Trim to Length

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Davidf

CGN Regular
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Location
Milton, Ontario
What is the best equipment for trimming rifle brass?

I've been using the basic Lyman hand operated device that came with my kit years ago. I have to confess I hate this operation. It's tedious to get set-up each time and the settings slip after too many cases. I just finished 100 30-06 cases and have another hundred to go, then I have 200 308 and need to get back to 270's. There has to be a better machine for doing this. Any suggestions?
 
I myself use the lee hand trimmer, i get out the old hand drill and start trimming away.I find it alot easier then bring out the trimmer press and it cost alot less,now i know you cant change the length of the case with the lee set up but it works for me.


C
 
+3 for the Lee
Leecasetrimmer.jpg
 
I also use the Lee trimmer, I use the Lee zip trim, and or the drill, both work good enough for me, I do like the drill much better though. I just find that evertime I want to trim, I forget to charge the batteries for the drill...:redface:, so I use the zip trim.
 
For the small amount of brass you trim, what you have is fine. For larger quantities, look into a Gracy (sp?) trimmer.

Are you timming too often? I very seldom have brass need trimming, and I load cases at least 10 times. I removed the expander button on my dies.
 
X99 for the Lee case trimmers :)


Has anyone got an extra 30-30 size shell holder for the Lee Trimmer??
I lost mine (suspect it was borrowed & :rolleyes:) don't want to buy the whole thing to get another holder, ya I know I'm cheap :redface:
 
@ Senior: PM me and I'll send you one.

I too use the Lee setup, but 'backwards'.

By that I mean instead of chucking the lock stud in a drill, I chuck the cutter. I personally use my drill press, but any drill with a 1/2" chuck will work too.

Then you just spin the tool, and hold the lock stud/shell holder/brass in your hand. This goes very fast... about 5 seconds per case I'd say.

I really like the fact that with the Lee tools there is no setting of length; and they're cheap, like me.
 
x100 for Lee.

I don't reload a ton of ammo because I don't put in a ton of range time, but for what I do, my Lee equipment has served me well...especially considering it only cost me $69 USD for the setup. :D
 
I like my rcbs case trimmer, I got the three way cutter which trims, chamfers and deburs all at the same time. I size then trim and them tumble. A little different order then most but when i take my cases out of the tumbler the flash hole deburing tool removes the media in the flash hole, I brush the primer pocket and back to seating primers. The three way cutter speeds things up quite a bit when you consider two of the other steps are done at the same time.
 
i also use the Lee trimmer, did about 250 .303 case's the other nite in a couple hour's while surfing u-tube..... my biggest gripe with it is the knurled lock up ring sure kill's the finger's after a couple hundred round's... they should make the lock ring oblong so it's easier to grasp.
 
I pretty much reload only 3 calibers: .308, 30-06, and .223. I've used the lee trimmer for years and have to confess...I HATE THAT THING!

I briefly tried a lyman motorized trimmer and hated it only slightly less, but then discovered what for me was a gift from the reloading gods: a Dillon Resizing/Trimming die with that ultra high speed motor. It is a re-sizing die that is threaded on top for this monster motor with a carbide cutting tool. It re-sizes and trims to overall length all in one. Once I get set up (takes about 15 to 20 minutes), I can do about 800 cases an hour.

Chamfering I find easiest with the RCSB trim mate case prep centre, as well as cleaning out that pesky primer pocket. Given the volume I reload in .308, I think I would rather give all my guns to Wendy than go back to the old way....ok...maybe not that severe
 
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