Hornady case trimmer question.
- Thread starter Emslie
- Start date
May have been sold under the Pacific name too. Make sure you are getting or can get the required case holders for each size of case you plan to trim. No experience as I find the Lee hand held trimmers work well for me. I do most cases just hand holding it. If I have lots of cases to do, I chuck the shell holder in a drill.
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
If it's like my Hornady Cam Lock Trimmer, you will have to use Hornady brand shell holders. Lee shell holders, for example, aren't compatible with the unit.
http://www.brownells.com/reloading/case-preparation/case-trimming/case-trimmer-pilots/cam-lock-case-trimmer-prod37248.aspx
http://www.brownells.com/reloading/case-preparation/case-trimming/case-trimmer-pilots/cam-lock-case-trimmer-prod37248.aspx
The concern would be whether or not the holders for the current model fit the old. That said, I think there is one holder mounted, at least one other in the plastic bag. Hard to tell for sure...
It is worth questioning the vendor what size pilots come with it, the cutter, and what size of case head holders. It might be all there.
sharp shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Essex county (Ontario)
i had one - I know own a Forester, I didn't think it trimmed very evenly. Get a Forester and you can get other attachments down the road.
I have the same trimmer, and it was originally sold under the Pacific name (cast into the frame, with the Hornady stickers). It trims about the same as any manual trimmer, and I have not had any issues with uneven cutting.
The pilots and shellholders are the same as the current cam lock model. The issue with other make shellholders is the primer through hole in the center of the holder is smaller, and the pin for locking the case in passes through and butts into the primer pocket to hold it tight.
The pilots are $6 apiece, depending where you buy, so the 10 pilots alone are worth the asking price. For a basic manual trimmer I would say it is a fair price, but I also would not get sucked into paying much more than that for it either.
The pilots and shellholders are the same as the current cam lock model. The issue with other make shellholders is the primer through hole in the center of the holder is smaller, and the pin for locking the case in passes through and butts into the primer pocket to hold it tight.
The pilots are $6 apiece, depending where you buy, so the 10 pilots alone are worth the asking price. For a basic manual trimmer I would say it is a fair price, but I also would not get sucked into paying much more than that for it either.
I would recommend a power trimmer if you are going to get serious about reloading because you will wind up buying one anyways. I have had a Lyman power trimmer for over twenty years. I am not saying that it is the best one out there but it has saved me many hundred hours compared to a manual trimmer which is what I use for my 50 BMG. Shop around and see what is out there. It seems that reloading equipment just gets better every year with competition between manufacturers. I bought a Hornady electronic powder measure and after using it I realized that I should have bought it a few years ago.
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
I have a Hornady trimmer that looks identical to that. Bought it around 1990, I would guess. I use Lee shell holders in it without issue. I find the hand crank a pain, and if you are doing more than a handful you will probably want to mount a drill onto the cutter shaft. That's easier said than done, as you have to mount the drill so that it is supported, perfectly aligned with the shaft, and capable of sliding back and forth. It takes some thought to figure out how arrange that.
It works well enough, but I find I usually end up using the Lee trimmer mounted in a drill most of the time. The Lee is faster to set up, no depth adjustments required, more portable, and faster to get cases in and out. It's hard to think of a catagory where the Hornady offers any real advantage.
It works well enough, but I find I usually end up using the Lee trimmer mounted in a drill most of the time. The Lee is faster to set up, no depth adjustments required, more portable, and faster to get cases in and out. It's hard to think of a catagory where the Hornady offers any real advantage.
The one feature that is an advantage to most, but potentially a disadvantage to some with the Lee is that it is only one length -- usually right in the middle of the allowable SAAMI tolerance for chamber length. If you are a target shooter with a custom chambered gun, you may want to trim your cases to a closer fit in length to your chamber. The adjustable trimmers do that, but it is at the price of having to measure and set them up each time (unless you only load one case). You also have to accurately know how long your chamber is. The Lee on the other hand is dead simple. No measurements, no adjustments. Just use it. I find it trims within less than an thou for tolerance.
