Lee Quick Trim Problems

[targetshooter]

I’m hoping that someone could shed some light on the problems I’m having, below is a copy of my problems that I sent to Lee which should explain it all.
I recently purchased a 6.5x55 Quick Trim Die ( SKU 90337 ) here in the U.K.
During the preparation of my used cases after full length resize I found that even when the trimmer is set at its shortest setting the cartridge length is still longer than the saami specification (2.165") of the cartridge case by about 10 thou or more with no consistency and the end of the case is serrated and I can also see the case rotate through the shell holder no matter how hard I hold the press lever down when a try to trim.
I have used the Deluxe Quick Trim Trimmer (the one that chamfers the brass) with the appropriate dies on two other calibres with no problem and with both I can trim to saami spec and 10 thou below, but not with the 6.5x55 Swedish.
However with the 6.5x55 I found that the rubber/plastic insert is somewhat larger than the cartridge case thereby not having a snug fit to the case, unlike on my .222 rem and my 7.62x51. Upon measuring I found that the plastic/rubber insert has an internal diameter of approximately 0.4925" whereas the cartridge case has an external diameter of 0.4760" thus allowing it move around.
Secondly when the die is out of the press and I have inserted the cartridge case and then slid the case holder (no.3) into the bottom of the case I noticed that the case moves slightly out of the die by a significant amount but I am unable to measure it. I could solve this problem by re- facing the shell holder on a flat stone until that problem is solved.
Anybody got any ideas and does the size of the insert matter?
Thanks,
Alan.

[treetop]

Do you have to remove the collar on the trim / cutter ?
I do t have any cases that long, so I leave the collier on mine, but when I trim the 17 hornet, I used to remove the ball bearing, so it wasn't as harsh ..

[phaedra1106]

Personally I found the Quick Trim to be very poor in design and operation.

You'd be better off with one of the Lee "old type" trimmers using the calibre specific case length gauge and a ball cutter.

They are very consistent in the cut length as there's nothing to adjust

https://leeprecision.com/gage-holder-6.5x55-swed.html

https://leeprecision.com/cutter-with-ball-grip.html

[targetshooter]

Thanks for the suggestion I was thinking the same but I like the idea of having some adjustment on the case length although the gauge and holder https://leeprecision.com/gage-holder-6.5x55-swed.html and Cutter with Ball Grip https://leeprecision.com/cutter-with-ball-grip.html combo says you can trim to length 2.145 to 2.165 but I don’t see how it can trim to a different length surely it will only trim precisely to one length of 2.165 inch.
Can anyone enlighten me please?

[phaedra1106]

What's shown is the max and min trim lengths for the particular cartridge. So for the 6.5x55 it's 2.165" +0.000 -0.020 (2.145")

The Lee cutters are usually -0.010" from the max so it'll trim to 2.155"

[Alpha1]

Chuck them in the bin and buy a propper trimmer they are a waste of money.

[dromia]

The Lee fixed length trimmers are only useful if the length you want to trim is that which they provide, if for instance you want to trim to the shortest case you have in a batch and that length is less than the trimmer then they are useless. If they trim to the length you require then they are very good.

The quick trim has given problems to all the shooters I know that have bought or used one and have ended up being binned.

Good kit costs, in relation to lee stuff. I have a Lyman electric trimmer and a Forster. The Forster is by far the most accurate as its collet for holding the case takes the length from the base of the case whereas trimmers that use a shell holder or a collet that fixes inside the rim will produce variable lengths due to the differences in rim thickness.

Me, I like kit that works as advertised out of the box without fettling and can be relied on doing so every time I go to the bench, a lot of Lee kit doesn't do that.

They do make some good stuff, I use a few of their new bench mounted auto drum powder measures which are excellent out of the box once you have removed their "safety lock", Lee die sets are the best value sets out there and I use them for most calibre but the seating dies are not reliable so an "M" die style expander is needed to help seat the bullet square, their collet dies are very good too but do need fettling before they are fit for purpose.

Lee have had some excellent and innovative ideas that have been compromised by their non existent quality control and poor quality materials to bring them in at a price point. This price point has got a lot of people into reloading as well as having put a lot of people off with their fiddliness and need for fettling, you really need to be quiet circumspect when buying Lee and find out other peoples experience of the tool, what looks like an excellent idea in the advertising pamphlets is often let down by Lees execution.

Have a look online and see all the "fixes" there are for lee kit, that tells you all you need to know about Lee.

[targetshooter]

Thanks dromia for the good advice, I’m with you on wanting things to work out of the box every time without faffing around. As I doing more reloading I’m getting more pedantic about checking and measuring everything hence I seem to have a collection of bits that are not really up to the job. I wish I joined the forum earlier and asked for advice before buying equipment although I do find some of the Lee stuff is quite acceptable, an hour after my email to Lee they offered to send me a replacement free of charge including free shipping to the U.K. so they must be aware of certain issues.
So next on my shopping list will probably be a Forster Trimmer if the replacement isn’t up to it, as I’ve mentioned I have no problem with case length trimming for .222 and 7.62. Although I use the same head stamped cartridge case for each caliber I will check the rim thickness for variation.
The only other issue I have is that sometime the bullet seating isn’t consistent but that maybe me although you mentioned "M" die style expander, can you tell me what it is and who makes them, on my flat base bullets I use the Lee universal case expander.
Thanks again for the help.

[Dark Skies]

Dromia, is this a relatively recent thing, "non existent quality control and poor quality materials"?

I bought the majority of my kit back in 1996 - it came in a large box which I had in the loft for donkeys and eventually tossed - so I can't remember what model / it was called back then. It's all still going strong thousands of rounds down the line (single stage press).
At the time I bought a glut of rifles in calibres that I have had a fondness for throughout - consequently I bought the majority of my trimmers and dies back in the late nineties. I also tend to stick with the same live ammunition manufacturers which I reload when spent. As a result I don't seem to have suffered any of the problems regarding consistency or reliability. Is it because, kit wise, I'm living in the past?

If I bought the equivalent press kit today (which I've been considering) would I not be as pleased as I have been with my current kit?

[dromia]

It is pot luck with Lee from my experience.

So it might work or it might not.

As I say look on the internet any products that need so much bandwidth to help people to get them to work tells the whole story.