Need ideas for a good case trimmer.

[Rule3]

Needs to be manual and comes with all the collets,pilots etc.

I do not want to buy all the little extras A la carte.

Not cost a fortune and have a quick release.

I got the recent Midway Flier and they have the Redding 2400 on "sale"

Not that I would buy it from Midway but it looks like a good solid machine.
Actually they all look pretty good, I would just like one that comes with everything good for rifles and handguns.

 

[Forrest r]

I bought a Lyman trimmer back in the mid 80’s, it came with the different pilots for the different calibers, lg & sm primer pocket cleaners. The only thing I ever did to it besides us it & put a couple drops of oil on it every year was to replace the cutting wheel. I didn’t think the cutting wheel needed replaced, I saw new ones sitting on a table at a gunshow for $3 apiece. I never thought about the cutter getting dull, I trimmed 1,000’s & 1,000’s of cases over the years with that trimmer. I could easily tell the difference between the new cutter & the old one. I ended up giving the other new cutting wheel to my brother. He called me a couple of days later saying the same thing & thanking me for giving him the new cutting wheel. As with anything, something could break or wear out on that trimmer. As it stands right now I see no reason why I can’t get another 25+ years of use out of that trimmer.

Hopefully you’ll get reports about other brands/types of trimmers. The manual trimmers are built like tanks in general & all of the quality brand name ones should give you years of trouble free dependable service.

 

[max]

I have had my Lyman for years and it still works fine.

 

[Rule3]

With the Lyman do you need to buy extras or does it come with everything for all calibers? I am reading the desctiptions of each but it's hard to dechifer some of them.

The Redding got my attention as it had a push button collet release which to me is a big time saver, RCBS also sold by Dillon has a lever locking release system.

 

[Forrest r]

Yes the lyman came different collets 22,24,27,28,30,9m,35,44 & 45a. The 22=222 ECT, 24=the 223 ECT, 27=the 270 ECT, the 28= the 280 ECT, the 30= anything 30cal (30-30,30-06, 300mag) 9m=9mm, 35= 35remington 38's 357's ECT, 44= the 44spl/mag ECT & the 45a- the 45acp. I forgot about them but the lyman trimmer also came with the lp & sp cutters to ream out the military crimps in the military brass. I use the rcbs swaging dies for that, their easier to use & I'd rather leave all the material I can with the case.

I hate to say it but big time saver or time saver doesn't belong in a sentence that has any manual case trimmer involved in it.

 

[RedHawk357Mag]

it's outside your requirements but suggest you look at Wilson. It's one of those tools you thank yourself for buying.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Dillon Precision: Reloaders, Reloading Equipment, Bullet Reloading, Bullet Reloaders

 

[JohnnieB]

........I do not want to buy all the little extras A la carte............

Better take a closer look at what's included. Collet is universal, but pilots are not and the 6 included are 30 Cal and below.
Also take a peek at the comments at Midway. Half love it and half hate it.

I don't do much case trimming since I only reload handgun ammo in .38spl, .357mag and .45acp and don't load anything hot enough to make the brass grow longer, so the Lee case trimming system works fine for me (after I filed the individual length gauges to the case lengths I prefer) and cost quite a bit less than going the "On-size-fits-all-except-the-size-you-need" route.

On the other hand, my neighbor that shoots at hens eggs from 600 yards, uses a Redding 2400 and believes it to be the best thing since indoor plumbing.

 

[Rule3]

Dillon Precision: Reloaders, Reloading Equipment, Bullet Reloading, Bullet Reloaders

Sir, I did look there and it is a RCBS and clearly the wrong color. I checked my supply of spray paint and do not have any BLUE!

Thanks, I think RCBS stuff is pretty good and their warranty/customer service is, dare I say as good or better than Dillon.

You read your PM's lately????

 

[H Richard]

I've used RCBS for 30 years, and recently upgraded to the current model with the lever rather than the screw collet. I'm happy with it, and I remove the crank handle and insert a bolt (with the head turned down) and chuck my cordless drill on it.

 

[m657]

Whatever you get, pay attention to where you store it.

I had one under my bench for over 20 years I never used. A buddy talked me out of it.

Finally did have project requiring a trimmer....got the green one, used it on a couple hundred cases, carefully stored it away....somewhere.....can't find it now I need it again.

Haven't needed a case trimmer but once in 30 years of reloading.....but I'm a revolver guy mostly.

Still....even after rearranging and carefully cleaning out my reloading chamber.....can't find that trim gadget.

 

[Rule3]

Whatever you get, pay attention to where you store it.

I had one under my bench for over 20 years I never used. A buddy talked me out of it.

Finally did have project requiring a trimmer....got the green one, used it on a couple hundred cases, carefully stored it away....somewhere.....can't find it now I need it again.

Haven't needed a case trimmer but once in 30 years of reloading.....but I'm a revolver guy mostly.

Still....even after rearranging and carefully cleaning out my reloading chamber.....can't find that trim gadget.

I have that problem also, I will search for something for hours, days weeks. Usually small microscopic springs or screws.
I then ask my wife and she walks out and say "oh you mean this thing?" I it's a love/ hate kinda thing

 

[tdan]

I've had a Redding 2400 for a very long time. It works like a mini hand-operated lathe. That said, if you are only trimming pistol brass, try a Redding file-trim die. Better yet.........try to load for calibers that don't require any trimming.

 

[Nathan Forrest]

I bought the Forster Classic from Midway it cam with all the collets and stuff. Buying the adapter to attach a drill really helps. I'm doing 30 carbine at 25/4 minutes it was 7 minutes with the hand crank.