Two reloading questions.

[tankerman]

1) Which power case trimmer should I buy and why?

I've always use a standard hand crank 'Forster' and would like to upgrade.


2) Where do you tumble your brass?

Ever since my first kid was born 5-1/2 years ago I've been concerned about tumbling my brass in the garage. Been worried about spreading lead dust around the garage which is full of kids toys. What I've been doing is covering the tumbler with a large plastic container to contain the dust, but lately been considering building a cabinet to run the tumbler in and maybe lining it with plastic that could be disposed of regulary or possibly putting an exhaust fan with filter on the cabinet. Any ideas?

[CSACANNONEER]

I tumble in the garage but, I don't have little ones. As far as trimmers go, it really depends on what you will be trimming and how much. If I could only have one trimmer, it would be a lathe style. They are the most versatile and cost effective. If I was going to set a progressive press up as a dedicated caliber press, I'd go with a Dillon trimmer. If I was going to do high volume bottle necked cartridges only (no 30 carbine, 45-70, etc or, wildcatting), I'd get a Giraud. A few people are going to come along soon and tell you that the Giraud is the only way to go. I have one and love it but, I'm not giving up my CH4D or my Lymann trimmer. I do small runs of odd calibers and I don't feel that buying a Giraud bushing, to trim 50-100 rounds a year, is cost effective.

[BamBam-31]

1) Giraud. No need to chamfer/debur.

2) Outside the garage. Actually, I leave the tumbler and untumbled brass outside.

[Pryde]

1: I have been using a possum hollow trimmer and it is a freakin great value for under $30. Previously I was using the Lee powered trimmer and the hand crank ones, and it was taking hours. Its pretty similar to the Giruad, except you need to chamfer and deburr separately and it is over $250 cheaper. The possum hollow was definitely money well spent.

Here's a video of it in use: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i42nDelSKf8


2: I would definitely tumble outside, in the backyard if possible. If you don't stuff your tumbler too full its not going to be loud enough to disturb anyone.

[tankerman]

I tumble in the garage but, I don't have little ones. As far as trimmers go, it really depends on what you will be trimming and how much. If I could only have one trimmer, it would be a lathe style. They are the most versatile and cost effective. If I was going to set a progressive press up as a dedicated caliber press, I'd go with a Dillon trimmer. If I was going to do high volume bottle necked cartridges only (no 30 carbine, 45-70, etc or, wildcatting), I'd get a Giraud. A few people are going to come along soon and tell you that the Giraud is the only way to go. I have one and love it but, I'm not giving up my CH4D or my Lymann trimmer. I do small runs of odd calibers and I don't feel that buying a Giraud bushing, to trim 50-100 rounds a year, is cost effective.

The Forster is fine for my hunting rounds and a bunch of the obsolete calibers I load for in small batches on a single stage Rockchucker. The power case trimmer would be for large volume 223 and 308 in association with my 650.

[BamBam-31]

The Forester is fine for my hunting rounds and a bunch of the obsolete calibers I load for in small batches on a single stage Rockchucker. The power case trimmer would be for large volume 223 and 308 in association with my 650.

Definitely sounds like a job for the Giraud, then.

[CSACANNONEER]

Definitely sounds like a job for the Giraud, then.

Yep, either a Giraud or a Dillon set up like AR15barrel's.

[tankerman]

Yep, either a Giraud or a Dillon set up like AR15barrel's.

I'll have to checkout AR15's setup, I bet he's got a picture posted around here somewhere.

[fairfaxjim]

I'll have to checkout AR15's setup, I bet he's got a pictures posted around here somewhere.

There, I fixed it for you!

[tankerman]

There, I fixed it for you!

Found it...

[USN CHIEF]

Hey Julio get the Giruad Power trimmer, you will not regret it. Worth every penny.

[tankerman]

Hey Julio get the Giruad Power trimmer, you will not regret it. Worth every penny.

It certainly looks about %1000nicer than my old manual trimmer. How many cases can you trim in an hour?

I do like the setup Randall has with the case feed, looks like he's sizing and trimming on the progressive and that he avoids having to handle every a single case. At least that's what I think I'm seeing in that picture.

[USN CHIEF]

It certainly looks about %1000nicer than my old manual trimmer. How many cases can you trim in an hour?

I do like the setup Randall has with the case feed, looks like he's sizing and trimming on the progressive and that he avoids having to handle every a single case. At least that's what I think I'm seeing in that picture.

I have never timed myself, but my niece can do 500 in one hour or less and that costs me $50 bucks.

I normally only trim when I get new Netflix movies and I am watching movies while doing it. But if you are fast you can do about 30 cases per minute.

[Sunwolf]

Just get the Giraud and keep it simple.

[Bruce3]

+1 on the Giraud