What's the fastest, easiest way to trim 223 brass?

[Offfhand]

Check out the Gracey trimmer, it and the Giraud work in identical faishon at the same speed. In fact, the Giraud is nothing but a knock off of the Gracey but is priced a lot higher, even though the Gracey is a more elegant design.

 

[kelbro]

Possum Hollow is nice but good luck finding one. Nowadays, I would have to go with WFT.

 

[Rule3]

The Gracy appears to be as nice as the Girauard and a little less$$ but still probably more than I really need. Think I will try a WFT. For the price not much to loose.

 

[rodregier]

+1 Giraud. That or equiv thruput if you're feeding a semi-auto. I've used lesser products, sorry I didn't buy the Giraud sooner.

I note that Giraud sells upgrade kits for the Gracy, but haven't heard of the reverse

 

[kostner]

As soon as I get mine I'll give you a review. $24. priced right.
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Possum Hollow Kwick Case Trimmer 17 Remington, 221 Remington Fireball, 222 Remington, 222 Remington Magnum, 223 Remington
4.5 Read 23 Reviews

 

[Steve H]

+1 on Possum Hollow

 

[Rule3]

Thanks, I was considering that PH but no one has them in stock.

 

[XD 45acp]

You mean my Bastard file and pocket knife for deburring is obsolete?

 

[FROGO207]

I use the Lee case trimmer system on a drill press and use the base to set the length instead of the shellholder. Then I use a LE Wilson chamfer/deburr tool in the drill chuck of a hand drill mounted on a board and just touch the case necks to it before I put the casing down. I do mine in batches and outside chamfer as a separate step when I get a container full and have to turn the LE Wilson tool around each time. If I had to set it up again a case prep center would work well also I believe, after using the lee trimmer step first. Lots less money to accomplish the same end result IMHO.

 

[soloban]

Another vote for WFT. I have one in 30-06 and 223 for the Garand and AR-15 since I tend to load up hundreds at a time.

 

[zxcvbob]

I haven't tried a WFT yet, but I like what I see in the videos and the price isn't too bad.

I use Lee trimmers. For pistol brass (mostly making 9x18 out of 9x19), I chuck the shellholder in a cordless drill. For rifle brass, I chuck the cutter in a drill press and trim them without using a shellholder.

 

[soloban]

I started with the Lee trimmers but taking them in and out of the holder gets old quick.

 

[BADUNAME37]

After determining the max and min OAL, I pick the middle as a length by which I measure.

Using my (good-quality) caliper, I quickly sort through sized cases, culling into two piles, those that are above the mid-length (which are the ones to be trimmed) and those that are below the mid-length which won't be trimmed.

I can go through 1,000 cases in less than about an hour.

I then set up my Forster (hand-crank) trimmer for the Trim-to length (minimum length) and trim all the culled cases that are now in a pile that are all over the mid-length.

I would say, doing this in several sessions, not all at once, the total length of time for 1,000 cases would be about two to three hours, maximum.

When reloading, any part of the process that is handling and performing the same task many times over, I find I get extremely fast at each of those tasks. Of course, I need to give my hands and body a break, so I stop every so often to go get a large drink of water, get the mail, check email, etc.

I am typically not in any hurry, whatsoever, when reloading, so it may actually take me days or weeks to finish such a task, doing it when I'm in the mood and when my body is working well and up for it.