Good case trimmer under $100

[gvnwst]

I searched old threads, but i didn't ssee anything like this, only the BEST, and questions about specific trimmers. I am wanting to get a good trimmer, and have a $100 budget. I was looking at hornadys, because i allready have the shell plates and i can get a power adapter for it, but then i read about it having no "actual" micrometer adjustment, and decided against that one. (unless there is some secret to it?) So, what would be a good trimmer for that price range? I am going to be loading everything from 5.7x28 to large magnum rounds probably, mostly .223, .260, and .308 though.

Thanks.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Even though I have thousands tied up in equipment and supplies I still haven't found a trimmer I like better than the little $6 caliber specific lee units combine with a cordless drill or screwdriver.

 

[edSky]

I just got the RCBS Trimmer Pro Kit the other day from Grafs. It costs around 95 dollars and with 4.50 shipping just squeaks in under 100.

http://www.grafs.com/product/239222

You might also want to check out the Lyman trimmer but I have no experience with that.

 

[Otto]

LE Wilson
About seventy bucks with stand, thitry five without.

 

[Eb1]

Just ordered a Possum Hollow .223 trimmer and Possum Hollow Chamfer tool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i42nDelSKf8

I love the Lee's as well. Sometimes the case holder doesn't tighten up right, but it is hard to beat for a trimmer.
Although this morning I woke up to trim .223 brass, and I could not find my .223 case holder. I found the trimmer, but someone had removed the case holder. I suspect my wife when she used the drill.
I took this as a good chance to buy the .223 Possum Hollow Chamfer tool along with the .223 trimmer. I am going to give that a go.

 

[Walkalong]

Forster Trimmer. Only thing better is the Wilson, but I only use the Wilson for match cases. It is a good bit slower.

I do not know if any of the Forster collets will work with 5.7 X 28. My three won't. I modified an RCBS #4 collet to work on my RCBS trimmer..

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Definitely Wilson.

Andy

 

[bigione]

I noticed your concern about micrometer adjustments. You don't need to make those adjuctments with any dial on the case trimmer. Just trim one case slowly, measure often. When you get the correct length, set the case trimmer and trim all to the same length. I love my Forester.

 

[Stormbringer]

Another Lee fan here. You can't beat the cost, reliability and effectiveness of the Lee case trimmers.

Jim

 

[SquirrelNuts]

The new Lee trimmers come with a 1/4" hex shank, so they chuck up in a cordless drill easily and fit many accessory bit sets for drills. Piece of cake to use with or without the drill.

 

[evan price]

I have the Lee case length gauge/shellholder sets and the cutter & lock stud with the 1/4" shank. Simple, easy, CHEAP, and accurate.

I found a Black & Decker cordless screwdriver in the trunk of a junk car I bought- the Lee Lock Stud goes right into the screwdriver chuck, then I just trim with the cutter & case length gauge then use my internal/external chamfer tool to touch up the case mouth. It don't get any easier or cheaper than that.

The .308 length gauge from Lee trimmed to 2.007" which is a bit longer than I like (I like to be under 2.005") so a little careful touching up with a fine stone on the tip brought it down to 2.002" which is IMO perfect. Total investment to trim one caliber is under twenty bucks.

 

[Hesenwine]

Case trimmers

I use the Lyman manual model with the power adapter. I trims as well an neck-turns and you don't need shell holders.

You can "fine tune" the adjustment with knurled knobs and fix them in place with set screws.

 

[Steve H]

All my hunting loads and serious target stuff gets done on my Forester. 223 possom hollow is FAST.

 

[gvnwst]

I prefer a "actual" trimmer, rather than the pieces that chuck into a drill, so i think i will go with a Wilson...

It is a good bit slower.

How is it slower? (like, is there some mechinical thing in the design that makes it slower, or what?) I found a power adapter for it, so that would take away the slowness, right? I am not going to make thousands of rounds at once... (more like 200 at a time) For that i would get a giruad or something.
I found it in midway, if i order that, and the case holder, is there anything else i need? It doesn't way if it comes with trimmer heads.

 

[Stormbringer]

I thought that way at first then switched to the Lee system...much easier, less to setup and can do it in an arm chair while watching tv trimming by hand. You really need to try one before you make a more expensive investment.

 

[edelbrock]

My vote is with the Forster. The power adapter makes it even better.

 

[gvnwst]

You really need to try one before you make a more expensive investment.

Is it just the $5.98 cost thing on this page?:
http://www.leeprecision.com/html/catalog/casecon.html
The "cutter and lock stud"? I have a chamfer/deburr tool allready....

 

[Stormbringer]

You need the Lee cutter and lock stud ($5.98) plus the specific caliber Lee case length gauge with shell holder ($5.50). Its dirt cheap and if you don't like it isn't a big investment. Sold the old lathe trimmer after I tried the Lee and haven't looked back.

 

[sniper5]

I use the lee also but instead of the lockstud and shell holder I have the self centering shell holder that I chuck in a cordless drill. One size fits all and since it's self centering I can run fast and not have to worry about the casing wobbling. It's listed as a part the the zip trim but it's cheap and fits a drill chuck.