Lyman Case Prep X-Press or Giraud

[RiskyBusiness]

Have a reloader i met at a range offering to sell me a Lyman X-press for $65. Im really considering it, even just after trimming my very first 200 cases by hand with the Lyman Universal Case Trimmer i hated it. Trimming is definitely at the bottom of the list of least enjoyable things to do with your spare time lol


I've also eyed the Giraud trimmer that runs for about $100 for the 223. I realize the X-press doesn't trim but i've seen a modification to add one. That being said, what would you guys recommend for speed and comfort in this area?

[SixPointEight]

The x-press and the giraud are totally different machines. The x-press doesnt do trimming, just the chamfer debur etc. Save the money and buy the frankford arsenal trimming station

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[bsumoba]

Or better yet, save your money and get the giraud power trimmer. trims, chamfers and deburrs in one shot, tabletop unit and very consistent. I dreaded brass prep, until I got this.

[RiskyBusiness]

The x-press and the giraud are totally different machines. The x-press doesnt do trimming, just the chamfer debur etc. Save the money and buy the frankford arsenal trimming station

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

i mentioned it can trim with the trimmer install for $20. Total of $85 compared to $170.

But I think I can wait for a better deal on that FA trimmer. Is that what you use? and if so, is it cake?

[NorCalFocus]

i mentioned it can trim with the trimmer install for $20. Total of $85 compared to $170.

But I think I can wait for a better deal on that FA trimmer. Is that what you use? and if so, is it cake?

Having started out with the Lee Trimmers that the adapter is designed to use, your much better off saving for the FA. Those Lee trimmers are a PITA to me.

[knucklehead0202]

I love my Lyman case prep xpress! There is an adapter you can get for it that uses the LEE case-length gauge and shellholder to trim cases with it. I too used the lyman universal hand trimmer and found it to be miserable. With this setup it requires no adjustment and trims to length. The shellholder sticks in pretty much any magnetic 1/4" hex driver like most cheapie gunsmith screwdriver kits.

With 5 rotating heads you can really deck it out with things that'll be useful and it's WAAAY less expensive than other products. I also use a flash-hole deburring attachment I bought for some fired brass I had with small primer holes. They were bending and breaking my decap pins so i'd run them down on that briefly to open them up and it works great.

For that price i'd totally buy the xpress, you'll love it and it's got a zillion uses. I find myself using more and more lyman products because they're priced well, made well, and make reloading easier for me.

[pacrat]

Have a reloader i met at a range offering to sell me a Lyman X-press for $65. Im really considering it, even just after trimming my very first 200 cases by hand with the Lyman Universal Case Trimmer i hated it. Trimming is definitely at the bottom of the list of least enjoyable things to do with your spare time lol


I've also eyed the Giraud trimmer that runs for about $100 for the 223. I realize the X-press doesn't trim but i've seen a modification to add one. That being said, what would you guys recommend for speed and comfort in this area?

If you are a DIY type guy. Remove the bolt that holds the handle on your Lyman Universal. Replace it with a longer one with the head cut off. BINGO, you just made it a power trimmer, by utilizing a cordless drill. El Cheapo from HF will work just fine. And your thumb and forefinger will love you for it.

I did the same for both of my Forester's. I have one delegated for trimming and the other for neck turning. For trimming, I can do 200+ cases an hr.

If not a DIY guy, you can get this for it.

http://www.manventureoutpost.com/products/Lyman-7862001-Power-Adapter-for-Lyman-Trimmers.html?google=1&gclid=CLeuh8eBl9QCFRCXfgodOgIHtA

The Giraud type trimmers index off of the shoulder. Not the base of the case [COAL]. Both have good points.

JM2c

[SixPointEight]

Or better yet, save your money and get the giraud power trimmer. trims, chamfers and deburrs in one shot, tabletop unit and very consistent. I dreaded brass prep, until I got this.

Quite the investment. I'll go through 3 of the FA's before I get close to the cost of that thing, but the Giraud is nice kit for sure, if you have a bucket full of free cash at the end of every month.

i mentioned it can trim with the trimmer install for $20. Total of $85 compared to $170.

But I think I can wait for a better deal on that FA trimmer. Is that what you use? and if so, is it cake?

I prefer the FA over the attachment style trimmers I've seen. Trimmers like the Lee that have been mentioned, the WFT, and Possom Hollow (I own all 3) require your fingers to hold the brass to keep it from turning. In fact I think both styles of the Giraud are this way too. That's fine and all, but after a bucket full of cases your fingers will get tired. The FA uses plastic fingers to hold the case, so you insert the case, push in gently on the base while it trims, then grab it and pull it out. It doesn't do all 3 cuts at once (none of the other 3 do either), but I put a chamfer tool, a debur tool, and a primer crimp remover on the other 3 rotating heads. That way I can trim, chamfer, debur, flip the case and cut the crimp all at once, only handling the brass one time to hit all the operations.

Sounds like you could do the same with the X-Press, with only 2 minor losses in functionality. 1) on the X-press all the brass shavings will pile up on top, the FA drops it out the bottom, with a small tupperware, the mess is mostly contained, and 2) the X-press won't "hold" the brass for you, so you'll use finger tension to keep it from spinning.

Also, shop around. The FA can be found as low as $135 right now.

[knucklehead0202]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u73XcIkqZxM

[jtake]

As you reload, it all becomes time vs money.

If you hate brass prep, the Giraud trimmers are wonderful. The Tri-ways are great single caliber trimmers that trim, chamfer and debur for about $100. The power unit is great too but is more expensive (but has certain calibers not available in the Tri-way, such as 6.5cm).

I hated having to separately trim, chamfer and debur in three separate moves. But with the Giraud trimmers, it is all done in one step in a few seconds.

It is all about paying for convenience.

Cheap(er) chrono/Magnetospeed vs $600-700 Labradar

Cheap Harbor Freight tumbler vs Thumlers or FA tumbler.

Hand trimmer and chamfer/deburring tools versus powered versions

Cheap beam scale vs. Chargemaster vs. automated pan scales like the A&D FX120i w/ auto trickler

The more expensive tools add greater convenience, you just need to decide what is more important to you in your situation.