Power Case Trimmers

[2000Z-71]

OK so i finally need to break down and buy a case trimmer. I'm thinking might as well spend the money and get a power trimmer. Looking at the RCBS and Lyman trimmers. Anyone have experience with one? Thoughts and opinions welcome.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Leonard]

I use a Dillon on high volume 223 and the RCBS for other calibers. The Dillon is great the RCBS is ok, sometimes the case holder pops apart but probably as good or slightly better than any of the basic power trimmers.

If I had to do it over I would consider the Gracy or one of the other trimmers that you hold the brass insert it and the shoulder acts as a stop, its reported to be fast and accurate. Non shoulder cases???

Match Prep, Home of the Gracey Power Carrtidge Case Trimmer

Len

PS if Dillon came in a range of calibers I would use it hands down!

 

[Marksman]

I have tried a Lyman power trimmer and found it to be O.K.. I have gone back to the Lyman manual trimmer to which I added the adapter shaft and power it with my B&D Power Screwdriver. I use the B&D Power Screwdriver to power lots of other operations like primer pocket reaming, flash hole uniforming and casemouth chamfering. Besides the manual trimmer takes up less bench space. The biggest plus for the Lyman trimmers is the universal case holding, no need for multiple collets or such much simpler than others.

 

[zeke]

Have alot of experience with the RCBS. Works well, but probably not nearly as fast as the Gracy, Girauld or Dillion.

However it can trim any straight wall (or any case that doesn't have a shoulder), that RCBS shell holders are available for.

May depend on your needs. If your main need is thousands of the more common rifle calibers, would suggest considering one of the faster trimmers.

 

[Engineer1911]

Lyman trimmer is great !

I had a machinist friend turn down the end of the Lyman cutter shaft to 3/8" diameter to fit an electric drill before Lyman did. The Lyman case holder is a universal that fits all case heads. The pilots that fit the mouth work best in unsized cases.

In 30 years of trimming cases, I've used 3 cutter heads, the same set of pilots, and will need a third drill shortly. I buy the cheapest variable 3/8" I can find and run 'em till there dead. I did install a new cutter shaft bushing about 3 years ago.

I trimmed 1,800 .30-30 to .30 Herrett (used a hacksaw for the rough trim), 2,000 .223 Rem to .222 Rem length before resising, and several thousand other pieces of rifle brass. The Lyman is still running great.

 

[H Richard]

I removed the handle from my RCBS, and took a bolt about 2" long and turned the head down flush with the threads and screwed it into the shaft on the RCBS in place of the handle. Chuck my cordless drill on it and does a great job.

 

[BE Mike]

I have a Forster trimmer. I got a power adapter from Sinclair International, see: Trimmer Accessories - FORSTER Power Adaptor I use my old hand drill with chord and it works fine. It sure beats turning that crank by hand!

 

[tgwillard]

I got the adapter to use my Lee case trimmers with my cordless drill. After trimming, then use the Lee deburring tool to smooth the inside and outside. Then polish the case before taking it out of the shell holder.

 

[whelenshooter]

Get either the Giraud or Gracey case trimmer. They index on the case shoulder and they chamfer the inside and outside of the case mouth at the same time that they trim. They are more expensive, but once set up they are very fast and do a great job.

The Dillon case trimmer works with a special sizing/trim die for each caliber you want to trim, and you have to chamfer the mouth of the case after you trim. After that you then have to run your rifle cases over an expander ball, because the sizing/trim die has no provision for an expander ball (it sizes the outside of the case only). It has a lot of power, and it has an attachment for a vacuum cleaner hose to suck up all of the brass trimmings, which is very nice. I don't really care for the Dillon power case trimmer simply because of all the steps you have to do after you trim.

If someone gets a Lyman power case trimmer near you, run like hell in the other direction! I bought one when they first came out and it DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO TURN THE TRIMMING ATTACHEMENT ON A SIZED CASE! I called Lyman, and they said, "Too bad. We won't do anything to help you, we won't give you your money back, and you're stuck with it." When I had one of their case tumblers die the first time I used it, they told me the same thing. I don't buy anything made by Lyman except their reloading manual.

Conversely, I bought a used Gracey trimmer. It was well used and I needed to replace a couple of minor parts. They sent them to me for FREE! When I called them, I believe the lady I spoke with on the phone was Mrs. Gracey. She was very nice. The outfit seems like a nice family business run by really good people. I'll buy Gracey stuff any time!

 

[Smithhound]

I've been using an RCBS trimmer for over a year now and don't have any complaints with it. I've found it quite accurate and sturdy for everything I reload. That includes both straight wall pistol and shouldered rifle cases. There is a bit of a learning curve to adjustment but once figured out is perfect for what I need it for. I do alot of reloading for about 25 calibers and it hasn't let me down yet.
Where I used to trim 50 cases and pay for it in arthritis pain for days with a manual I can do 200 or more a night and not have a problem. I broke down and bought one of the power case prep machines a few weeks ago but haven't set it up yet, been trimming bunches of brass.
One thing I would suggest with any brand you buy, if of the multi-caliber type is to trim all the brass of each kind/caliber once you set it up for that case. When I set mine up for, say, .44 special, I trimm all the .44 special in stock. That way the length is consistent between each case. I use it on all new brass I get to make them all consistent.
I've just done several hundred .45-70, .45 Colt, .44 Mag/spec and am working my way down thru the calibers.
RD