I have a batch of 223 brass that is a little oversize lengthwise. Is a trim die/file better than a regular trimmer?

Put your $$ in a decent case trimmer...

You'll need it down the road if you reload more..

Redding or Forster are good choices

Lyman makes a good trimmer also.

There are trimmers and there are trimmers. My only first hand experience is with a manually operated, hand-crank trimmer and both of the ones I've had sucked. The results were really inconsistent case to case, lot of variation in length. I can do a much better job, and faster, with a file/trim die. A high end power trimmer might be a different story.

What I do when I can is start out with a Lee cutter/gauge setup to initially trim virgin brass to length, then size with an RCBS X die set.

Lee will make those cutters/gauges in anything .22 caliber and up to most any length you like and match the shellholder to the casehead you want to use.

RCBS is not so accommodating with the X dies. You gotta pick a caliber they already offer.

If there are no X dies available, then I go with a standard die set and a file/trim die.

Someday I may buy a power trimmer but I'd get more bang for my reloading buck from a power scale / powder dispenser setup so that's higher on my priority spending list.

Tom

I like the RCBS Pro Trim. It has a 1/2" shaft on it and I just clamp the three jaw chuck of my variable speed 1/2" drill on the shaft and trim a case every 5 seconds(Max).

Lyman's has a 1/2" shaft also, drill will attach same way.

FORGET THE TRIM DIE!

Lee's Zip Trim works for me.

All you need is a Lee trimmer for less than $10. Works better than all those expensive RCBS, Lyman, and others... If you have a lot of cases to do, and a lot to trim off, then run it in a drill, but if not I would just do it by hand.

I bought a trim die for 30/06 several decades ago and used it only a few times. I did not like it at all. I went to an RCBS trimmer that I still have. I took off the hand crank and put the shaft in my cordless drill. It works great but it must be readjusted every time I change chamberings. I recently went to the Lee system and love it. I use the universal shell holder in a cordless drill and can trim and champher very quickly and very uniformly without having to readjust everything all the time. I wish I had gone to the Lee system years ago.

Getting back to the original question...

If you have a few cases to size, a trim die is probably as fast to set up as a case trimmer. If you're trimming nickle plated cases, you won't ruin a cutter if you're using a trim die. Some trimmers don't always cut the case mouth perfectly square while a trim die always does. A trim die and file is cheaper than a lot of case trimmers. If you're trying to make say a 357 Herrett case out of 30-30 brass, it's a lot easier to shorten the case with a hacksaw and file than it would be to use a trimmer to remove 1/4 inch. There is no adjustment needed when setting up a trim die; just use the appropriate shell holder, adjust the die so the shell holder meets the die when the ram comes up and you're in business.

I have a Redding hand operated case trimmer which I use at times. I also have an RCBS powerd unit for trimming large quantities of cases. Despite being well equipped, I have quite a few trim dies that I use on a regular basis.

I use a trim die to set the length for .223 brass. I had a large number of Lake City brass given to me and I have probably sized up 500 pieces of brass with it. I have never used a case trimmer. I have only used a trim die. I have one for most of the calibers I reload. I don't plan on getting a trimmer just more trim dies. kwg

I use the Lee for most of my small volume trimming, but for volume .223 trimming I use a Possum Hollow trimmer. It fits over the shoulder of the case. By using the drill adapter, I can trim faster an easier than with anything else I have tried. It is relatively inexpensive and fits a family of cartridges. The .223 also works on .222, .221 Fireball, 17 Remington, etc.

Lee trimmers are a PITA for anything more than about 50 brass at a time!
I switched to RCBS trim-pro and attached a corded drill (or cordless but that wasn't as good a fit on my setup) and wish I did a lot sooner!

Trim die market has faded in the face of fancier trimmers but they work very well, do a very good job and it's virtually impossible to screw up with them. I have a few old trim dies, sorta wish I had a few more. But, I also have two hand crankers and some Lee trimmers too. Like 'em all, so...that's enough I suppose.

When I have a large number of cases to trim, I take them over to my buddy's house, he's got a Dillon case trimmer. It takes the pain out of it. I understand a Gracey is a lot better and easier, but that Dillon is pretty nice, too. It uses an electric motor on a specialty trim die, and it's slick.

I've got a trim die, but have since gone to batch processing with a modified Lee setup. Basically, I use a drill press. It takes a little while to get everything on center to the quill, and the depth set, but once set up, then I can crank through cases until my arm falls off.
I'm hoping sometime soon I can get one of those 3-way trimmer heads and try that. After the trim, there's still inside and outside chamfer. Overall, tho, the results are pretty good.

You can run the Lee Trimmer in a drill too. Takes about 2 minutes to set up. The big advantage of the Lee is that there is no length set up, and about zero risk of trimming to the wrong length or too short. I would use the Lee even if I had 1000 cases to trim.

After you trim with your Lee, in your drill, just grab your inside-outside champher, run it one way and then the other, then grab a small piece of scotchbrite pad and buff the whole case. Go's quick and you do a lot of things while you have the brass chucked up. miles

x2

Have never used a trim die but I can see where they might be more precise/consistent. Both my RCBS and Lee Zip Trip have given occasional inconsistent results. I blame myself for most of the problem. Noticed awhile back that the cases are sometimes not fully secured or secured off center before trimming. I now try to pay special attention to setting the cases up properly.

All things being equal(which they ain't) a trim die relies on literal outside forces,to curtail length. Such things will skew concentricity and neck tension,as well as mar projectiles.

A rotary trimmer does not on the average,though they are not all equals. In fairness,the worst rotary,easily trumps the best trim die.

Hint..............

Ok, I have been trying a Lee zip trim and while it's slow it seems to do well if I do my part ( like making sure the case head is installed all the way in the holder,also have had a couple of cases that were less than the trim to length even though I didn't think it was possible with this setup. Overall its probably faster than the RCBs rotary trimmer I've tried.

"a trim die relies on literal outside forces,to curtail length. Such things will skew concentricity and neck tension,as well as mar projectiles."

Say,... WHAT? I mean, "Lateral outside forces"... "to curtail length" ... "concentricity/tension ... 'mar projectiles" ... Huh? No offense intended but I have no idea of what you said means in any sort of practical application.


"A rotary trimmer does not on the average,"

"Does not on average," ... does not what?


"In fairness,the worst rotary,easily trumps the best trim die."

In what way?


I only have a few trim dies but they do exactly what they are supposed to do and do it quite well.

Do you have any idea of what a trim die is?

If you're talking speed of trimming a bunch of cases then a rotary trimmer easily trumps a trim die for routine trimming but it doesn't trump a trim die in any other respect.

Get one of those possom hollow devices. http://www.possumhollowproducts.com/kwick-case-trimmers.html
Put it in your drill, tape the trigger down and get after it. Trim dies IME are not time efficient.

You gals need to read slower and shoot more,though I'm digging your accidental humor................

"Happiness is in a big pile of guts"

Not if they are in your skivies from a hernia.

I guess I'm the odd man out here. I have been reloading since 1964. I have tried and used several rotary trimming tools and hated all of them. They were slow and actually became painful to use when trimming large quantities of rifle brass.

Nowadays I own trim dies in all of the rifle calibers I load. I like them because they function as an instant case length gauge while also ensuring that the case has been properly sized.

Anything that protrudes above the top of the trim die gets a couple swipes with a file, and trimming is done. There is no need to separately measure cases, setup a trimmer, clamp the cases in the shellholder and operate the trimmer.

The trim length is automatically uniform and correct for every caliber with no need to use a caliper to measure case length or set up a trimmer. There are no negative accuracy issues in my experience.

I find the trim dies to be MUCH faster and handier than any other trimmer (or any other method for measuring case length, for that matter) I have either tried or seen, and they are foolproof to use.

We have been loading for almost the exact same time, so you are not alone. The Lee Trimmer has the answer to all the problems you list, and is fast and easy to use. I've been so impressed with it, that when it came time to get a trimmer for my 6BR and discovered Lee did not make one, I made my own using a .243 WSSM Lee trimmer.

Trim tools of any type are just tools. Each can do the job, each is slightly superior (easier to use) for different ways of working. As tools, we can do it all with any one or we can own and use them all as we wish.

I have two hand lathes, several trim dies and several Lee trim tools. I find nothing massively different in the final effect from any of them.

if you are going to shoot and load a varity of cases in diff. cal. get an rcbs power trimer and 3-way cutter head set up and you will never regret it

I'll gun some pics tomorrow,if only to spur the oblivious in continuing their cluelessness...................