )

Brian

[wncchester]

"supposedly trim dies can also act as case length guides"

That's exactly what a trim die is, you just file off any excess length.  They work good, last a long time!  Repeatablity is potentially good but, like anything else, you still have to do good work for it to be so.

Trim dies are my prefered method of trimming necks after case forming.  Afterwards I go to my Lyman Universal as needed but I don't have any trouble with the shell holder not working well.

[B. Miville]

  Afterwards I go to my Lyman Universal as needed but I don't have any trouble with the shell holder not working well.

Yeah, it is real annoying.  It seems to only be with the small case head of the .223 Remington.  I insert the pilot forst then try and tighten the chuck, but invenitably the case head wants to spin before tightening, causing the case to slip out from the jaws.  It takes more fidgeting than I feel is necessary to get the thing to finally lock into the trimmer.

I read one review on MidwayUSA where one guy says he can trim cases faster using his .223 trim die than he can with his manual case trimmer.  I think I am going to give one a try.

Brian

[Reed1911]

Depending on what you mean by "High Quantity" But, Dillon makes a really really good motorized time die. IT has a motorized blade on the top of the die, so you size, decap, and trim all in one stroke. I think they cost close to 250.00-270.00 with die and trimmer unit.

[yooper77]

Trim dies are really good, but the cheapest way and very uniform is to use the Lee Trimmer, see links below.

Lee Case Length Gage and Shellholder 223 Remington
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=107333&t=11082005
Lee Case Trimmer Cutter and Lock Stud
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=476992

high quantity?  You want to trim your cases to minimum case length, this doesn't require expensive or powdered equipment.
Plus expensive or powdered doesn't necessarily relate to high quantity.

yooper77

[wncchester]

"...but the cheapest way and very uniform is to use the Lee Trimmer..."

I fully agree, I have a couple and like them well enough but rarely use them.  I prefer the hand cranked power of my Lyman AND the fairly extensive line of helpful accessories available for it, de-burr, chamfer, neck turner, pocket reamer-cleaner, etc.

But, purely for case trimming, the Lee trimmer chucked in a slow turning drill may be the solution.

It's likely that Lyman would replace the slipping universal case holder, that thing works good when it works right!

[Old Syko]

Since the OP mentions "doing high quantity" I'd rule out the Lee or anyother nonpowered trimmer.  The Lyman with a proper drill attached will get the job done but if money isn't a factor there are many much better ways to go.  I use one of the Lyman heads mounted in a drill press that has held thousands and thousands of .223 and never slipped.  Give the manufacturer a call about replacement or repair.

Trim dies are great for case forming where a lot of material is to be removed but way to slow for any volume production in normal trim work.

[stimpylu32]

Brian

Here are 2 neat things that will work very well if you need to do a bunch of cases .

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v354/vtdw1/RCBS%20Trim%20Mate/?action=view&current=HPIM0179.flv

http://www.forsterproducts.com/Pages/power_trimmers.htm

stimpy

[B. Miville]

Hey folks,

Ok, first:  TO quantify "High volume".....when I load .223 for my Uncle's AR he tends to be a "blaster", so I usually load big batches of rounds for him so that I am not constantly loading all the time.  So usually I tend to do up about 1000 rounds a pop, sometimes more (usually depends on wether he springs for an 8 lb keg or not  .).....Me personally, I tend to load .223 for my own AR on a lower volume, about 200 rounds at once, and go for the more conservative "well aimed shot" method of shooting 

Second:  Perhaps I will contact Lyman and see what they say.  I just find it wierd it only happens with .223 cases (though to be fair it is the ONLY small case head I run through it....everything else is along the order of .30-06, .257 roberts, etc.)

Third:  Still interested in a trim die, but there are some great suggestions here I may look further into.

Finally:  Stimpylu32, the RCBS case prep unit is on my wish list.  My Uncle (another Uncle, not the one mentioned above) bought one a year and a half ago and RAVED about it.  I am thinking my next Midway USA order (which may or may not include a .223 trim die  ) I will snag myself one.

Brian

[B. Miville]

UPDATE:

Leave it to Lyman....I contacted them about the problem and they told me a possible fix.  I had to take the large nut off the spindle holding the chuck and adjust it. Sure enough....problem is fixed.  And after doing 300 cases......I now am thinking about getting the power drill atatchment 

Brian