Case trimmers

[Alpha1]

What make of case trimmers are you guys using. Any preferences recommendations please.(No Lee products thank you.)

[Steve E]

Whats wrong with the Lee trimmers? I've been using them for years and I think that they are the best value for money trimmer that you can get. I also use a Gracie motor trimmer, but only for my .308.

[Watcher]

I have a Lyman which works well.

[Cj10]

I use the Giraud case trimmer. http://www.giraudtool.com/prod02.ht.

Easy to set up and change calibre, very accurate and consistent, and speeds up volume case trimming by a significant degree.

Ceri

[Chapuis]

I had a Lyman for many years but got rid of it and bought a Lee. It's one of the Lee products that really work. The Lyman was too inconsistant it simply wouldn't hold the same length as the locking mechanism is poor relying simply upon a grub screw pressing on a nylon plug. There are much better systems available but for me the Lee system works and does everything that I want of it.

[dromia]

The only problem I have with the Lee is they are fixed length.

I use the Lyman motorised unit and am very happy with it as I can't turn many with my arthritic hands now.

If you want the best consistency however then you want one that sets the case length from the base of the case not from the top of the case rim (the Lyman sets from the top of the case rim) as variable rim thickness will give variable overall length on these trimmers.

So when I am going for the tightest tolerances then out comes the Forster or the Wilson. My preference is for the Forster as I find that easier to use and It is also my case mouth trimming and reaming tool too, Forster quality is first class.

The Wilson is very good too but the body holder for each calibre can end up being pricey if you shoot a lot of different calibres like I do

For most the vast majority of my shooting the Lyman does me good enough and the universal head means changing cases is a breeze and speeds things up.

The Gracey, Giraud and their ilk are also fine fast accurate motorised trimmers but only really justify the expense if you have thousands of rounds of brass of the same calibre and OAL to do. What I don't like about the Gracey and the Giraud is that they chamfer the inside of the inside of the neck and for accuracy the only thing I like to put inside the case neck is the boolit/bullet.

The RCBS has a good reputation with some others find it awkward I passed mine on.

The newish Hornady cam lock trimmers look good but I haven't tried one yet.

You might find this of use for comparing features but it does have a retailers bias. http://blog.sinclairintl.com/2008/12/12 ... e-trimmer/

Try and use as many as you can to see which suits you best.

At the end of the day you pays your money and you takes your choice.

[dromia]

I had a Lyman for many years but got rid of it and bought a Lee. It's one of the Lee products that really work. The Lyman was too inconsistant it simply wouldn't hold the same length as the locking mechanism is poor relying simply upon a grub screw pressing on a nylon plug. There are much better systems available but for me the Lee system works and does everything that I want of it.

I am assuming that is the old style Lyman trimmer not the one with the universal head, also as I said with these style of trimmers variable case rim thickness will lead to variable oal.

[Chapuis]

No Dromia it was the universal case holder. I know what you mean about being stuck with a fixed length when using the Lee system but it meets my needs and is inexpensive. Buying one of the top quality high cost systems wouldn't be of any additional benefit to me as the Lee does everything I want.

[dromia]

I just don't recognise your description of the Lyman case holder.

The only time I get OAL variation with it is when I have case rim variation.

[Alpha1]

I use a Lyman universal trimmer I wondered why I was getting small difference in case overall lentghs. I will check but my guess is its because of different rim thicknes as you say Adam. I had not thought of that but it makes sense when you think about it.

I have a tub full of Lee trimmere that I bought when I first started re loading many moons ago. Like a idiot I once wasted money buying a zip trim it destroyed it self after about a week whilst trimming 7.62x54 cases.
I dont do Lee reloading stuff if I can help it. Like I have said before there dies are OK. The hand held press is use full as for the rest of it not I am not interested.