Opinions on powered case trimmers?

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mudj

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I'm looking to finally upgrade to a powered case trimmer, and I think i've got it narrowed down to either a Hornady LnL Power Case Prep Center, or the new RCBS Trim-Pro 2 Universal Case Prep Center.
I reload a variety of cartridges so the ability to switch between calibers easily without having to buy a bunch of expensive accessories, such as with the Giraud trimmer, is the main attraction with these two trimmers.
Does anyone have any experience with either of these, or alternate suggestions?
 
I use a Forster that works with my drill press. A drill press is useful to have: trimming, deburring, polishing, and even drilling holes. The only thing to make sure of before you go this route, should you decide to, is that your depth stop is positive, i.e. no flex. Check the "Show your reloading benches" thread for a shot of mine.
 
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+1 on the Forster. Gravity keeps the case straight to the cutter axis while the collet is tightened. Just be sure to order enough collets to cover all the calibers you will be trimming. Another plus is you hear the hum of an induction motor instead of the whine of a universal motor.
 
I use the RCBS unit and have no complaints whatsoever.

trimmer_2.JPG
 
I use and really like the "World's Finest Trimmers" from Little Crow Gun works. The downside is that they are specific to a cartridge group (i.e. one trimmer would cover .243, 7mm-08, 308) so if you have lots of different cartridges to trim it gets expensive to buy all the trimmers you need. I was able to cover what I reload with two trimmers. They work great, are very quick, and very consistent.
 
I use the Lee system - length gauges and cutter - with an electric drill. It's inexpensive, quick, easy and accurate, and I use a scotch brite type pad and/or a bit of steel wool to polish up the brass at the same time. Probably wouldn't do for someone who's doing 100s of reloads at a go, but for a box or two at a time, I find it really convenient.
 
I use the Lee system with a ball grip cutter and zip trim. I have the $90 Lyman and the jaw needs to be taken apart and set up again. If I bought another manual lathe type I would buy a Wilson or Forster. If I spend the money on an electric I'm going with Giraud (223, 308, 30-06 set ups). I hear great things about the WFT and may try it for .308 Win.
 
I like my Hornady LnL. Way better than the RCBS unit I had. I had the case trimmer, as well as the case prep center. The Hornady does both jobs, and has a lot more power as well. I also like the way the collet works, (quarter turn to lock or unlock) and the vertical travel of the handle. Alot less arm fatigue on long sessions. My 2cents
 
looch said:
I use a Forster that works with my drill press. A drill press is useful to have: trimming, deburring, polishing, and even drilling holes. The only thing to make sure of before you go this route, should you decide to, is that your depth stop is positive, i.e. no flex. Check the "Show your reloading benches" thread for a shot of mine.
Click to expand...

I use the Lee case length trimmers in my drill press. I put a steel plate on the table and when the pilot bottoms out, its done. Its as foolproof as can be.
 
I have three five gallon buckets of .223/5.56 once fired cases that need to be resized and trimmed and I'm planning to buy the "World's Finest Trimmer" from Little Crow Gun works. Until then its my 35 year old Lyman trimmer and a powered Lee trimmer.

trimmers.jpg
 
My current trimmer is a Lyman with the adapter shaft to use a drill. I have a Giraud on order that should be ready in a few weeks.

I would never consider anything but a powered trimmer.
 
I use the lee trimmer in a press drill. The cutter doesnt move up or down, I don't need to play with the press drill arm.
I then insert the shellholder in a screwdriver.
Brass in, quarter turn, push up on pressdrill, quarter turn, out. Approx 5 seconds per case in and out.

Then I insert the chamfer tool in pressdrill, chamfer all batch, then debur, debur all batch.
A bit ghetto but it works. Doing separate chamfer/debur makes it a bit time consuming though, but I don't have money to spend on a giraud right now. Plus the lee allows to trim any caliber for cheap.
 
I still like my Giraud, and IMHO, its the best trimmer available. Trim, debur, and chamfer in a single pass, and the carbide cutters last and last. But like anything else, the end product is dependent upon the attention you give to detail.
 
How hard would it be to attach a small motor to a manual case trimmer??

I have 2 manual RCBS trimmers and don't feel like spending more money for a power trimmer but now have 100's of brass to trim.

JJ
 
The way I see it, there are three choices: Giraud, Giraud, or Giraud :)

Absolutely hands down the BEST money I've spent on anything in my reloading room -- the only dumb thing is that it took me several years to break down and buy one. If only I had known then what I know now ... that case trimming is quick, easy and fun :) It's really quite easy to trim 300 cases in 20 minutes with one of these things.

Admittedly, though, a Giraud is really for large volume trimming of a single cartridge. Switching cartridge adapters based on the same bullet diameter is a trivial and quick thing to do -- just screw one out and the other in, and test and adjust with a couple of cartridge trims and you're good to go, so mine is set up for .223 all of the time with quick adapter changes for .22 Hornet and .222 Rem. However, if you're changing to a cartridge in different diameter, my recommendation is NOT to spend time screwing around with cutter blade adjustments but rather have a replacement cutter dedicated to that diameter already set up to go. This makes it quite straightforward to swap over to .308 Win for example. But without a dedicated cutter, and assuming a smallish quantity of brass to trim, I generally still just head over to a manual Forster trimmer.
 
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