Case trimmers ?

[Madmark]

I started trimming with the Lee case trimmers, one for each caliber. I chuck the caseholder in a cordless drill and the process goes pretty quick. But I am reloading 12 or so calibers now and have to buy more trimmers.  Lee doesn't make trimmers in 7TCU or 7-30 Waters, so now would be a good time to think about changing trimmers. What do you guys use, and which trimmer is the best for the money?

[Swamp Yankee]

Madmark,

       I use a Forster case trimmer and a chamfer tool to do my brass with. I find it easy to set up and have very repeatable results. My second choice would be a Redding. There is a good thread in the arcives on trimmers too....Jim

[PaulS]

I use Lyman, Herters, and Forster trimmers. They all do the same fine job and the repeatability just depends on ho accurate you want to be and how many trimmers you want to have. I have one set up for all my rifle cases that use the same base. I have it set for the shortest case and made a set of precision spacers for each shorter cartridge. That way I don't have to set it each time I change to a new caliber. I did the same thing with my Forster - I set it for my 38 special and use spacers for my 357 Magnum and 357 Maximum. I switch collets and use the 357 Magnum spacer for my 45 Colt. My Lyman is for the cartridges that don't fi into the other catagories.

[davem270win]

I don't think you would go wrong with a Forster trimmer. I've also used a Redding, but prefer the Forster.

[str8shooter48]

Forester here too.

[Reed1911]

For small lots of ammo and for close tolerance trimming the Forester classic is great. For large lots of timming or if you have a lot of material that will need to be removed the RCBS power trimmer is hard to beat for the money. Then there is also the Dillon power trimmer that fits on the die and trims as you size it, if you are doing a lot of one cal like .223 or .308 it is a life saver.  It is by NO means cheap, but it does do a good job.

[hunt127588]

I just bought a Wilson trimmer with the Sinclair mount. I was torn b/t Wilson and Forster. I went Wilson b/c I didn't see one negative comment about it across many forums. I don't think you could go wrong with either one.

[Questor]

I don't trim brass because I don't keep it long enough for it to elongate. The Winchester brass I use in the calibers I have all are within tolerance. If I ever need to use a trimmer, I've got an RCBS.

[LeadPoison]

Case Length Gauge

Custom case length gauges can be made for cartridges that fit an existing shell holder if you send payment ($15 Plus $4.00 S/H), the desired trim length, and either the bullet diameter or a couple sized sample cases. The last is so we know what diameter to make the mandrel. Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.

Our address is:

Lee Precision, Inc.
4275 Highway "U"
Hartford, WI 53027


http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/faq/index.cgi

[june6th1944]

I like Lee case length gauges.  I use:

.30-06 Springfield
8mm Mauser
.30-30 Win.
7mm-08
6.5mm Arisaka (they recently quit making this one)

They do make custom lengths for $19.00 total as mentioned above, but I think they made the 7mm TCU in the past so they may sell it to you for less--won't hurt to ask them.

Good luck.

[Jim n Iowa]

For trimming case's I vote for the new RCBS case trimer. The old one was based on case head size, which varied from one brand to the other. The new one you clamp in the case est. a length and lock it down and they will all be uniform.
Jim

[Steve P]

I started trimming with the Lee case trimmers, one for each caliber. I chuck the caseholder in a cordless drill and the process goes pretty quick. But I am reloading 12 or so calibers now and have to buy more trimmers.  Lee doesn't make trimmers in 7TCU or 7-30 Waters, so now would be a good time to think about changing trimmers. What do you guys use, and which trimmer is the best for the money?

I know I have a Lee 7TCU trimmer at home.  They must have quit making them.  Do I have a collector?  Is it worth thousands?  The Lee trimmers are great.  For calibers that they don't make, and I only load a few at a time, I use an RCBS hand crank trimmer.  It gets the job done.  For calibers where I load 2-300 (or more) at a time, I use a Lyman power trimmer.  It works slick.

Steve  

[Madmark]

I know I have a Lee 7TCU trimmer at home.  They must have quit making them.  Do I have a collector?  Is it worth thousands?
Steve  

Hey, sounds like a one-of-a-kind! Ya never know what someone will pay for it on E-bay!

Actually, Questor has a point....... For $19 x 2, you could buy a lot of once fired .223 or 30-30 brass and start all over again!