Case trimmer recommendations

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pgohil

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Brand new to reloading. Haven't even started yet. Have some items on order and am looking for recommendations for a case trimmer. Not a high volume shooter, but need supurb accuracy.
What should I get? Will be loading 44 mag, 6.5 creedmore, 30-06, and 243.
Thanks all.

PGohil
WV
 
Forster original along with Forster pencil sharpener looking debut and chamfer tool. Not cheap but not highest either. I have both screwed to bench and use them for 5.7x28 thru 30-06 and all in bgg between that I trim.
 
I use the Trim-It for my rifle brass. Video on the youtube.
Forty years +, and never trimmed pistol brass. Including thousands of .44 mag.

Though slower, I have a Lyman Universal. Get the attachment to use a drill rather than crank.
 
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Forster original along with Forster pencil sharpener looking debut and chamfer tool. Not cheap but not highest either.
And a very good trimmer. Only thing better is the Wilson. But I use a WFT in a hobby lathe to do .223 because of the bulk.

I have a couple of the WFT, two Wilsons, a Forster, and an RCBS.
 
I have an RCBS and Lyman trimmer.
Both are set on a piece of 2x6 and run by a cordless screw driver. I prefer the Lyman because it is a cam lock that holds the case in place.
The RCBS has a step collet that holds the cases. It just doesn't do it for me.
By all means get one with some type of power unit instead of the hand crank style.
Cranking them by hand gets old real fast.
 
I guess I dont see the running with a drill or screwdriver. By no means fast but not slow I trim comfortably and only a few cranks are needed. I am only trimming. 001's though for uniform lengths.

As far as pistol I do trim some 357 to get uniform crimps on my hotter loads. Doesnt take much time to trim 100.
 
Really depends on what you are doing. A few rounds of precision rifle for BR comps, the forster is the standard, I think(It is slow and clunky, but that isn't an issue for that purpose).
Just want trim up 50 or 100 cases of 30-30 or whatever that will last you multiple seasons of hunting, can't beat the Lee basic length trimmer gauge thing.
If you have money to burn and want to impress the internet there are several options of power tool ran specific caliber trimmers and a couple ridiculously pricey stand alone machines. .
If you want to trim the occasional ice cream bucket of .223 or .308 range ammo a good fast lathe trimmer like the Lyman universal is hard to beat. The universal collet/chuck is very quick, even hand cranked it is just a tick off the power options, any of them.
First world problems, we have a boatload of options.
 
"I use the Lee power quick trim in a small cordless drill."

I would add the Deluxe Quick Trim unit by Lee. It trims, champhers and deburrs all in one operation. Do add the power option as HDMontana advises.
 
A few rounds of precision rifle for BR comps, the forster is the standard
I would disagree and say the Wilson is the standard for trimming 6 PPC for Benchrest.

The Forster is a very good unit though.
 

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Forster. ALL of the different items you end up purchasing, cost less than all of the rest.

Take the handle off and use a cordless drill if you wish to trim faster.
 
I agree with Walkalong

I tried more than a few and settled on the L E Wilson "lathe." Easy and accurate
 
"I use the Lee power quick trim in a small cordless drill."

I would add the Deluxe Quick Trim unit by Lee. It trims, champhers and deburrs all in one operation. Do add the power option as HDMontana advises.
That's the one I have. Actually a couple of them. Forgot to put deluxe in the description.
 
I'm also using a Fosters trimmer and I'm very happy with it but I'm not in the long distance game. I agree the Wilson trimmer would be a better choice there.
 
I have the Forster and the Lee quick trim. I mostly use the Lee cutter and pilot in a small Harbor Freight drill press and use a piece of aluminum on the table to stop the pilot. Also a set of gloves with the plastic gripper dots helps me hold the brass from slipping.

I have never trimmed handgun brass either in 40+ years. YMMV
 
For my reloading I need 2; one for precision rounds and one for basic high round count calibers. I have tried a couple of different lathe style trimmers but for precision I have found the Wilson micrometer to be the most precise. I use it for my 6mm and 308 precision hand loads. I have 2 of the WFT trimmers that I use for .223 and .300 BO that do not require that level of precision. Both work very well for their intended purpose and I recommend both highly depending on the level of precision desired.
 
Over the years I have used several. This is my take.

The Lyman works ok and the universal chuck is nice until it wears out.
The RCBS and Forster use collets to hold the case and the trimmed length can vary a little by how you tighten the collet.
The Lee case length type trimmer is fairly accurate. Some of the shell holders work well but a few don't. You won't know until you try them.
The Wilson is very accurate. The basic unit is competitive in price but the tricked out version is expensive.
I have not used the Redding.

After all of this, I use the Wilson for precision rifle and a powered Giraud for my volume stuff.

They all work ok and there is probably not a wrong answer.
 
For your Precision Rifle loading, a Giraud trimmer with two heads for your 6.5 and 308. The Frankford is NOT a low cost equivalent.

For your handgun loading and non-precision loading, get an RCBS ProTrim II and a power driver adapter. 3 way cutters are well worth it to speed up processing.
 
if you are trying to shoot tiny little groups, a Wilson, if you are shooting steel at long distance it isn't nearly as critical because of other factors limiting precision/accuracy, whichever side of that argument you are one.

Most folks/rifles/applications will never shoot the difference between perfectly trimmed/chamferred/deburred cases vs just fairly well done cases. I'm still going to use the Wilson for "match" ammo.
 
For match grade cartridges, I would recommend something that indexes off the base not the shoulder, the micrometer makes it very easy to get a very precise trim. The downside is its manual and takes more time. Here is my LE Wilson

 
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