What Trimmer to get?

TheCircle

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
32   0   0
Location
British Columbia
I have been looking around at Forster, Hornady, Lyman and so on. I really do not know which to get. I plan on reloading .223
Which would you recommend and why? Would I need to purchase anything with it? Cam lock or what ever.
What deburring tool would you recommend?

I am not looking to get an electric trimmer.

Thanks fellow gun nutz!
 
Sorry but I'm going to suggest an electric trimmer.
I just bought a Frankford Arsenal case trim and prep center and it has cut my case trimming time to about 30% of what it used to take me. I was worried about consistency but after trimming a couple thousand 223 cases and seeing that they are typically right on spec or slightly long simply needing to be run through again. All cases ended up within +/- 0.001 when I was done which is more than accurate enough for me plus it also has rotating inside/outside chamfer tools and a rotating primer pocket cleaner in one unit.
Best investment I've made in reloading gear since getting the RCBS Chargemaster combo.
 
For manual hand trimming, the Lee case length gauge and cutter is about as quick and convenient as it gets when chucked in a drill.
The bench mounted manual trimmers kind of suck the fun out of shooting lol.
 
Sorry but I'm going to suggest an electric trimmer.
I just bought a Frankford Arsenal case trim and prep center and it has cut my case trimming time to about 30% of what it used to take me. I was worried about consistency but after trimming a couple thousand 223 cases and seeing that they are typically right on spec or slightly long simply needing to be run through again. All cases ended up within +/- 0.001 when I was done which is more than accurate enough for me plus it also has rotating inside/outside chamfer tools and a rotating primer pocket cleaner in one unit.
Best investment I've made in reloading gear since getting the RCBS Chargemaster combo.

How long have you been using it? pros? cons?
 
I will also suggest a power trimmer.
Buy a giraud power trimmer. It's the way of the future.
It chamfers and deburrs at the same time as trimming.
Manually trimming sucks especially when it's.223
 
Check out little crow gunworks the worlds original finest trimmer
looks interesting
fella I know got one haven't heard how it works
looks easier than the electric RCBS one I have which was expensive but is WAY better than cranking it
 
Sorry but I'm going to suggest an electric trimmer.
I just bought a Frankford Arsenal case trim and prep center and it has cut my case trimming time to about 30% of what it used to take me. I was worried about consistency but after trimming a couple thousand 223 cases and seeing that they are typically right on spec or slightly long simply needing to be run through again. All cases ended up within +/- 0.001 when I was done which is more than accurate enough for me plus it also has rotating inside/outside chamfer tools and a rotating primer pocket cleaner in one unit.
Best investment I've made in reloading gear since getting the RCBS Chargemaster combo.
This 100% ,you won't be disappointed.
 
I use the Lee case length gauges and trimmers with a powder drill for most trimming operations. They are quick and consistent and they don't take up a lot of storage space.

I have the Lyman universal trimmer and only use it when making special cases, like 32 WSL or 7.5Ă—54.5 for the Schmidt-Rubin. I don't think I would use the Lyman universal for day to day trimming like for, say, 223. I just think it would be too tedious for a lot of that. Setting up the depth of cut can also be a bit tedious, especially if you forget to keep a properly trimmed case as a gauge for setting the depth. Keep a case to use as a gauge and you should be good.

The Lyman universal works well. I have the power adapter for it for when I have a lot of stuff to get through. The normal cutters are holding up fine; I don't think I need the carbide cutters. I might pick them up if I saw them at a good price, though.

The set of pilots that come with the thing have worked for everything I've used them on. I've not had to buy pilots.

For deburring, I use both the little Lee chamfer tools and the Lyman case prep tool thing, depending on the thickness of the brass:

https://www.lymanproducts.com/brand...case-prep-care-kits/case-prep-multi-tool.html

For thin brass, like the 32-20 cases I used to make 32 WSL and 1882 Swiss Ordnance pistol cases, I prefer the Lee chamfer tool.

A local shop carries the Little Crow cutters. I might try one in 223.
 
How long have you been using it? pros? cons?

I've had it for a couple months now and have trimmed a couple thousand 223 cases, a few hundred 308 cases and 50 300 win cases and it's worked perfectly for them and is just as consistent as my little Lyman hand trimmer. The only negative I can think of right now is that it can't do straight wall pistol or rifles cases because it indexes on the case shoulder and it won't do 300 Blackout because there isn't quite enough shoulder for it to grab.
 
I've had it for a couple months now and have trimmed a couple thousand 223 cases, a few hundred 308 cases and 50 300 win cases and it's worked perfectly for them and is just as consistent as my little Lyman hand trimmer. The only negative I can think of right now is that it can't do straight wall pistol or rifles cases because it indexes on the case shoulder and it won't do 300 Blackout because there isn't quite enough shoulder for it to grab.

I saw one you tube review and he said you can fit other standard trimming blades right into it. The RCBS ones with the pilot? I believe.
 
I picked up a Frankford Arsenal prep center and have been using it for 5.56mm. I have little reloading experience to compare it to, but it is VERY fast and easy. My F-I-L has been reloading for 55 years and was impressed at how fast it is. He is going to get one too!
 
Those of you with the giraud, did you by it direct from them? Any issues with the shipping? This has been on my wishlist for a long time. I need to finally make it happen.
 
Those of you with the giraud, did you by it direct from them? Any issues with the shipping? This has been on my wishlist for a long time. I need to finally make it happen.

Order direct. No issues with shipping to Canada. The shipping was fairly expensive though, maybe 70$.
 
I picked up a Frankford Arsenal prep center and have been using it for 5.56mm. I have little reloading experience to compare it to, but it is VERY fast and easy. My F-I-L has been reloading for 55 years and was impressed at how fast it is. He is going to get one too!

I picked one up last year and it's very fast compared to what I was using before. I trim 223/308/7.62x39/7.55x55, all with very good results.
 
Back
Top Bottom