Trimming brass for a .223

[epj]

Got a new .223 from Santy Claus. Ruger Mini 14. I have been loading rifle and handgun ammo off and on for 40 years, but during one of the off periods, I gave a friend who had done a bunch of work for me most of my loading equipment, including my trimmer. I am currently using a Dillon 550, and don't have any sort of single stage press. This makes the use of one of the dies that you file off the end of the case impractical to use. I need to find a good, inexpensive way to trim brass. I've seen one that you use with a drill press, using the stop on the drill press to adjust length. I'm not sure my drill press is that accurate, though maybe it is. Any thoughts on some way to trim cases that costs less than $50 or so?

 

[epj]

Got a new .223 from Santy Claus. Ruger Mini 14. I have been loading rifle and handgun ammo off and on for 40 years, but during one of the off periods, I gave a friend who had done a bunch of work for me most of my loading equipment, including my trimmer. I am currently using a Dillon 550, and don't have any sort of single stage press. This makes the use of one of the dies that you file off the end of the case impractical to use. I need to find a good, inexpensive way to trim brass. I've seen one that you use with a drill press, using the stop on the drill press to adjust length. I'm not sure my drill press is that accurate, though maybe it is. Any thoughts on some way to trim cases that costs less than $50 or so?

 

[jjones33]

Check the Lyman or Forster trimmers.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=755364

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=269638

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=795961 Recommended

I would not get the Lee hand trimmer as these are a real piece of poop, painfully slow and just plain don't work as their QC is non-existent now.

 

[epj]

The standard trimmers are what I'm trying to stay away from, mostly due to cost, but also the one I had didn't seem to be very accurate. I believe it was a Lyman, but could have been RCBS. Would not hold the adjustment very well, and I ended up trimming cases too short with it. Since all I currently load is straight wall pistol cases, I have given up trimming entirely.

 

[cptdco]

I recently added .223 to the rounds I load for. Have yoou looked at the Lee case trimming stuff? Go to the Lee Precision web site and look at their case trimmer and the accessories. It might fit the bill and you can't get any cheaper. I've been using it for rifle calibers and just added the .223 shell holder and adopter gizmo (can't remember what it's called). Works fine.
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1231...catalog/casecon.html

 

[john traveler]

The economy Lee case trimmer is the way to go if you have a drill press. The built-in trimmer pilot also limits the cutting action. With the cutter tool chucked up in your drill press and the shell holder end sitting on your drill table, you can make short work of case trimming.

 

[jjones33]

Originally posted by john traveler:
The economy Lee case trimmer is the way to go if you have a drill press. The built-in trimmer pilot also limits the cutting action. With the cutter tool chucked up in your drill press and the shell holder end sitting on your drill table, you can make short work of case trimming.

John, I literally threw one for 223 in the trash can a couple weeks ago. I had to retap the cutter head as it was tapped very badly. The case head holder would not hold the cartridge at all and would put it so off center it was unusable. The case head holder had to be put in a vice and the shell holder end repeated screwed in a little at a time with machine oil to get it to even hold a shell at all when first bought. These used to slow but viable tools but I would never buy another for any reason. It seems most of Lee's QC has gone down the toilet probably because of the reloading buying panic. I could not recommend their current products.

 

[tbury]

I have been using the Forster original case trimmer since the 60s (when it did not cost too much). You do need to buy collets to hold the case head and pilots in the calibers you want to trim. But if you are only trimming one caliber that is not too bad. Each collet will handle several calibers. One factor that I like is that the cutter can be sent to Forster for sharpening for only $10; I have a spare cutter and have only had one sharpened in 20+ years of use.

I recently added the drive attachment which allows me to run the cutter with a drill. So with and old drill and a cheap adapter you can make your Forster a motorized trimer. This is very helpful when you have to keep an AR15 fed. This caliber really works the brass over.

 

[tomf52]

Can't understand the problem jjones33 had with his Lee case trimmer, but I have the same one and have been using it for the 223 for quite a while now with great success. Faster, more accurate than the expensive RCBS (which I have since sold) cutters. Chuck the shell holder end in a hand held electric drill and use the cutter with the wooden ball handle in your other hand. You can zip through cases in no time at all. Have the Lee trimmer for about six different calibers and works great in all.

 

[Sheldon]

For the volume I was looking to easily trim, I tried the Dillon electric trimmer, then sold it and got the Giraud trimmer. The Giraud trims, chamfers, and deburrs all at once. It maybe the most expensive unit, but for volume it is hard to beat.

For the price range you're looking to spend.....I'de look into the Possum Hollow Trimmer....read a lot of good comments about it for the price.

 

[Bat Guano]

Can't speak to any but the Lee hand trimmers (which sit unused) and the Dillon. Have been using the latter for about 8 years now and trimmed a LOT of brass with it, most of it 5.56.

I wouldn't call it fast as it is on a single stage Rockchucker, and inasmuch as it sizes and trims I have to lube cases. But once set the thousandth case comes out exactly like the first one. I don't find hand chamfering that much of a chore as I do it by rolling the case with the palm of my hand on a rubber-covered flat surface. But it does the job reliably and accurately. I'm happy with it.