Trimmers

zzzippper

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I have a basic hand crank trimmer from Hornady that I have not used yet. In setting it up it seems that loading cases will be tedious. I've seen the RCBS trimmer with spring auto case loading.

on one hand the RCBS seems great but possibly gimmicky. Is it solidly built enough to last and is it worth > $30 more than the Horny?
 
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I use the Hornady effectively, though it is slow. Assuming it works as advertised the RCBS would be worth the extra scratch. I have no opinion on how well it works, though generally speaking RCBS does not make and sell ****.
 
I have no experience with the Hornady trimmer, nor the RCBS manual trimmer but have used the RCBS universal jaws on their primer and their Universal Case Prep Center.

To me the jaws alone are worth the extra price on both those devices compared to either regular shell holders or some kind of spin-collet lock. Nothing changes (there) when caliber changes, the grip of the jaws is positive - no cons really.

OTOH, if I *had* a trimmer, I'd use it for a while first. Once you have personal experience, you're better prepped to buy the right trimmer for *you* the next time around. You might decide you really want one with it's own motor, 3-way cutter, or one that indexes off the shoulder instead.
 
M&P, how close is trimmed length using the RCBS power trimmer? I have the manual, and it is absolutely dead on, with literally NO difference, down to .001". But I have been told that when RCBS went with the speed lock system on the power trimmer (the lever) that accuracy of trimming dropped to as much as .004" between cases.

Any truth to that?
 
I've been using a Forster for a couple decades now, and it gves mean accuracy of about .0005" every time. For consistency like that, I'll happily forgo the speed of the power unit. Never been in a hurry to load my ammo anyway.

Larry
 
You guys are making my Herter's hand trimmer feel bad...
 
M&P, how close is trimmed length using the RCBS power trimmer? I have the manual, and it is absolutely dead on, with literally NO difference, down to .001". But I have been told that when RCBS went with the speed lock system on the power trimmer (the lever) that accuracy of trimming dropped to as much as .004" between cases. Any truth to that?

I haven't found that statement to be true whatsoever. Mine are either "right on" or within .001". Sounds like operator carelessness in seating upon insertion. :)
 
Right on

Go for the RCBS power trimmer. Fun and Easy to use. Here are two options for consideration. Notice how easy it is to insert and remove cases. The 3-Way cutter really saves time too. I've got the top setup with the 3-Way. :)

Options:

1. RCBS Trim Pro Case Trimmer - YouTube

2. RCBS Trim Pro trimmer - YouTube

I use the hand drill setup with the 3 way cutter. Really makes trimming easy and precise. The 3 way cutter eliminates the need to ream each case.
I started using the drill after getting a wicked case of tennis elbow from trimming a couple thousand 5.56 cases bought in bulk. The tennis elbow really messed up my ability to shoot for months.
 
I have used a Lee hand trimmer scince forever.
I eventually got one with a shank that chucks in my drillpress to reduce the time factoer.
 
I don't want to "dis" M&PUSER or any of the other contributors, but my experience with the RCBS power trimmer was very unsatisfactory. I ended up with trimmed case lengths varying .005 to .015 and sometimes a little more (always long). This was due to a tension inconsistency in the paddle and rim thickness variation. I got rid of mine and replaced it with the L. E. Wilson Trimmer. You can find these at many reloading supply firms. I got mine from Sinclair International before they were bought out by Brownell's. I have the Micrometer length adjustment and the stand. A friend of mine has several that he sets to a length and loc-ites permanently. He has one each at 1.500", 2.000" and 2.250". (BR, 308, 30-06/300Mag). I found that the case are within .001 of each other and with extra care can be within .0005. The Wilson trimmer uses case holders based on the body of the case family. So 308, 7-08, 260, 358 and 243 (and some wildcats) all use the same holder. When I decided I liked this system I bought 12 case holders, for all the families that reload, because the price will only go up.

Another good trimmer is the Forester. I have both the regular and the "Classic", this is for large Black Powder and African cases. There are attachments for neck turning, neck reaming, and hollow pointing loaded rounds (1/16 or 1/8 inch hollows) to a depth of your choosing. (I turned the necks on 200 cases for 22BR with a cordless drill on this system. Several accomplished shooters have said that it was the best neck turning they ever saw.) There are only a few (4 or 5) collets to hold the cases. plus a pilot for each bullet diameter. All the brands use different pilots!

The speed at which you get the cases done isn't that important unless you are doing more than a couple hundred at a setting. For that Forester makes a base for a drill press that is pretty fast.

HOWEVER, much of this is a mute point. I started loading in the late 70's with equipment and books from the late 60's. Back then case length was usually listed in 1/100ths inch. For hunting and plinking ammo that is still good enough.
 
If you do consider an L.E. Wilson trimmer. Case holders from CH4D work as well--they use they same style trimmer. Think the last one I ordered direct was $10 Shipped to my door.
 
I have used a Lee hand trimmer scince forever.
I eventually got one with a shank that chucks in my drillpress to reduce the time factoer.

I use the lee lockstud as well. I have it chucked up in a large cordless drill on my loading bench. After cutting to length, it holds the case for a quick chamfer. I could not imagine trimming military 556 (usually .02) without power. It only take a few seconds on the drill.

The only downside is that there is no adjustment. Trim is to minimum length.
 
I have a basic hand crank trimmer from Hornady that I have not used yet. In setting it up it seems that loading cases will be tedious. I've seen the RCBS trimmer with spring auto case loading.

on one hand the RCBS seems great but possibly gimmicky. Is it solidly built enough to last and is it worth > $30 more than the Horny?



Sir,

I have the Hornady and am quite satisfied with it. I don't find it tedious or as slow as it may seem, but then those things are subjective. Others will disagree.

Can't help you on the RCBS; except that I read a number of reviews when I was researching various trimmers in order to determine which one I wanted. The reviews were mostly negative, but then again the average person doesn't bother to write a review unless he has a problem with the product.

Best wishes on your decision,
Andy
 
I don't want to "dis" M&PUSER or any of the other contributors, but my experience with the RCBS power trimmer was very unsatisfactory. I ended up with trimmed case lengths varying .005 to .015 and sometimes a little more (always long). This was due to a tension inconsistency in the paddle and rim thickness variation. . . .
Sometimes its impossible to see how a problem can exist until you experience it yourself . . . this seems one.

Can't see how case rim thickness changes COL on my unit (RCBS Universal Case Prep Center for reference) since COL is measured from bottom of the base to the end of the cartridge.

Jaw tension inconsistency is possible I suppose, but highly unlikely given the strength of the spring. Could be the cutter-center and jaw-center were out of alignment . . . which seems more likely to have been the problem you actually experienced perhaps? That would lead to inconsistent cuts, and even inconsistent measurements on the same case lol.

I had that latter issue . . . cuts were within .001" . . . then I disassembled and cleaned/lubed the unit . . . then cuts varied until I reassembled the unit properly (taking out horizontal slop) and centered the drive shaft.
 
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I have been using the Lee quick trim. I use a turret press, so I already have the case in the press, and there is a free hole in the turret. It is consistent within a couple thousandths or better, and fairly quick. I have to manually turn the handle, but I don't do large volumes. I do like the fact that it chamfers as it cuts.
 
I've used an RCBS for years, and always within .001". The newer one with the spring loaded shell plate is much faster and more accurate than the older collet style.
 
Most of the rotary trimmers have a power tool adapter available. Many supposedly for power screw drivers, but I use my 1/2" variable speed drill for trimming large batches on my Wilson (and the Forster before that).
 
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