Basic reloading question

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mdblough

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Hi All. I am prepping to enter the world of reloading. (I recently purchased a .338 Lapua rifle so seriously need to save $$$ by reloading my own ammo). I have figured out most of the equipment I need, but am still uncertain about the case trimmer. Does anyone have any recommendations for a reasonably priced trimmer? Also, will I need to purchase a separate pilot for .338 lapua for the trimmer?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance.
 
mdblough said:
Hi All. I am prepping to enter the world of reloading. (I recently purchased a .338 Lapua rifle so seriously need to save $$$ by reloading my own ammo). I have figured out most of the equipment I need, but am still uncertain about the case trimmer. Does anyone have any recommendations for a reasonably priced trimmer? Also, will I need to purchase a separate pilot for .338 lapua for the trimmer?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

The Lee set up is about the cheapest and has worked well for me on .308. The shell holder and pilot should run about $8 and the mandrel and cutter another $20ish.
I've tried the Lee quick trim dies and cutter but haven't had much luck in that I always over cut. I don't know if it's me or it.
 
A lot of reloaders use this one from Forster, see Forsters website here and available at Sinclair here


CT1010_CaseTrimmer_Original1-300x300.jpg



And some of the more well heeled use this one from Sinclair, Sinclair/LE Wilson Trimmer found here

p_749013151_3.jpg


Yes you would a need a pilot for the Forster (~$7) or a case holder for the Sinclair/Wilson (~$15)
 
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dirtybarry said:
The Lee set up is about the cheapest and has worked well for me on .308. The shell holder and pilot should run about $8 and the mandrel and cutter another $20ish.
I've tried the Lee quick trim dies and cutter but haven't had much luck in that I always over cut. I don't know if it's me or it.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. The Lee system works well especially if you put the cutter in a drill press and the shell holder in a small screw driver (to use as a grip). If you want to minimize the risk of run-out in your necks the next step up would be the "Worlds Finest Trimmer" from Little Crow Gunworks (~ $80 per caliber). After that you get into Sinclair, RCBS, Wilson, etc. trimmers for $100+.

Try the Lee system, for a few bucks it is worth a try and if you don't like it you have lost little.
 
My only advice here would be to buy a trimmer that has available 'add-ons' for neck turning as well. You may never end up neck turning, but if you do, you won't have to purchase an entirely new set up... (unless, of course, you want to do your neck turning by hand)

I originally had a Hornady Lock & Load trimmer, and it worked perfectly well, but Hornady doesn't offer the option to use a single lathe-style base for multiple operations. With Hornady, you have to buy a complete neck turning set up, that uses the exact same base as their trimmer set up... I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of a Forster set up from Jerry at Mystic Precision, that will be complete with a 3-way cutter head for trimming, outside chamfering and inside deburring all-in-one. It's interchangeable with their neck turner, and can easily be run powered with a cordless screwdriver.
 
The Lyman trimmer with the adapter shaft to drive it with a drill works well for low volume trimming. If you want to trim faster (hundreds of cases per hour), the Giraud is my choice, but it certainly isn't cheap.

The "World's Finest Trimmer" looks like a good product, though I don't have any experience with it. The WFT2 version has interchangeable inserts, which saves you having to buy a separate unit for each case you want to trim.
 
I use this Forster product:

forcase.jpg


but I already have a drill press (which is required for this one) in my reloading room. To each their own and I respect the choices of others, but I wouldn't use a Lee product even if it was free. The scale and trimmer being the worst of my experiences.
 
I am using the Redding trimmer with the attached micrometer,a little more money but consistent lengths. Had a cheap trimmer before never again you get what you pay for usually
 
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