Case trimmers and tumblers, what to buy?

chaslavk

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These two items I have yet to buy to have everything to start reloading. Does the brand/quality matter when buying these two. Rest of equipment that I have is all RCBS and was thinking to buy these two items from RCBS. But this brand is pricier than say Lyman which is almost half price.
Is Lyman as good as RCBS? Should I buy from them?
 
x2 for the Lyman Universal trimmer.
I picked up a used (fiarly heavily) Lyman tumbler which I've now used for 7 or 8 years. It's still going fine, so durability isn't an issue.
 
yup I 3rd the Lymann trimmer, I have a rcbs tumbler works good but loud as hell, have not tryied any of the others but I am looking to find one that is a little quiter. I have read a bit on the ultrasonic ones they look like they work really good. but no personal experience with one.
 
The Lee case trimmer works perfectly, and is virtually fool proof. My cases measure to the same length within 0.0005" after trimming. It costs less than $10. All case tumbers do is make your ammo look pretty. I like the look of one hole targets a lot better than pretty cases. So I spend my time and money on components that improve accuracy instead. Have loaded for 45 years and have yet to tumble a single case.
 
I like the L.E. Wilson trimmer. Bit pricey but I had to many cases flip out of the lee trimmer. I like the fact that the wilson makes a nice squared end. I also prefer a tumbler of any kind as long as my cases are clean and smooth as to not scar up my expensive dies. Too lazy to clean by hand. I use a Lyman.
 
I use Lee case trimmers also. I started with trim dies, then a Lyman universal trimmer and now Lee trimmers. The Lee are the fastest and easiest to use.

I have a Lyman tumbler and wouldn't want to be without it. I have no experience with other brands as my Turbo 600 has worked very well.
 
Do you happen to own a drill press,, even a cheap one ?

ht tp://www.forsterproducts.com/catalog.asp?prodid=700292

These are slick. Got mine a couple of years ago from MidSouth for about 60 bucks.
 
I use an RCBS Case Prep Center and have a mod similar to this to trim to length.

[youtube]JZGkWUtKz4k[/youtube]
 
The Lee case trimmers are excellent value and are quick when chucked to a 8.2 Volt battery drill.
I discovered this system when asking an experienced reloader for advice on which trimmer to buy he stated he had over the years owned and used the major brand trimmers Forster, Redding, Wilson, RCBS etc. his preference now is the Lee trimmers.

Being a frugal person I bought the Lee I can honestly say it works better than the RCBS and Lyman which cost more than double the price of the superior Lee trimmer.

As for a vibratory tumbler the Frankford Arsenal works great and is inexpensive.

Good Luck in you search!
 
Best thing I did was take the handle off my RCBS Trimmer 2, then thread a long screw in the end of the shaft. This allows me to use my cordless drill, I actually like trimming now. I sent Forster a message about there 3 in 1 cutter, it is suppose to fit a .490 shaft, so I think I may in business. Not sure though my calipers aren't the greatest.
 
I use an RCBS Case Prep Center and have a mod similar to this to trim to length.

I like the look of these. I've got one of the new "Lyman" units ordered. For $97.00 what the hell ? If you don't like it you can always make use of the components it comes with. :D
 
A new product that has been getting good reviews lately is something called the "Worlds Finest Trimmer". Simply chuck into your drill and trim away (I think you can do 500-600 cases per hour) - it works like a Gracey/Giraud (measures off the shoulder).

I have the RCBS trimmer - find that I have to rotate my case to insure a "square cut". Therefore looking at other options myself (Lee was the front runner, but this WFT trimmer has my attention).
 
I personally use the Forster case trimmer. I used to us the lee budget trimmer until I discovered that it began trimming the brass to short. The tip on the end of the gauge (45 ACP specifically) began to flare from use. I ruined 300 new cases before I realized it.

I use the Lyman 1200 tumbler in combination with an ultra-sonic cleaner.
 
So where to find wilson trimmer? If I have to buy this from US do I have to wory about special permits since this is gun related equipment?

w ww.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/sid=74656/pid=36320/Product/WILSON_SHARKFIN_TRIMMER_KIT_W__STAND

No problems ordering from Sinclair...it a tool, not something gun related :)
 
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