Need a case trimmer. Reccomendation please.

[MR WICK]

My .308 Lapua Brass after being fired for the second time needs to be trimmed. Can anyone recommend a great Brass Trimmer. I was looking at the Frankford Arsenal Case Trimmer and Prep System.

Any ideas?

 

[troy fairweather]

Foster

 

[Cliff Roberts]

I've never been much of a big case trimmer. When it gets so long as to become a problem, I'll chuck them up in a dedicated tailstock chuck for my mini lathe and trim them that way. Because lazy works... sometimes...

That said, I picked up the Lee Quick Trim Deluxe a few days ago to trim down some particularly ragged 6.5 swede and have been pretty happy so far. The trimmer was 26 bucks and the dies have been around 16 bucks each.

Don't know if that's exactly what you're looking for but I hope it helps, bud!

 

[N555]

I use the layman pencil sharpener one.
It was like $100 about 5 years ago...

 

[BBarn]

The LE Wilson is very precise and produces very consistent trim lengths.

 

[kmw1954]

Another one here with the Lee Quick Trim. Just this past week I trimmed up 200 pcs of 223 brass to be used for a rifle league load.

 

[Varminterror]

For the volume you are shooting and the precision you are expecting, the Henderson and the Giraud are the only answers.

The Frankford is fine and it’s fast for trimming neck length, but it’s still a 3 step machine with no depth control for debur or chamfer.

A more budget friendly option I recommend is the RCBS Trim-Pro II with 3 way cutters and power adapter. The WFT is a fast option as well if you don’t mind committing a drill press.

 

[westernrover]

Giraud, Henderson are nice stuff.
I don't know anything about your volume, but I'm happy with the precision from my LE Wilson trimmer with the TiN cutter.
My batches of rifle brass are 300 cases at the most (hunting stuff). The most volume I trim with it has been revolver brass using the Q-type shell holders. I'll sit and trim a few hundred in an hour. Because I'm trimming for consistency of the crimp and not concerned with fit in the chamber, I only trim the cases that are long, usually just nicking a couple thou off the end. Trimming a few hundred is enough to produce 1000 cases of consistent length and I might do that several times a year, so maybe 1200 a year. If I had to trim over 5000 cases in a year, I might be looking at a power trimmer and one that I can load cases into and out of faster.

 

[MR WICK]

For the volume you are shooting and the precision you are expecting, the Henderson and the Giraud are the only answers.



The Frankford is fine and it’s fast for trimming neck length, but it’s still a 3 step machine with no depth control for debur or chamfer.



A more budget friendly option I recommend is the RCBS Trim-Pro II with 3 way cutters and power adapter. The WFT is a fast option as well if you don’t mind committing a drill press.

Can't seem to find the Henderson or Giraud. Can you post a link.

Thanks.

 

[JFrank]

Can't seem to find the Henderson or Giraud. Can you post a link.

Thanks.

If you are using an expander ball system within your full length sizing die you may be stretching / pulling the case necks up leading to increased trimming.

www.lewilson dies use the decapping rod and no ball.
Works great on my 308’s slows trimming.

 

[rayatphonix]

+1 for the WFT. I’ve been using them since they first came out on an old drill press.

 

[Varminterror]

Can't seem to find the Henderson or Giraud. Can you post a link.

Thanks.

You won’t find them at Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Manufacturer direct for either, or Creedmoor Sports for the Giraud.

 

[lightman]

Anything that I'm likely to use Lapua brass in gets trimmed with my Wilson trimmer. Brass that I load in volume gets trimmed in my Giraud bench machine and pistol brass (when I trim pistol brass) goes through my Lyman trimmer. All of these have carbide cutters.

 

[lightman]

Can't seem to find the Henderson or Giraud. Can you post a link.

Thanks.

Google Giraud. That should get you to his website. I don't know how to post a link.

 

[JEBruns]

I have a Frankford Platinum case trimmer. Works well and can do most calibers. But as mentioned, it's 3 separate operations, which adds a lot of time and finger fatigue to trimming. I picked up a Giraud Tri-Way for my 6.5CM. Great tool! One operation per shell. Only caution would be to have it facing up, so that you insert the brass pointing down into it. That way the brass trimmings do not foul up the shoulder rest in the tool, and the trimmings don't go into the shell itself. Also, they are caliber specific, so not as versatile of a tool.
https://www.giraudtool.com/giraud-tri-way-trimmer.html

 

[westernrover]

There are links to both in the video description.

 

[Offfhand]

There is such a wide variety of case trimmers on today's market that the choice(s) is mainly a matter of personal need and and how much you are willing to pay. Attached pic show three such varieties. If only trimming a small number but focused on precision the Wilson is top of the list. The Wilson shown at front right has all the bells and whistles, but the simple, basic Wilson (Not shown)is universally favored by benchrest shooters because it is precise and also fits in portable tool boxes. (They are often available at eBay at good price, as are some other trimmers.) The RCBS tool at rear right, is typical of other crank types and adaptable to most calibers, accurate and reasonable fast. The Gracey power tool trims and bevels case necks at one pass and is good to have for trimming large lots of cases. I've used this one for about 35 years with complets satisfaction for a few different calibers. The Giraud tool, which is a knock-off of the Gracey, works the same way at the same speed. If I needed a new motorized tool I would probably get the Henderson.

 

[Rule3]

Some "minor" details. How much brass do you need to trim on a regular basis and what is you budget?
Manual or motor?

 

[koni]

+1 for the giraud just gets costly if you add different cartridges. I’ve been using mine for a few months now and love it. Upgraded and still use the Lyman brass smith

 

[Demi-human]

What about the Hornady Prep Station?
Everything on one machine.
But, man, these things are pricey! $630!
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012736565/

The inexpensive way would be a drill press, with depth stop, at harbor freight,
https://www.harborfreight.com/power...ses/8-in-5-speed-bench-drill-press-60238.html

and a Little Crow Trimmer.
https://www.littlecrowgunworks.com/...ss-Trimmer-Housing-Cutter-Assembly-p106089997

$160 together.


Or just the drill press and regular cutters and chamfer tools chucked in and the depth stop adjusted in between.


I like the Henderson!

 

[Skeptic13]

I bought a Forster Case Trim Kit a few years ago after using Lee Quick Trim for many years. The Forster is a great trimmer and very precise.

 

[BRatigan]

I have been using a Forster for 30 years. All manual, no power. Works just fine.

 

[Ks5shooter]

RCBS here added the power attachment many years ago still works just fine.

 

[doubleh]

I have used the hand crank RCBS for over 50 years and it's seems just as good as new. I only load for two rifle cartridges now and have made a check case for each. Loosen the nut, install the case, tighten the nut when changing calibers and you are ready to go with either, no measuring needed. That method would work with multiple calibers just as well. I realise it takes a little effort to use as it isn't electric powered but it gets the job done accurately and that is what I want. If I were doing large volume reloading I would add the power option but I am not.

 

[Kaldor]

I own a bunch of trimmers, and I still use all of them. Usage depends entirely on volume I expect to do.

The Giraud is a great unit as I can pretty quickly change between calibers and it chamfers and deburrs in one cut. I use this for bolt gun brass mostly.
The WFT2 was a great place to start from and was my first electric trimmer, but doesnt chamfer or deburr. I still use it for 300 BO.
The Dillon RT1500 handles the bulk of my AR brass for 223 and 308. It is fast and accurate. No chamfer/deburr, but my SSTL media tumbler solves that issue.
The Lyman hand trimmer does the odd calibers that I dont have setups for. Its accurate enough for those calibers for me.

Suggestions:
If you are only going to trim 308, I would suggest the Giraud Tri-Way. The only downside is you cant just switch it from caliber to caliber easily and calibers are somewhat limited.
If you want to cover alot of calibers and not spend a fortune, the WFT2 is a great option as well.
If you are only trimming 50-100 at a sitting, the Lyman with the power attachment is a solid option and will do anything and everything including pistol brass if you ever have the need.

One thing that wasnt touched on here? Having a good VLD style deburring tool is a must have, even if your trimmer does chamfer/deburr. I use the Lyman one, but there are a bunch of them available.