Reccomend me case trimmer

[drummerdude1188]

Ok so I need a case trimmer. I will be be doing alot 5.56 and .45. My friend and I have thousands of out of spec brass that we need to trim before we load it. So I need something that I can do fairly large quantity in not that long of time, but not something that does 10,000 rounds an hour.

[Jicko]

$389 Giraud

http://www.giraudtool.com/prod02.htm

[drummerdude1188]

$389 Giraud

http://www.giraudtool.com/prod02.htm

lol, little out of my price range, is that the only alternative to something like these types of trimmers http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/prod...ucts_id=102905 are the types in the link I posted really tedieous to use?

[Army GI]

You should really save up, because it's worth it.

And a Giraud will not do 10,000 rounds per hour. More like 600.

[bohoki]

you probably wont have to trim the 45acp ever
just use a caliper and verify if they are all shorter than max and keep their load mild

[freonr22]

http://www.ch4d.com

they seem to have a good reputation... any thoughts gentlemen?

[smokingloon]

http://www.possumhollowproducts.com/kwick-case-trimmers.html

That is the one I have. Can't really compare to anything else because this is my first and only trimmer. I will say that the only thing that bugs me is that the whole trimmer spins. So if you are not careful, it swirl marks on the brass.

[hotwls13]

I think i am going to try the drill press with the Lee trimmer chucked in it. That appears to be an efficient and fast way to do it. MUCH cheaper than the Giraud (though the Giraud is SWEET and it also does chamfer). I need a small drill press anyway, so if this doesn't work, I will save my pennies for the Giraud.

[CSACANNONEER]

I have a:

Giruard - Great for production and consistancy, no need to debur, expensive to get new bushing for each caliber and unable to trim straight walled case. Indexes off case shoulder.

CH4D - Good machine for production trimming but, mine tends to work it's way out of adjustment every so many rounds and you need to debur. Easy and inexpensive to change calibers. I do not like my results trimming 50BMGs on this machine. Indexes of case head.

K&M Trimmer - Caliber specific and compact, no need to debur, can be used manually or with drill. Again, CALIBER SPECIFIC - you would need to get one for each caliber. Indexes through flash hole to shell holder - similar results as indexing off case head.

Lyman Trimmer - Good all around inexpensive machine. Easy and inexpensive to change calibers. Can be used manually or powered by a drill. Indexes off case head. Deburing required. Most bang for the buck.

These are the only trimmers I have experience with. I still own them all because each one has it's own merrits.

[sargenv]

I have a Dillon Case trimmer.. It comes with one dies (sizing die?) that attaches to it. I ran about 6000 223's through it, this took about 12 hours give or take. I did this in my 650. I also bought the extra attachment so I could do 30-30's and I completed the 600 or so cases I have in an evening. The problem with the Dillon trimmer is that you then need chamfer the case mouths since it cuts at a 90 degree angle. The Giraud cuts it such that it is already chamfered in and out. If I had my druthers, I'd get the Giraud..

[ar15barrels]

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/prod...ucts_id=102905 are the types in the link I posted really tedieous to use?

Those are really tedious if you have to trim several hundred cases in one session.

[Bruce3]

+1 Giraud

[Darklyte27]

I am using the cheap Lee ones right now on my 12 drill, works fine for now haha

[Chaingun]

lol, little out of my price range, is that the only alternative to something like these types of trimmers http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/prod...ucts_id=102905 are the types in the link I posted really tedieous to use?

If the Giraud is out of the price range, look at the manual lathe models like RCBS, with the hand crank. Replace the crank with a drill setup, and get the RCBS Trim Pro 3-Way Cutter. I do this and it works fine.

Also saving up for a Giraud

[Spyduh]

I'm using the RCBS Trim Mate Case Prep Center ($95).

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=565099

It automates the entire brass prep process.
1. Trimming
2. Mil Crimp removal
3. Primer Pocket Cleaning
4. Primer Pocket Uniforming
5. Flash Hole deburring
6. Case Chamfering
7. Case Deburring
8. Case brushing (inside)

You need to modify a Lee Cutter tool to be able to trim with the RCBS Case Prep Center machine. (Drill and Tap the cutter to attach it to the machine)

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-prepare-a-223-case-with-the-rcbs-case-prep-center-267559/

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-prepare-a-308-case-with-the-rcbs-case-prep-center-267563/

It cost about $175 for the whole setup. (Not sure how much I exactly spent. It could cost a bit less than I estimated)

I used my buddies Giraud and I have to say that thing is amazing! It's way faster than my setup and easier, but it does cost a whole lot more than my setup. If I had to process a few thousand brass at a time, I would so get one. I might get one any way because it saves time!

The RCBS Case Prep Center is the middle ground between doing it by "hand" or going for the all out "Giraud trimmer". I wish there was a $250 option in the market.

I recommend the RCBS Case Prep Center if you were doing quite a few rounds for precision or don't have thousands of rounds to process.


If you have any questions about the RCBS Case Prep Center and modifying the Lee Cutter. Please PM or post a question in this thread. I'll try to answer it as best as I can.