case trimmers

[savasyn]

I've been loading handgun for a while now and am very happy with the results. I am just now starting to venture into loading for rifle having completed about 300 rounds of .223 on a friend's equipment.

I either have or have on order everything I think I need to load .223 at home with the exception of a case trimmer. I've been reading reviews and asking various people and all products in this area seem to run the gamut in both price and quality.

As .223 is my primary interest, I will at some point purchase the Dillon 1200B electric trimmer and set it up as my sizing/trimming tool. At $225 a unit, I won't begetting a second motor to do .308 and/or .30-06. I know it can be moved, but then it has to be set up every time, so if(when) I get one, it'll be dedicated to .223.

Dillon 1200B:


The next thing I looked at is the Giraud trimmer. I hear nothing but good reviews of this unit, but at $425, I'm not sure I will be going there anytime soon. The upside seems to be that once you have the main unit, you can get other calibers for about $30 or so, which would be cheaper than multiple Dillon motors. I really don't shoot enough .308 or .30-06(which it would primarily be used for) to even justify the cost anyway, so I'm keeping this unit on my someday/one day wish list.

Giraud trimmer:


Which brings us to the hand trimmers. These things seem to be all over the place as far as price and reviews. All units I've looked at get 5 stars from some and 1 star from others, so I've picked two that looked the most promising. As it happens, they are at opposite ends of the price scale as well.

The Redding 2400 seems like an one-stop-shop as it comes with all pilots as well as a universal chuck for $125. Again, this got both rave and horrible reviews for both quality and repeatability. It /seems/ like a good solid unit and I like the micrometer adjust, but the reviews of the chuck not being able to hold the brass at the same depth has me wondering.

Redding 2400:


Finally, on the low end of the cost scale at $40 plus $10 per caliber holder, the L.E. Wilson trimmer seems like the way to go to start out, especially as most reviews say that it does an excellent job of keeping consistent trim lengths. Is this really one of those times with it's too good AND true?

L.E. Wilson trimmer:


As I previously said, I'll eventually get the Dillon 1200B for .223, but I would like something sooner to get me going and that will hold up for years doing .308, .30-06 and the occasional C&R calibers. I'm leaning towards the L.E. Wilson at this point, but I would like to hear other thoughts about any of these or other units that you'd highly recommend or to definitely stay away from.

Thanks!

[Someguy925]

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

These are quite good as well for speedy trimming. You attach them to your drill and you have a motorized case trimmer. A little more messy than the Giraud, but just as effective.

[CSACANNONEER]

I have a K&M 50BMG trimmer, a Giraud, a Lyman and a CH4D. Each of them are different. The Giraurd is the best one. It indexes of the shoulder and trims with a "V" cutter which means that there is no need to chamfer each piece after trimming. The K&M cuts with a "V" cutter and indexes of the inside of the case head. It is nice and compact. The CH4D and the Lyman both index off the base of the case head. Both require the brass to be chamfered after trimming. The CH4D trimmer has a built in and motorized inside chamfering cutter but, you still need to do the outside chamfering by hand. The Lyman can be hooked up to a drill motor and is the most economical yet versatile trimmer of the bunch. The CH4D trimmer requires a shell holder for each type of shell you want to trim. The Lyman trimmer has a universal shell holder.

Wilson and Fostner both make excellent univeral trimmers. If you have a drill press, you might want to look into the possum hollow http://www.possumhollowproducts.com/...-trimmers.html . I've never used one but, I've only heard good things about them.


If you want to come up and try any of my trimmers out, just shoot me a PM.

[Sheldon]

I have the Redding, but without the micro adjusting ability. I had a Dillon and currently have a Giraud.....set up for .223 Rem, but with the cutter and holder for .308 Win as well.

The collet on the Redding that holds the cases can vary if the rims of the cases are damaged or you don't pay close attention to seating the cases into the collet......very slow and hard on the hands with the manual cutter. I wouldn't consider it but for low volume use.

The Dillon was pretty quick, but noisy with the addition of a cacuum hooked up to it to carry off the trimmings. Some say you don't need to champher and debur with the Dillon, but I did and that added to the time. Setting it up for different calibers is easy and doesn't take long, so if you do go this route, don't worry about having to dedicate it to a single caliber because of the hassle of resetting it to another caliber...not a big deal.

The Giraud is nice and really fast. You can have a bunch of cases ready to trim and knock them out in no time flat with it. By far the easiest to use.....unfortunately the most expensive as well.

[wooger]

I have Giraud and Wilson trimmers. I've never had any other powered trimmer before so I won't compare the Giraud, although I think it's top drawer. As far as the manual lathe style trimmers I think the Wilson is the best I have used to date.

[MG34]

I got the Dillon trimer about 15 years ago, never use it any more. With very little use it would heat up real fast. I burned up one, Dillon replaced that one free. Now I'm afraid of toasting a second one, now I use a Lyman trimer. The Dillon trimer is kind of messy.

[Gio]

I have Giraud and Wilson trimmers. I've never had any other powered trimmer before so I won't compare the Giraud, although I think it's top drawer. As far as the manual lathe style trimmers I think the Wilson is the best I have used to date.

So how much do you charge to use the Giraud? I have to do 4K pieces, looks like I am going to send it all out to the guy in Texas

[mjsweims]

I have the old RCBS hand trimmer with a drill attachment. Works fine, you just have to get used to tightening the collet the same each time. I only do up to 100 at a time. But for 4k pieces, I'd go for something else.

[savasyn]

Thanks for all the responses everyone!
Hmmm, now I'm thinking I'll still go with the L.E. Wilson to get me started as it's only about $60 all told and it'll be useful for C&R stuff later and then go straight to the Giraud skipping the Dillon altogether. Greater initial cost, but sounds like it's really worth it in the long run.

Has anyone worn out a Giraud? How is his customer service given that he's a one man shop with a few weeks back orders piled up?

[bohoki]

ive done a couple thousand 223 with a lee one attached to a drill

it was great the first couple hundred since then it has been misery but at only $10 i can deal

i use the little chamfer tool from lee that cost $3 for inside debur but it is worthless for outside debur for outer debur i use a little mill bastard

[C.G.]

Used to have the Dillon, now I have the Hornady prep center with RCBS 3 in 1 cutters for .223, 6.5 Grendel, .308 and .338 LM, so those get trimmed and chamfered at the same time. For other calibers I have to chamfer on the prep part of the unit. I also got Hornady pocket reamers, which ream out military crimps.

[huckberry668]

I love my RCBS Power Case Trimmer. I got their 3-way cutter that also chamfers the case mouth inside and out. Once the brass is trimmed it's ready to go. Changing caliber is fairly easy. I love their warranty the best. I've had mine for more than 12 years and the power head died last year after cutting 10s of 1,000s of brass. RCBS replaced it without even charging me shipping.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=481398

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=251948

[thmpr]

Giraud and never looked back.

[gunboat]

Forster -- Have used it for the last 50 years -- But I do not load/trim more than a hundred at a time -- I load lots of different calibers but not a lot of each. Even have an old herters still in occasional use.

[Air]

I have the Sinclair modified Wilson (with 'Shark Fin'), and love it. If you plan on doing a lot though, go with the Giraud.