Best case trimmer for multiple cartridges

I use the Lyman which attach my cordless drill to. I hated trimming before I started using power, slightly less of a pain now. I have some odd ball calibers that pilots can’t be bought for which I spin out on my lathe. I do like the chuck on it that grabs every normal sized case I have tried on it except for a few 223 I made into 221 fireball which would let go. Only case it won’t work on is 577 Snider and 450-577 M/H which I set my lathe up for them.
 
OldDude said:
The best? I don't know. I've used both the Lee stud/cutter and the RCBS lathe style.
Both work. As mentioned, the Lee is no measuring required (unless you want to double check). It's been a while since I used it, but I seem to recall it was slower than the RCBS.

Again, as mentioned before, set aside one case with the length marked to use as a gauge for set-up, and confirm the trim length. One thing that tremendously speeds up the RCBS is the 3-way cutter - trims, beburrs and chamfers all at once.

I've also set up my trimmer to use a hex socket screw / driver bit to turn the crank.

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now that is a good idea
 
Lee trimmers with a small cordless drill. Easy, quick, inexpensive, no setup and changing for each caliber.
You can trim, deburr flash hole, chamfer, brush the neck, give a little polish all in a few seconds.
 
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Hunter1970 said:
giraud case trimmer. Done.
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Agree. The best investment I have made in reloading equipment. I had a Wilson Stainless trimmer with micrometer adjustment, accurate but painfully slow and then you had to chamfer and debur after you trimmed. The Giraud powered trimmer does all three steps at the same time and is accurate. The time it would take me to put the case in the shell holder, trim a case with the Wilson, remove it from the shell holder, chamfer and debur the case I could easily trim 7 or 8 with the Giraud trimmer.
 
I used to worry extensively about trim length, until one day I stuck and empty case in my rifle and put my bore scope down the muzzle- BIG difference in the case length and the actual chamber length!!
Now I match the cases to the chamber , using a Lee pilot and lock stud.
Cat
 
I have used most types starting with the hand crank rcbs, back in the day. I did buy the Frankford arsenal trimmer 10 years ago, it works well but a little slow for me. I did replace the cutting head with an rcbs made one. I have tried the Lyman E-Zee trim with a cordless drill. It works and its easy to get the right length. More recently I use the Worlds Finest Trimmer , very well made or the Worlds Cheapest Trimer WCT (ebay). For the price the WCT works well and chucked into a good drill trims brass fast.
 
kawicrash said:
Lee trimmers with a small cordless drill. Easy, quick, inexpensive, no setup and changing for each caliber.
You can trim, deburr flash hole, chamfer, brush the neck, give a little polish all in a few seconds.
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A rechargeable power screw driver is the ticket to this system.
I needed a couple pilots made up as Lee for some reason don't awffer up one in 308NM.
Forget what t'uther one was I had reshaped?
 
There are only two systems that don't require a pilot for the necks is an old tried and true ''case trim die'' and a lathe, fitted with one of those handy little adjustable case head clamps.

Back in the day, before I could afford to have a lathe or two of my own, I used TRIM DIES.

They're cheap, handy, easy to use and the outcome is always shootable as well as being identical on a repeatable basis.

They can be very versatile as well.

One fellow I know that's heavy into "F" class shooting is convinced that his rifles shoot more consistently when the necks are within .001 in of maximum length for his rifle's chambers and uses a trim die exclusively for the cartridges he hand loadloads for.

In this particular case, cost is not an issue. He just wants something that isn't fussy and works every time after it's been set up where he wants it.

If you're only trimming a half dozen or so different cartridges, trim dies are cheap and a file/inside outside deburring tool last a lifetime.
 
RCBS trim pro kit is good all around choice. I have older one that the shell holder plates need to be changed for cartridge. New version uses a universal spring loaded holder. Comes with a variety of pilots for different calibers. Can add as needed. Use a drill to turn instead of crank, RCBS sells a kit that is overpriced for a screw. There are aftermarket companies that can make them motorized. Nice part about lathe is oddball stuff can be trimmed. You can also get trim heads that are 3 way cut, inside and outside chamfer done while doing the case lenght.

I also use a world finest trimmer on drill press when I did high volume 223. The are nice but caliber specific. New ones can do more than one .

I purchased a lyman brass Smith case trim express as well to try. It works well. It indexes off shoulder of cartridge which means bottle neck cases only. Faster than lathe style but limited to certain cartridges.
 
OkayShooter said:
I had the RCBS lathe style, but you needed to change it every cal you did. So I simply went with with the Lee trimmer. 7$ per cutter and lock stud, then about 13$ for the shell plate and guide.

Sure you ended up paying a bit more. But you don't need to constantly change and fool around with the settings. I have a set for 303, 308, 30 carbine and waiting on the guide for 30 Herrett. I just use a little cordless screw driver. So nice to just grab the corresponding one, chuck in a case and giver.
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I have Forester, RCBS, and Lee.
I pay less for a Lee case length stud than I pay for a forester or RCBS pilot.
I can make Lee case length studs on my lathe for special calibers like the the 9.3x57, the 9.3x62 and others.

The Lee case length stud mounted in a drill press is about the fastest and most accurate system there is.
 
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