powered case trimmer options?

[Whiterabbit]

Hello, I need a case trimmer for 7x57. Not sure what option is best for my goals:

I'm looking for most convenient to use for a reasonable cost. Not having a chuck seems like it would be really convenient, as well as keeping the cutter stationary (so I can chuck it in my bench lathe), which implies a possum hollow product (if the 284 model would work) would be ideal. But then, I have to deburr, does not seem convenient.

So those RCBS models look promising, have a v-shape cutter and eliminate deburring. But the motor is the moving component (seems like folks use power drills), and the trimmer uses a chuck which looks slow compared to the possum option.

So, for those who have used multiple model types. Which really adds a level of convenience during the trim process?

[chim-chim7]

Gracey, Dillon, Hornady all make great trimmers that can accomplish heavy round counts in a short time. I prefer the Dillon because it mounts to my progressive 650 and I don't need a seperate operation for trimming. Next would be the Gracie, its pricey but not only does it trim cases extremely fast it also chamfers the neck as well.

[Whiterabbit]

how much is the dillon option?

[brando]

The Giraud trimmer = awesome

http://www.giraudtool.com/

[Time of Flight]

There is only one true option.

Giraud Power trimmer. Trims, champers, deburs all at once.

[Time of Flight]

Damn Brando. Beat me to it!

[brando]

That's because I'm a day ahead.

[Time of Flight]

Meh. Just means that when SHTF, you will smell it 24 hours faster then me!

[Whiterabbit]

Looks like a cool tool to me. Two dumb questions.

#1, In the first post I mentioned that I'll be trimming 7x57, there is no caliber specific cutter on the giraud kit. Will it be possible to convert a close caliber, like 7-08 or 285 win?

#2, I mentioned The balance is convenience vs cost, (meaning cost is also a factor) and that I own a bench-lathe (it's actually a 3-man lift to move it anywhere). Is it possible to just buy the tool-head for the giraud trimmer that trims and deburrs all at once, so I can chuck it into my lathe at low speed and have at it?

Just so I'm clear, my bench lathe looks somewhat like this:


And would make a FANTASTIC source to power all sorts of automation-driven processes (I've been working on a design for an oversized rotary tumbler, too), if it means I don't have to turn a crank on a hand-powered bench contraption.

[Whiterabbit]

Nope, giraud (seperate parts) won't work, it fails the cost/convenience ratio. The issue is that the case holder is separate from the cutting head, so even a custom case holder yields me nothing unless I have the entire drive unit. The ONLY option, it seems, with giraud parts, is the giraud product. $400 is not good from a cost/convenience ratio.

Are there any other convenient options?

edit: more I look into it, the less likely it seems that anything 284 is compatible with 7x57 due to the shoulder angle. That I have to measure from the back of the casehead. This is OK, really. but I think the possum products are out for that reason, too.

[popeye4]

You could write to Doug Giraud and ask if he can make you a custom case holder for the 7x57. I can't imagine it is that difficult.

I've got a Giraud that I love, but for those calibers that aren't set up on it (anything other than .308 or .223), I have a powered RCBS trimmer, with the 3-way cutter installed. It isn't nearly as nice or fast as the Giraud, but it works for anything. I load way more .308 and .223, so the occasional use of the RCBS unit does not send me into fits of depression....

[FLIGHT762]

What kind of case volume are you dealing with the 7X57 Mauser?

I own a Gracey and a Dillon trimmer. If the case volumes are high, I'd contact Giraud and see if he could cut you a case holder in 7X57, especially if you are going to reload high volume in other calibers.

For my hunting rifles in .358 Win., .300 Win. Mag. and .260 Rem., I use a Lyman power trimmer for those smaller case numbers in 50-100 at a time. It's slower, but it does work for the smaller amounts.

For high volume, The $$$$$ trimmers are great. As I've said before, Had Giraud been out on the market before I bought the Gracey and Dillon, I'd go with Giraud all the way. The Gracey is a bit of a pain to change cutting calibers (I do use the Giraud cutter for the Gracey). The Dillon is okay, but it doesn't chamfer/de-burr. When using it on a single stage press, you have to resize all of the cases a second time to get proper head space and neck sizing correct. Some of the Dillon trimmer sizing dies don't always bump the shoulder enough, some can bump too much (I have Dillon trimmer dies in .222,223,308,30/06 and 270).
On a progressive press, The Dillon is the fastest way to go, especially with a case feeder. After trimming, you resize again in a second stage and the progressive rotates into a container.

[Whiterabbit]

Well remember guys, convenience is not related to volume of cases or speed. There may be a relative connection, but they are not absolutely related. If there were a solution that cost practically nothing and could let me do 2000 cases an hour but only worked at the bottom of a swimming pool, that wouldn't be convenient! (This is what happens when engineers get involved with parts spec-ing. )

That's why something like the possum solution on the one hand seems convenient. There is no chucking of cases into a collet and no manipulation (when set up in a particular way) of a motor assembly.

The lyman option looks interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH50ZmNpWKI

Would this work on all case trimmer brands? LEE RCBS etc? What makes them stand out from each other? DO any of them eliminate the deburr step? Then the most important question, I'd be stuck chucking cases with this solution, do any of these models have an option that makes inserting cases the MOST convenient?

(I have a junk drill press that would be PERFECT for this application. I only use it to drill holes in circuit boards because it has no power to do anything useful, like bore .5" holes in hard wood. I could permanently modify it to trim 7x57 cases.)

[FLIGHT762]

Since you have a drill press, this is another option:

http://www.forsterproducts.com/catalog.asp?prodid=700292

Might be the way to go. Just need to buy a 7MM pilot. Doesn't deburr or chamfer.

[popeye4]

Well remember guys, convenience is not related to volume of cases or speed. There may be a relative connection, but they are not absolutely related. If there were a solution that cost practically nothing and could let me do 2000 cases an hour but only worked at the bottom of a swimming pool, that wouldn't be convenient! (This is what happens when engineers get involved with parts spec-ing. )

That's why something like the possum solution on the one hand seems convenient. There is no chucking of cases into a collet and no manipulation (when set up in a particular way) of a motor assembly.

The lyman option looks interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH50ZmNpWKI

Would this work on all case trimmer brands? LEE RCBS etc? What makes them stand out from each other? DO any of them eliminate the deburr step? Then the most important question, I'd be stuck chucking cases with this solution, do any of these models have an option that makes inserting cases the MOST convenient?

(I have a junk drill press that would be PERFECT for this application. I only use it to drill holes in circuit boards because it has no power to do anything useful, like bore .5" holes in hard wood. I could permanently modify it to trim 7x57 cases.)

I don't really know what you are referring to by "chucking". The RCBS unit has a spring loaded lever on the back that opens a plate, allowing you to slide the cartridge case base down. You release the lever and it is held in place. It isn't really a chuck. Then you let the trimmer slide up to the case and do its thing. With the 3-way cutter installed, it chamfers/deburrs as well. It is not as fast as a Giraud, but it is pretty fast. I wouldn't want to do 1000 cases on it, but 100 is no big deal.