LEE QUICK TRIM DELUXE CASE TRIMMER review

[Hightrailtracker]

I just got back into reloading and found at a few item have gone missing , one being my case trimmer . no happy .

I had a bench hand crank trimmer before but I decided to see what was new out there since I stopped hand loading 10 years ago .

I came across the LEE QUICK TRIMMERS that fit in your press , as I have an old Lyman Turret press and I am only loading 308 , it would be a one time set up .

I ordered the LEE QUICK TRIM DELUXE CASE TRIMMER and a LEE 308 WIN QUICK TRIM DIE from X Reloading , the best price I could find .

The set up took about 5 minutes and it works like a dream , trimmed all my 100 cases to 2.005 , no variance , it's fast and easy and dead on !

Important to carefully read the instructions on adjusting the exact length , it's easy , just remember each click is .001 , clock wise increase the length , counter clock wise shortens the brass length .

The Trimmer is good for rifle and pistol , just need to buy the correct Die cal.

It's fast , easy and very well made !

My deluxe trimmer and 308 die came to a grand total of $ 45.47 plus tax , and you can get the standard trimmer and die for $31.60 plus tax .

The deluxe trimmer not only trims to length but simultaneously chamfers the inside and outside of the case mouth saving a lot of time and energy , all in one step .

One other note , the instructions advise you to screw the die all the way down to the lock nut , in my turret press if it is all the way down the turret cannot turn past the die , you can raise the die up and it still works perfectly as long as the base of the shell holder makes contact with the bottom of the die , just lock it in place with the nut once correctly positioned .

So if your looking for a trimmer , have a look at the Lee trimmers .

Just my 2 cents

 

[Hitzy]

Where do all the brass shavings end up?

 

[RonR]

'Trail tracker, good to know it's working for you.

I have one that came with the kit. It worked as advertised for a bit and then performance went sideways. Shavings collected inside the bushing and within the cutting mechanics. Perhaps the shavings stuck because of the film of protectant or whatever is added, but even after cleaning with G96 or degreasing the shavings kept on collecting making results less than repeatable. As Hitzy makes reference to...there are trimmings all over the press, catcher or not. This is in my case and again it seems to be working well for you.

Myself, gone back to the old trim system from Lee. After de-burring the flash holes it works well albeit when said and done it does take longer but for the repeatability and the budget, it's what is used now on this end.

Regards
Ronr

 

[Hightrailtracker]

HI Ronr

I am sorry about the problems you had , I blow it out after every few trims as the instructions say to keep it clean .

As I don't load thousands of rounds ( may be a hundred rounds every few months ) but I will keep you in mind and try to keep it clean and not let the shavings build up and cause any damage .

Maybe I'll disassemble it and have a look for possible shaving issues building up in side ..

I did a hundred and not really notice much shavings but the brass was once fired and were not much out of spec so I guess there was not much trimmed off in the first place .

Just thought I pass along my experience with this trimmer .

They do seem to get sold out quiet fast on the on line stores ...........

Many thanks for the info !!

 

[rick357]

I took mine apart and removed the two outer blades as they kept getting jammed up with brass shavings and then would overcut the casing too short. Works absolutely perfectly now to trim but I have to de-burr by hand afterward now. Not a big deal.

 

[Hightrailtracker]

Hi rick

You can get a LEE DELUXE CUTTER ASSEMBLY with cutter for $14.78 that would return it back and no more de burring /

Did some trimming this am , I just pull out the handle / assembly and give it a quick blow and the shaving are gone , slow but sure lol.

all the best !

 

[kevinm1980]

I bought to trim. 223 all in all not that impressed went back to using the older Lee system with a cordless drill

 

[RonR]

HI Ronr ... I blow it out after every few trims as the instructions say to keep it clean .

I'll be truthful and state that I didn't come across that part...perhaps when the cutter comes with the kit the documentation is absent or incomplete as in the situation here. I haven't written this off yet but before I revisit I'll find an inexpensive used press to dedicate to this cutter and de priming alone. What do you use to blow it out?

Just thought I pass along my experience with this trimmer . Many thanks for the info

This is always good IMO, even if stuff isn't working as intended. You'll find lots of tips by using the search function and well structured subject lines when posting. It's been really beneficial for myself that's for sure.

Regards
Ronr

PS. As Kevinm states, this is where I'm at here.

 

[Hightrailtracker]

Hi Ronr

I just trim 5 cases and pull the handle ( and attached assembly ) up and out and use all this hot air in me and give her a blow , i peek in and all the shavings are gone ..yes on the reloading table but I clean up afterwards anyway .

I check the cutter and shaft to for any shaving , I have not found any yet , again I am not a high volume hand loader , I have 120 rounds of brass in 308 right now , these will be used to work up accuracy loads for my two 308's .

I do not load any other calibre any longer , had to many , 308 does everything I need in a centre fire ....... yes of course I have an SKS (sss) but no need to reload ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,have enough lol.

all the best !!

 

[rick357]

Hi rick

You can get a LEE DELUXE CUTTER ASSEMBLY with cutter for $14.78 that would return it back and no more de burring /

Did some trimming this am , I just pull out the handle / assembly and give it a quick blow and the shaving are gone , slow but sure lol.

all the best !

Yeah, I know, I bought another cutter assembly, and then after a couple of hundred .308 cases I'd be back to where I started, pulling the outer blades out. It just doesn't seem to matter. Blowing it out with air helps, and taking it apart and cleaning it thoroughly also helps, but eventually it just screws up. I was back to removing the two outer blades that do the inner and outer chamfering. I use it in a cheap Lee Breach Lock Reloader Press which is the only thing that this level of single stage press is really good for and is exactly what I bought it for. Nothing against Lee at all. I have both a Classic Cast and a Classic Turret that handle the majority of my reloading. Also just starting to use a Redding T-7 for the precision reloading.

 

[redshooter]

I love this tool!

I have arthritis in my thumbs so case trimming using muscle power can be painful. I picked up one of these just over a year ago and although it's pretty much due for replacement, I've trimmed over 1,000 cases with it. I picked up two cordless screwdrivers on sale at crappy tire to provide the power and it's been great. I don't even worry about cleaning it. Most of the shavings end up in the piece you're trimming, but no problem as I just tip it into my primer catcher. I'll concede the chamfering component is pretty weak, I removed it pretty much right away. I just put a dab of grease on the cutter shaft now and then to keep it running smooth. I've been considering the Forester trimmer for Drill presses, but this is so simple and cheap I plan on ordering a new one soon to have on stand by for when the current one gets too worn.

The only real problem with it is cases that are quite over size, the cutter can "grab" the case and spin it in the die, no problem if you just raise and lower it a few times if it feels like the cutter is cutting too much at a time.