Input on tool to trim rifle brass

GymB

GymB

Picking it up slowly.
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i'm beginning to reload 45-70, 30-30, 357max and .223. Have looked at reviews of trimmers, but would appreciate your input.
Jim
 
trimming brass is at the top of the suck list for me for years I used the Lee set with cutter & stud... worked well enough for years...but after using the RCBS once I had to have one...I'm not stuck on one brand,,RED,BLUE or GREEN... but the RCBS is sweet.
Still keep the Lee for use when im in in a pinch and just need to do a small amount of a odd rifle brass.
 
I like my Lee quick trim. With a little rechargeable screwdriver. Set up on my Lee challenger. Keeps the mess off my other presses. Drop the handle, steady pressure for a 5 count. Viola. Trimmed brass.

Im sure there's better/ fancier out there but it fills my needs perfectly.
 
Djstorm100 said:
seriously..suck it up and buy a giraud trimmer.
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I don't believe that it will handle straight-waked cases.
 
Lee for simplicity, ease of use, and consistency. RCBS for large quantities and precision
 
I'll toss a wrench in here......I picked up a Lyman case prep station and a Lee trimmer for it.....works great....trim and prep the primer pockets all in one place !
 
Giraud is the bees knees. Sure it won't work on the straight walled cases you mentioned BUT how much 45-70 or 357 volume are we really talking? Now the 30-30 I would think falls into that category as well...

the 223 volume would most likely be worth it. However, a little crow WFT would work just as well to see if getting into volume automation is the path you want to go.

the case prep centers out there sound like what might work best for the situation.
 
I only reload 223 and 308 in rifle. I have a CTS trimmer for each caliber. Chucks in a drill press an for just over $40 works great.
 
I'd have bought the Girard if it did the cases I need, might buy one anyway.

I hadn't considered the case prep centers, will need to look at those capabilities.

Would have bought the Forster at Cabelas last week, but it didn't look like it came with the right pilots and the need for immediate gratification passed.

the drill chuck attachments are inexpensive, will go look at CTS.

thanks all, and merry Christmas
 
I bought a few different calibers from the WFTs and then a used small drill press ($35.00). I can do 15+ a minute. Trick to doing this is also buy a pair of mechanics work gloves. I was using a drill motor in a vise with a Harbor Freight foot switch but the drill press works so much better and faster.
 
413045135.jpg
 
Lee makes the cutter/adapter to use in the case prep station vs the $30 adapter sold on ebay.....the Lee with a shell holder "holder" was less than $15
 
Little Crow Gunworks it is all you need to know. I trimmed for years with several lathe style trimmers. The WFT is the best trimmer on the market for the money.
 
The Green Heron said:
Little Crow Gunworks it is all you need to know. I trimmed for years with several lathe style trimmers. The WFT is the best trimmer on the market for the money.
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From the Little Crow Gunworks website "Our Case Trimmers will not work with straight walled cases. "

Seems to be a pattern.
 
Ok let me try again.
30-30 and 223....You listed them did you not? Refer to what I said.

Straight wall cases? You are going to trim them once to even up for a crimp...Maybe. they may not need trimming. They are low pressure straight wall, they aren't going to grow much, if anything they are liable to shrink so be careful how much you trim.

If you are shooting them in that Contender those straight walls should shrink a little.

Get a Forester. It will be great.
 
Uhh, I just assumed that the straight-walled cases would tend to stretch, thanks for correcting that!

anyone know of a place in Raleigh that sells reloading equipment? I'm here for a couple days, not a lot of free time, but may sneak out for an hour tomorrow afternoon.

thanks
jim
 
JimB;n28585 said:
Uhh, I just assumed that the straight-walled cases would tend to stretch, thanks for correcting that!

anyone know of a place in Raleigh that sells reloading equipment? I'm here for a couple days, not a lot of free time, but may sneak out for an hour tomorrow afternoon.

thanks
jim
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Cabellas and Bass Pro.

Don't know any mom & pop shops with stuff in stock around here. :(
 
The Green Heron;n27623 said:
Straight wall cases? You are going to trim them once to even up for a crimp...Maybe. they may not need trimming. They are low pressure straight wall, they aren't going to grow much, if anything they are liable to shrink so be careful how much you trim.

If you are shooting them in that Contender those straight walls should shrink a little.
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45-70 at trapdoor loads might not stretch but the modern leveraction level loads do. Im pretty sure 357 MAX stretch too.
 
cold1;n28946 said:
45-70 at trapdoor loads might not stretch but the modern leveraction level loads do. Im pretty sure 357 MAX stretch too.
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Actually by design, straight wall cases stretch much less than bottleneck cases. Cases grow due to pressure that is great enough to make brass flow. If you are running enough pressure in any straightwall case, to need "volume trimming" don't fret about trimming anything, you ain't likely to last very long.
 
Is it correct to say that bottled cartridges stretch because when fired there is pressure against the shoulder pushing forward and the case head pushing backwards? In sizing the shoulder is pushed back leaving the neck long and the neck is then trimmed? If that's what happens then the straight cases shouldn't really stretch because the only forward pressure on the brass is the friction with the chamber wall and that would also tend to keep the brass from stretching and the resistance from the neck tension and crimp which is relatively small.

hadn't really thought through the mechanics of it before. Could be wrong, but it makes sense to me.
 
The Green Heron;n29043 said:
Actually by design, straight wall cases stretch much less than bottleneck cases. Cases grow due to pressure that is great enough to make brass flow. If you are running enough pressure in any straightwall case, to need "volume trimming" don't fret about trimming anything, you ain't likely to last very long.
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With the upperend leveraction loads in 45-70, I would have to trim them after about every 5th loading. The brass would only last about 8-10 loadings, depending on maker, before you could use a paperclip and feel the "thin spot". These were published loads although at the max side of the chart. The only thing besides the brass that didnt last long at these levels were my shoulders.
 
BurnedOutGeek;n28596 said:
Cabellas and Bass Pro.

Don't know any mom & pop shops with stuff in stock around here. :(
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Hunters haven in Rolesville has some stuff......if he doesn't just ask he may be able to get it.
 
I've been using the Hornady cam style with a RCBS tri-way on my 223 for years with a drill attachment. It works well for high volume, though I've been wanting the Giraud some kinda bad for a while now.
 
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