Case prep

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squirrelshooter

CGN Regular
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Near Sudbury, Ont.
Looking to streamline my case prep routine. I’ve been using a Hornady manual case trimmer and then hand chamfering the case mouth. How do you guys like the electric case prep stations? I’ve never seen one in action and I’m interested in which one might be the best and how they are used?
 
maynard said:
I use a Gracey case trimmer. Cut to length and chamfers inside and outside all in one operation. Like using an electric pencil sharpener.
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Are they specific for one specific case or just the calibre like the Forester unit. Where did you purchase your Gracey? Thanks
 
I don't think anyone is making the Gracey trimmer anymore. When I bought mine about 20 years ago the guy was about 90 years old. With the Gracey it was caliber specific and the case had to be resized, it indexed on the shoulder, and different cutters for each caliber. Well in my case I have 2 cutters to trim both .223 and .308. Each case would take about 2 seconds to trim and chamfer inside and out.
 
I’ve got the Lyman case prep station and love it
I use one station to trim my brass using the Lee case gauge system and it works perfectly
So much better then doing everything by hand
 
The Gracey trimmer is tricky to set up properly because its a dance to get all 3 components working together to cut and chamfer the necks perfectly simultaneously. Mine is setup for 25/06 and 270Win and it’s a pleasure to use. All other cases get done on a RCBS hand crank trimmer and separate hand chamfering tools. I have the calloused fingers to prove it.
 
I will have to agree with Mr Bill in regards to the 2 piece cutter blades. I think Giraud made a replcement cutter for the Gracey trimmers.
The reason that I bought a Gracey trimmer is because a friend of mine had one. This guy was machanically challenged (and that's being polite). He brought it to me to fix because he tried to make some adjustments to it and had it totally screwed. He dropped it off and didn't have time to wait so he told me to call him if I had time to work on it. I less than 10 minutes I had it properly adjusted. I called him before he made it home.

I do not trim my brass every time but I would bet that I have trimmed 5,000 cases over the years and have loaned it out to a couple friends to trim their cases too.
 
squirrelshooter said:
I’ve been using a Hornady manual case trimmer and then hand chamfering the case mouth.
Click to expand...
Chamfering and deburring are my least-favourite case prep tasks.

Save some money and time: https://leeprecision.com/deluxe-power-quick-trim - trim, chamfer and deburr in one pass with your power screwdriver providing the energy.

Have some spare blades on hand and remember to start trimming only when you have pressed the trimmer down to the case.
 
Thank you Mr Maynard for the Giraud cutter tip for the Gracey trimers. If I didn’t have the Gracey I’d be seriously considering buying the Giraud trimmer.
 
+1 for the Lyman station. I set the attachments up in line so you could literally watch tv while just putting each case through each tool in a circle and done. Machine does all the work. I did 1000s of 223 brass this way.
 
I've been using a Henderson 3-way trimmer for the past few years and never want to use anything else for trimming. The quality of the machine and the consistent trim with chamfer is outstanding.

There are different trim heads for different bullet diameters (.224/6mm/.308 etc.) and 4 different collets that each handle multiple calibers. Is it pricy... yes. Is it worth it, absolutely.

There are a few videos at Henderson's web site that will show setup and use.

You can order direct from https://hendersonprecision.com/product-category/case-trimmers/

X-Reload stocks them domestically.
 
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