Regarding the Lee case trimming tool…

[looch]

Regarding the Lee case trimming tool…

I was trimming some 22-250 cases and things got kind of “grabby” and then, once trimmed, the cases were coming out about .010” shorter than the prescribed “trim-to” length of 1.902”. Upon closer inspection of the cutting head, I notice that it’s pretty dull and that one blade actually has a chip in it. Also, the shoulder of the case length gauge is kind of chewed up.

So I have a few concerns about this tool:

There isn’t very much bearing surface on the shoulder, and the fact that it bears on the cutting head does not impress me, especially since I use the same cutter for other, larger calibers. Should I get a cutter for each caliber?

Has anyone had problems with the cutting head dulling prematurely or chipping? I bought this trimmer in March and I have probably run less than 300 cases through it.

How about the shoulder of the case length gauge “falling” into the hole in the center of the cutting head?

Thanks.

 

[Silverado]

I've used the same cutter for 2 years now for hundreds of cases and haven't had either of the problems you describe.

As each calibre has a different neck diameter, it will contact a different area of the cutter head, but as they are inexpensive, you could certainly get one for each.

I chuck my cutter in a drill press and hold the cases in the lock stud by hand. Works great for me!

 

[martinbns]

I've used the same cutter for 2 years now for hundreds of cases and haven't had either of the problems you describe.

As each calibre has a different neck diameter, it will contact a different area of the cutter head, but as they are inexpensive, you could certainly get one for each.

I chuck my cutter in a drill press and hold the cases in the lock stud by hand. Works great for me!

I've been using them longer than that with no problems either. I have two cutter's because I tried the one with the ball attachment. The drill thing works great.

 

[BCFred]

x3 for me. I haven't had any problems with mine and I use it with a wide variety of calibers. fred

 

[jaydeee]

As silverado said use a drill press, been doing it for years, works great.

 

[sbtennex]

If you can see a chip out of it, throw it away! They should last a lifetime, but s*** happens. They're cheap! Get a new one.