Brass trimming solution

Baldur

Baldur

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Folks,

Need some advice here. I really enjoy reloading. Gooad hobby for whiling away the long winters up here. But I'd like to take my son to an Appleseed event or two this summer. As some of you know that takes a lot of rounds (x 2 if we both do it).

So I've ordered a large amount of mill surp brass. The step that takes the longest for my current setup is the trimming to length after sizing. I currently have a Lee hand held unit that I chuck up in a cordless drill. But even with that it takes too long.

Who do you all think has the best trimming solution that gives good repeatable length tolerances, (just has to be good not to the closest micron, I'm not going to be shooting at Camp Perry) but will let me crank through brass fast?

Any advice on the subject welcome!
 
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If you are loading for a single caliber, the WFT by Little Crow does a really nice job without breaking the bank. link
 
It's not cheap by any stretch but this is a solution.

RCBS Trim Pro-2 Power Case Trimmer Kit 110 Volt

BTW, I have the manual version that is 190 dollars less but 100 cases cranking that handle by hand and my arthritic wrist is totally done in for 2 or 3 days. Good news for me is I shoot with a bolt action and a heavy range day is only 30 rounds so I don't have to process a large number of cases at one spell. If I were to get an AR-15 I do believe that I'd have to break loose for the bucks to add that power unit to my trimmer.
 
Do you have a crimp to remove too? Other case prep? If so, the RCBS Universal Case Prep Center may be right for you.
 
I have done batches as large as 20,000 rounds of 223. The absolute best trimmer is the L.E.Wilson, second best is between a few. I have and still use the Forester and its big brother "Classic" (for large black powder cartridges). I owned the RCBS power case trimmer, it allows too much variance in the length due to the way the case is held in place. Also it turns very slow. The best inexpensive choice is the Lee system with a cordless drill and 2 of the shell holders, you and your son will be able to do hundreds an hour (with one trimming and one putting them in and out of the shell holders, up to 20 per minute) all for less than $20 and your drill. Midway and many others sell these. Ivan
 
I like my Wilson trimmer with drill adapter for all of my trimming. Their primer pocket reamer that replaces the normal cutter is the best thing I've found for removing military crimps (at least for 7.62x51 and 50bmg brass). You can get drill/power screwdriver adapters for most trimmers. I use my Craftsman variable 1/2" drill for driving the Wilson, as it doesn't require batteries.
 
L.E Wilson with micrometer adjustment gives very consistent and square cuts. If you have a bunch of brass to do, it would be worth while to by the drill bit adapter.
 
For speed and good enough for everything but bench rest the Dillon trimmer mounted in a 650, 1050 or Hornady LNL press is hard to beat. This is expensive and if you dont have a semi auto press with case feeder its not a good option.

Other people that do volume swear by the Giraud, this isnt cheap either but people speak highly of them.

I like the Dillon method, cases come out of the press trimmed and sized. Just run them through the tumbler and done. The best thing is I dont have to handle each case, pour them in the feeder, dump out the finished bin. It is a bit noisy, the trimmer and vacuum but I can live with that.
 
Another suggestion I didn't see listed is the Forster power case trimmer. It is made to be used in a drill press so that may or may not figure into the cost, depending on if you have one or not.
 
Baldur said:
Folks,

Need some advice here. I really enjoy reloading. Gooad hobby for whiling away the long winters up here. But I'd like to take my son to an Appleseed event or two this summer. As some of you know that takes a lot of rounds (x 2 if we both do it).

So I've ordered a large amount of mill surp brass. The step that takes the longest for my current setup is the trimming to length after sizing. I currently have a Lee hand held unit that I chuck up in a cordless vice. But even with that it takes too long.

Who do you all think has the best trimming solution that gives good repeatable length tolerances, (just has to be good not to the closest micron, I'm not going to be shooting at Camp Perry) but will let me crank through brass fast?

Any advice on the subject welcome!
Click to expand...

When I think of repeatable length tolerances I think of Cartridge Overall length [C.O.L.] and that means a dimension from the base or bottom of the case to the end of the neck. For that I'd recommend this power trimmer from RCBS: RCBS Trim Pro Case Trimmer - YouTube

If you're only interested in speed there are plenty of other options that index off the case shoulder and ignore the bottom of the case to shoulder dimension. Here's a favorite of some: Giraud Case Trimmer Review - YouTube

It all depends on your sense of standards, what your willing to settle for, and of course your budget. Shop around. :)
 
Between working a lot of overtime, and being a father, the only time I really get to reload is my 1 hour lunch breaks. (I live less than 1 mile from work) I have to make the most of my time. I bought and love the rcbs 110 volt case prep station, that cut the old manual time down a lot. Then I bought the three way cutter head and once I got that adjusted, I can easily trim 100 cases in 5 minutes.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
 
scooter123 said:
It's not cheap by any stretch but this is a solution.

RCBS Trim Pro-2 Power Case Trimmer Kit 110 Volt

BTW, I have the manual version that is 190 dollars less but 100 cases cranking that handle by hand and my arthritic wrist is totally done in for 2 or 3 days. Good news for me is I shoot with a bolt action and a heavy range day is only 30 rounds so I don't have to process a large number of cases at one spell. If I were to get an AR-15 I do believe that I'd have to break loose for the bucks to add that power unit to my trimmer.
Click to expand...

I'll second this. Expensive but if you can afford it you can mow through hundreds of pieces of brass in a jiff. I bought one about 13 years ago. Adjustable to the thousandth and easy to use. I believe if you bought the manual version you can later add the power unit.
 
The Wilson case trimmer is what I swear by. Costs a little bit but it cuts clean and even every time. Don't think it will win speed contests but it makes up with a quality finished product.
 
I use a Lee.....

I used a Lee chucked into a 1/2" drill press. It only takes a few seconds for case, but usually I only need to take off about 1/32". I could see it being slow if it has to remove more material.
 
I use this

Hornady Case Prep Center Overview - YouTube

A little pricey ($312 @ Midway right now) but it's well made and versatile. I like the design of the horizontal tool heads to keep shavings from spinning shafts. The guy in the video must like to handle brass multiple times :)

Oh, I also like his idea of mounting some angle iron to the front of his bench for "quick tool change"!
 
I use a Hornady case prep center, pricey but quality & easy to use. I can do everything to a case I need in one stop.
 
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