Manual case trimming

[elenius]

I am planning to buy a Giraud trimmer eventually, but in the meantime...

Anyone here experienced with manual trimming/chamfering/deburring? I have a Hornady case trimmer, and three different cutting heads for trim/chamf/debur. I haven't tried the trimming head yet, because I still have correctly sized brass to go through, but with the chamf/debur heads, I can't get it to cut "straight", i.e the case and cutting head are not exactly aligned, so I end up chamfering/deburring much more on one side of the case than the other.

Is there a trick to this? I tried holding the cutting head against the case before locking it down, hoping that this would keep it aligned, but it didn't help (much).

[anyracoon]

Should be some type of pilot that keeps the cutting/trimmer blades square to the case neck/end. Also make sure the pilot is of the proper size. Giraud is the only way to go. Even beats the BlueKoolAid trimmer!

[C.G.]

Should be some type of pilot that keeps the cutting/trimmer blades square to the case neck/end. Also make sure the pilot is of the proper size. Giraud is the only way to go. Even beats the BlueKoolAid trimmer!

Not according to Randall of AR15barrels.com. He actually has me thinking on the BluKoolAid.

[ar15barrels]

Girard probably beats a Dillon trimmer for through-put if you don't mount the dillon trimmer in a press with a casefeed and lube die system.
The way I have it setup, it's doing more work than just trimming and it's doing it much faster.

People talk about rounds/hour, but think about this...

In order to trim with the Girard, the cases need to be sized first.
So, add-in the time it takes you to size/decap them first before you can even trim them.

I am processing brass via the "bucket method".
I pickup brass off the ground and it goes in a bucket.
I sort the brass by cartridge to ensure that only one cartridge type (223/9mm etc...) is in each bucket.
Pour the bucket in the tumbler to clean it.
Seperate the brass from the media.
Pour clean brass in the casefeeder on the sizing/trimming machine.
My press lubes, decaps, sizes and trims all in one setup.
Pour the sized/lubed/trimmed brass in the tumbler again to remove lube.
Seperate the brass from the media.
Pour fully processed brass in the casefeeder of the loading machine.
The loading machine clears the flash hole of media, swages the primer pocket, primes, charges, seats and crimps.
Out comes finished ammo.

So, if you add in the time to size the brass for use with the Girard, my setup trumps them all.
If you are using a dillon trimmer on a single stage press, the Girard is possibly a little faster overall depending on how fast you can size your brass.
The casefeeder is where it's at, allowing for the "bucket method" where you don't ever have to handle each individual piece of brass.

Don't forget that the Girard's trim length relies on the shoulder being the same length in order for trim lengths to be consistent.
The Dillon trim lengths reference to the case head, regardless of shoulder length consistency, so press frame stretch during sizing is the only variable.

[C.G.]

The casefeeder is where it's at, allowing for the "bucket method" where you don't ever have to handle each individual piece of brass.

Don't forget that the Girard's trim length relies on the shoulder being the same length in order for trim lengths to be consistent.
The Dillon trim lengths reference to the case head, regardless of shoulder length consistency, so press frame stretch during sizing is the only variable.

This is what got me thinking about the Dillon trimmer over the Giraud the last time you mentioned this.

[jandmtv]

i have seen Randalls setup, any reloader would wet himself if they saw it in person!, he has automated just about everything!

the only thing he is missing is the auto bullet drop.

[ar15barrels]

the only thing he is missing is the auto bullet drop.

And that's available from 2 different manufacturers.
It's only money...

[jandmtv]

And that's available from 2 different manufacturers.
It's only money...

yup, only another $500 or so, then again, how much are your dillon presses worth? lol , you dont have to answer that