Lee Quick Trim adjustments?

[1sailor]

I recently bought a Lee Power Quick Trim for use on 30-30 cases. The issue I've run into with it is that I can't seem to actually adjust it correctly. I cannot get repeatable trimmed lengths. I finally just started cutting and measuring until the length was correct. This worked but takes a while to do. Anyone else have one of these that has repeatable accuracy? I have zero interest in selling my car to buy a new (expensive) one from one of the designer manufacturers. I would really prefer to get this one working correctly. All my equipment is Lee and I've reloaded literally thousands of rounds of ammo with it so I do have a good regard for the brand.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The problem is the Lee Trimmer indexes off the inside of the web and Case Length is measured off the bottom of the rim to the case mouth. If you measured case capacity, they would be extremely close using the Lee Trimmer.

Mixing batches or brands of brass magnifies this problem, having on batch of brass minimizes it.

Ivan

 

[SMSgt]

Some Lee gear is good, some not so good. You get what you pay for. How much variation are you getting?

 

[rockquarry]

I recently bought a Lee Power Quick Trim for use on 30-30 cases. The issue I've run into with it is that I can't seem to actually adjust it correctly. I cannot get repeatable trimmed lengths. I finally just started cutting and measuring until the length was correct. This worked but takes a while to do. Anyone else have one of these that has repeatable accuracy? I have zero interest in selling my car to buy a new (expensive) one from one of the designer manufacturers. I would really prefer to get this one working correctly. All my equipment is Lee and I've reloaded literally thousands of rounds of ammo with it so I do have a good regard for the brand.

I've used the Forster tool for at least forty years and it works well. It's far from a "designer" tool. I don't know what they cost now, but if you need to trim or turn necks, they work well. There are others, some probably better like the Wilson, but I'm pretty sure they cost more. I've never used the Lee tool but after seeing photos, I wouldn't consider buying one.

 

[BC38]

I've never used the Lee, but is $40 too much to spend to get a tool that consistently works well?
I'm using one of these with my hand drill and it works great. Comes with a pilot for the 30-06.
Lyman E-ZEE TRIM Hand Case Trimmer| Case Trimmers & Accessories

 

[PapaWheelie]

I use the Lee Quick Trim for my .357 and 9mm brass and get accuracy within a thousandth, maybe two at the most. What kind of variations are you getting?

 

[BLUEDOT37]

The problem is the Lee Trimmer indexes off the inside of the web...

I believe you're referring to the Lee Case Trimmer which uses a pilot & shell holder.

The OP seems to referring to the Lee Deluxe Quick Trim Case Trimmer which is a different system (yeah, they could have come up with a better name) that uses a cartridge specific die that screws into your reloading press.

OP, to get consistent trim lengths, with the Quick Trim, make sure you hold the press's lever down with the same force each time so the case is held up at the same height each time.

Clean case shavings out of the die occasionally.

Turn the black ring on the cutter fully counter-clockwise (viewed from above) to start with.

Clockwise clicks from there will allow the cutter to cut more making the brass shorter.

It's not a bad system for quickly setting up & doing quick trim jobs.

.

 

[SMSgt]

Getting a real lockring for the die would help.

 

[1sailor]

It is starting to look like maybe my issue is operator error if others are having better luck then me. I think I need to sit down and try again paying better attention to what I'm doing. I'm getting 3 to 5 thou in variation. I am using mixed brass and I don't know if that's part of the problem but regardless of the initial OAL I would have thought they would still trim to the size set.