Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Case Trimmers

Im in the market for a new case trimmer and was wondering what others are using. Ive looked at the Wilsom micrometer trimmer and it appears to be of good quality but a bit more difficult to use than other trimmers. Im currently using a Hornady Cam Lock trimmer and not too impressed with the results.

I started out using a Forster and it did a good job, lately I've been using a Lyman which I like because it doesn't require collets to hold the case.

What's wrong with the Wilson, besides being slow? I've been using Wilson (s) for 40 years and can't find fault. Even when dealing with bulk brass I just resign myself and kind of zen out and sooner or later I'm done. No biggie.

I've read some comments on this site that lead me to think the Wilson trimmer is actually too simple for some people to use.

My old RCBS works for me. For high volume I hook it up with a battery powered drill. Don't forget to lube the spindle tho.

I started out with a Forster in 196....some odd. It still works just fine!

I guess when reading the instruction sheet for the Wilson, slow is probably what I was seeing more than difficult to use. It really looks like a quality unit and will most likely turn out very consistent results..

Anyone have one of the ones from Little Crow?

My comment wasn't about yours in particular, moreso about some I've read in the past by folks who tried one out and couldn't get the hang of it.

True, it isn't the fastest. It is quite simple, and it produces a very consistent result with the case mouths cut off square to the centerline. It also doesn't depend on the quality of fit of a pilot to the inside of the case neck.

I use the basic model with the simple screw adjustment and no hold down for the case holder, my fingers work fine for that. I did treat myself to a TiN coated cutter head when the original got dull after many years and thousands of trimmings.

I’m still using the Lyman trimmer that I started out with some 40 odd years ago. I have replaced the cutter head a time or two, with the carbide version most recently.

Started with Dad's Herters trimmer 50 years ago. Replaced it with the RCBS, but later wished I'd bought the Lyman instead.

None of the above are in the same league with the LEWilson. The micrometer feature is nice, can record a setting (ie., return to it) when switching cartridges.

Suppose Little Crow or Dillon if volume is the thing.

Yes, I have a couple of the WFT and like them a lot. At first I thought they were a bit expensive since each one was limited to cases of the same "family", but I bought one each for .223 and .30-06 type cases and they have proven to be well worth the money in time and effort saved. Cases come out very uniform in length and it only takes 2-3 seconds each. There is some small art to it since you should use a similar pressure when feeding in the case mouth but you quickly develop a rhythm and feel for it.

The latest generation has replaceable inserts for each case type and if starting today that's the way I'd go. In fact I might still get one of those.

Still have a 35 year old Lyman electric trimmer and pilots for those one-off case types and it works as well as it ever did but it feels really slow in comparison to the WFT.

Depending on what mood I am in or some other excuse I crank a Lyman trimmer or do the power assist Lee trimmers.

I've been using the same old Pacific lathe trimmer I've had for almost 37 years. It's trimmed thousands of cases and the cutter is getting dull. Called Hornady customer service yesterday and was told the new cutter heads won't fit, so I guess it's time for a new one. Thinking of a Forster, but all my pilots will fit the Hornady Cam Lock trimmer so i may goo that route.

If you want a tip - flip that setup around so the cutter is in the drill (or better yet a drill press), and discard the shell holder piece. You can hold the cases by hand and let the pilot stop against whatever hard surface the case head is against (like the drill press table, sheet of glass or steel, etc). I use the drill press with this setup, and it's way way faster than putting each case in that shell holder.

What Yondering said

Db102550: DO NOT overlook the Wilson - it's what I use and have used for MANY decades.
I get extremely consistent results with them.
Best of luck to you whichever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I use Wison, it's good for me.

I started out with a Lyman Universal. That POS wouldn't trim a case mouth square no matter what...I swapped it, but I shoulda thrown it in the Rio Grande.

I ended up with an RCBS, then discovered 3-way cutters and trim gauges. Got heavily invested in that, then converted it all to power when that became available. Now I've got quite a few bucks invested in my trimming system. I can't complain too much because it's relatively quick considering all it does in one pass. Chamfering has got to be the biggest PITA in reloading, especially if your hands are starting to get arthritic.

If I was starting over, I don't know which direction I'd take. Lotsa very good choices out there.

One thing I discovered about the later RCBS case trimmer with the improved shell holder setup...those little studs that restrain the shell holder can loosen and begin to back out. If you're using one make sure they're nice and snug. A little Loctite might be a good idea here.

I think RCBS should bring Trim Gauges back. I guess they didn't sell and that's why they discontinued them, but they're a great tool. I can change from trimming .30-06 brass to .220 Swift in about 30 seconds without adjusting a thing (and chamfering is already DONE!). I think RCBS did a poor job of marketing them, and that's why they're no longer available.

I bought one of the Frankford Arsenal Trim and Prep Centers three years ago.It has changed my world on case prep.They have gone up a bit in price,but I'd buy another one in a heart beat.I can trim,debur,chamfer and clean the primer pockets all with this one tool at a rate of about 5 cases a minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWOc5NWWbQE

https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/ca...es-case-trim-and-prep-center/903156.html

I keep moving closer to one of those........

Tried a bunch and finally bit the bullet and got a Giraud.

Rather good investment.

I am pretty fond of my Wilson.

Started with the Lyman accu-trim.
18 year old kid, no money it was cheap, used press she'll holders.
Total junk. Untrimmed cases were as consistent as trimmed.

Bought a used Forested. Had to add college and pilots one at
a time. (Its expensive to be poor sometimes)
Great tool, well made. Not a single issue in over 30 years.

Acquired a Lyman Universal in a deal.
Ok, not quite as consistent as Forrester, not as well machined.
Works ok, universal shell holders is overblown.
Forrester has one collet that does all my '06 and magnum
cases. I think the 223 also. Had to buy one for the Sweede.

My neighbor has a Redding.
It's Redding, what more to say.
If I had to acquire all new reloading equipment,
And wasn't too $ conscience, it would all be Redding.

I use the Lee Quick Trim. Sometimes a little tricky to get set exactly correct but once done, works good on my RCBS press. Just remember to keep the brass shavings off the shell holder.

My only regret is that I didn't purchase sooner.

David

I paid $130 for mine,now the unit they sell without the trimmer cost about that much.But when you add up the cost of each tool,you have over a hundred dollars right there.I used to hate doing case prep in separate steps.Now I can do four steps each time I pick up a case and I'm done.

This, plus there's just too much length variation with it as well due to the inconsistency of the chuck unless you re-adjust every case to be sure it's lock up correctly.

I use a Forster, with a drill attached................not super fast, but fast enough for most use unless I have a huge amount of 223 brass, then nothing is really fast enough..

MM

That's what I used to do as well, but then went to the Lee cutter/pilot set in a drill press that I mentioned above. It's way way faster than a drill on my Forster trimmer, and more accurate as well. For about a $12 investment, it's worth a try. (Assuming you have a drill press, every man needs a drill press even if it's just a small cheap one.)

Yeah, I have a drill press & a bunch of the Lee trimmers as well; I'll give it a try. Thanks.

MM

I use WCT trimmer on a high speed drill. It’s cheap ($23.50 on eBay) and I figured to pick it up until I can afford better. Fast forward a couple years and I am still using it because it actually does pretty well (within 0.001”) and it’s fast.

The Little Crow WFT is definitely fast but one thing to keep in mind is that it indexes off the case shoulder, not the case head. If you are processing brass that wasn't all fired in the same chamber you will see variance in finished length.

I bought my Giruad when I was shooting High power, and was extremely glad I had it when I started shooting Pdogs.

I use a L.E. Wilson. Nitride coated cutter. Consistent and easy to use. Only drawback is you have to buy a case holder for each caliber.

I'm a high volume user, so I went with a Giraud.

http://giraudtool.com/giraud-power-trimmer.html

Expensive, obviously, but insanely fast. It trims to length and chamfers inside and outside in one operation. I'm not exaggerating when I say it takes 2-3 SECONDS to trim a case. I did a run of 5,000 .223 cases a few months ago. Took me 5 hours with smoke breaks.

I've owned and used a few different trimmers. The Lyman was not very consistent. The finished length varied with the RCBS and Forster that used collets depending on how tight you tightened the collet. The Lee case gauge type worked ok but the cutters dull quickly. The shell holders can loosen and let the case get out much too often too.

I've settled on the Wilson and the Giraud. The Wilson has all of the bells and whistles that Sinclair offers. I find it to be no slower than any other hand powered lathe style trimmer once you get used to it. The Giraud is set up in the calibers that I load in volume. I can trim 223's at a sustained rate of 16 per minute and maintain less than .001 in length. Both are rather pricey!