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Author Topic: Manual Case Trimmer recommendations  (Read 659 times)

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Offline GrampaMike

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Manual Case Trimmer recommendations
« on: April 26, 2004, 10:26:24 AM »
I need case trimmer advice.  Does anyone have any recommendations for which one to get or stay away from?  Mike
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Offline Thomas Krupinski

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Manual Case Trimmer recommendations
« Reply #1 on: April 26, 2004, 11:03:03 AM »
Mike,

I have been using a Forester for a couple of decades or more now, so I don't have any particular experience with any of the the others.  It has held up well and I think it is pretty quick and not tiring.  Recently I got one of the power adapters for it.  It is a little hex stud that you replace the crank with and you use an electric screwdriver like those cheap Black & Deckers instead of the hand crank.  Slick and easy.

I did look at the RCBS and a friend has one of those.  It is a nice set up, but since my Forester is working so well, I have no need to replace it.  The other modification I made to it was to replace the standard base stand with the extended base stand not long after I got it.
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Offline longwinters

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Manual Case Trimmer recommendations
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2004, 11:55:54 AM »
I have a Lyman.  It works well, but to be honest, if I were going to get another one I would look around a little more.  And I would definitely go with something that you can power with battery/electricity.  It gets boring just sittin there hand cranking away.

long
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Offline Questor

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Manual Case Trimmer recommendations
« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2004, 12:17:15 PM »
I don't trim cases.  In pistol cartridges, the mouth splits before length becomes a problem, and in high pressure bottleneck cartridges, I limit the number of reloads, depending on the particular cartridge and pressure, before throwing the brass away.  Accuracy is never a problem for me.
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Offline Thomas Krupinski

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Manual Case Trimmer recommendations
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2004, 12:46:32 PM »
Quote from: Questor
I don't trim cases.  In pistol cartridges, the mouth splits before length becomes a problem, and in high pressure bottleneck cartridges, I limit the number of reloads, depending on the particular cartridge and pressure, before throwing the brass away.  Accuracy is never a problem for me.


It is something you should really consider doing.  Even brand new brass is sometimes oversize and may need to be trimmed.  You may end up with a surprise if you don't measure the case length.  May not be applicable on every case design or chamber measurement as throating may compensate depending upon your barrel, but it is better to be safe than embarresed reading about your "accident".
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Offline Iowegan

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Manual Case Trimmer recommendations
« Reply #5 on: April 26, 2004, 01:14:15 PM »
There's several reasons for trimming cases. When you roll crimp rimmed handgun cases, the length has to be uniform, else kaka.
 
For rifle, one of the accuracy secrets is to have a nice squared mouth on your cases. This will help release the bullet straight, much like a crown on a barrel. I never trim to SAAMI specs (recommended trim length in most reloading manuals) but I do take just enough off to square the mouth.

As was mentioned before, if you buy new brass, it always comes with non-uniform length and a raggady mouth. A must for trimming.

I have an old Pacific trimmer that has been a work horse. It came with a removable handle so I can turn the crank if I only have a few cases or I can chuck it up in an electric drill and go like hell. The Pacific uses standard single stage press shell holders to secure the head and a pilot in the cutter head for specific calibers. I believe Hornady now sells this trimmer.

What ever you buy, be sure to see what accessories the trimmer comes with or what extra stuff you have to buy. Some of the pilot kits cost more that the trimmer. It's also nice to be able to motorize it too.
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Offline razmuz

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Trimmer Advice
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2004, 04:24:23 PM »
I've used a bunch of them and have settled on the Lee trim studs you use with an electric drill.  Once you get your routine down it's very fast.
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Offline ricciardelli

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Manual Case Trimmer recommendations
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2004, 04:49:39 PM »
Forster...
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Offline Dand

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trimmer
« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2004, 10:58:49 PM »
I sure like my Lyman Universal as I don't have to fool with various collets.  I can fit any case from a 223 (probably hornet even to 348 into jaws.  But I have had to replace the set screws - the allen screws were too soft and rounded out so I got some big fat head slotted machine screws and ground them to a nice length.  I think you can buy a power drive version.
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Offline Selmer

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Manual Case Trimmer recommendations
« Reply #9 on: April 30, 2004, 05:29:51 AM »
Another vote for Forster, or I saw an old RCBS trimmer with the collet in it, looked just as good as a Forster, but I wouldn't give up my Forster for anything!
Selmer
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Offline bgjohn

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Manual Case Trimmer recommendations
« Reply #10 on: April 30, 2004, 06:01:24 AM »
Forster's are flimsy. I prefer the Hornady trimmer.
JM
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