All case trimmer results equal?

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All case trimmer results equal?

Post by schink » 31 Mar 2014, 6:28 pm

Guys,

Do you reckon there is any difference to be had in the results from difference case trimmers?

Not preference for manual, or powdered or how fast one is or anything like that.

Just the trimmed case at the end of the day.

I don't suppose one trimmer does anything better than the next one?
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Chronos » 31 Mar 2014, 6:51 pm

As long as your measuring and checking is the same for each set up you results should be similar.

That said I've used some that are truly a pain to use and are slow and fiddly to use so I don't think some are worth buying no matter what the cost savings are.

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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by petemacsydney » 31 Mar 2014, 6:57 pm

I recently bought the lee 2 packs solution. total cost $26 bucks and it trimmed my 308's just fine when attaching to a drill.

Very nice and reasonably fast!

IMHO (which is noob!) better than spending a sh*te load on a full on case trimmer machine and seems very accurate (and faster than manual) to me after checking with a caliper.

1st pack was the case length guage and shell holder ($12) and second pack was the cutter and lock stud ($14)
all fits into a batt pwrd drill and it's very easy (and accurate) to use.
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by von_klitzing » 31 Mar 2014, 11:43 pm

And what was the cost of the drill? :P
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by petemacsydney » 01 Apr 2014, 9:05 am

lol, come on - everyone has a drill !
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Chronos » 01 Apr 2014, 9:07 am

petemacsydney wrote:lol, come on - everyone has a drill !


And if you don't, you should :)

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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Hercl » 01 Apr 2014, 10:47 am

The only immediate difference depending on the cutting bit is the top of the neck where trimmed might be rougher or smoother when freshly trimmed.

That's really irrelevant though as you'd chamfer your brass after trimming it anyway to clean up the edges, so meh.
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Lorgar » 01 Apr 2014, 10:49 am

petemacsydney wrote:I recently bought the lee 2 packs solution. total cost $26 bucks and it trimmed my 308's just fine when attaching to a drill.


That's what I'm using too.

Have done for half a dozen calibres and never had a problem.

Bugger using a manual hand one :roll:

Way to slow IMO, and a pain in the wrist if you have a lot of brass to do.
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by schink » 01 Apr 2014, 10:49 am

Roger, thanks guys.
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Chronos » 01 Apr 2014, 11:21 am

Some info here on what I use and why

I use a Wilson trimmer, have previously used the lee and lyman systems but after using one of these belonging to Apollo I bought my own. This unit seems expensive but it costs the same as my lee and lyman lathe units combined which are no longer used. Buy once, cry once I guess.

Image

The main reason for using it is flexibility. You buy a case holder for each family if cases, .222, .223 or .243, 7-08, .308 etc and just tap it onto the nylon pad to secure the case, tap to remove.

Image

Then place the case holder in the trimmer and turn the handle. There are power drill adapters available.

The unit can be used to square the case head, careful not to remove too much metal, usually one or two turns is enough

Image

In the pic you can see how even the best brass can be out if square.


Image

Then you can spin the case around and trim to length. This model has micrometer adjustment so you can measure your case and dial in the length.

Image

Hope that is of interest to some

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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by maxi » 02 Apr 2014, 10:39 am

Chronos wrote:Hope that is of interest to some


Yes indeed.

Quite the rig you've got there.
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Hinky » 02 Apr 2014, 10:40 am

Squaring the heads a good addition. Can't do that with the Lee system obviously.
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Streamline » 02 Apr 2014, 10:41 am

Chronos wrote:Hope that is of interest to some


How often do you find the case head needs squaring?

Never something I'd given any thought do... Do you find most cases need a run through or only the occasional one?
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by schink » 02 Apr 2014, 10:43 am

Thanks for the photos Chronos.

I think I'll be starting with the $20 Lee jobbie, nothing so flash as your rig there. Just to get my feet wet with this...

That'll be something for the future though.
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by The Brass » 02 Apr 2014, 10:44 am

Any idea how many thou you took off the head of that case Chronos? If you remember?

Or an average from other cases, whatever...
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Chronos » 02 Apr 2014, 10:47 am

Streamline wrote:How often do you find the case head needs squaring?

Never something I'd given any thought do... Do you find most cases need a run through or only the occasional one?


Only once, after f/l sizing to uniform all the cases but before any other steps are done. This face is where all dimensional references are taken to it makes sense to get it square to the bore.

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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Streamline » 02 Apr 2014, 11:19 am

Do you find all new brass needs a head trim as well?

Never get one flat enough from the factory?
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Chronos » 02 Apr 2014, 1:05 pm

I just touch every case. Most of the time that's all that's needed. The cases in the pics are .308 Remington and some needed .001-.002" to clean up 50-60% of the case head area as shown. Most didn't need that much.

My other brass, mostly .308 lapua is better but some cases need more to clean up than others.

Let me say this is probably a step too far mor most reloaders, for these cases it certainly wasn't necessary. These 200 cases will be used in an Israeli Mauser with 4moa accuracy at best but it was an exercise I undertook as an experiment and to take pics.

However this is something that is possible with the Wilson trimmer and not many other systems

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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Hinky » 02 Apr 2014, 1:21 pm

Chronos wrote:These 200 cases will be used in an Israeli Mauser with 4moa accuracy at best...


Ha ha :lol:

Awesome effort :D
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Streamline » 02 Apr 2014, 1:24 pm

Cool, cool.

Thanks for all that Chronos.
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by beerhog » 03 Apr 2014, 10:47 am

The lee quick trim is a good bit of gear. Even chamfers at the same time.
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Wheelbarrow » 04 Apr 2014, 10:50 am

beerhog wrote:Even chamfers at the same time.


That's handy.

One less step in the process is always good.
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by von_klitzing » 04 Apr 2014, 11:41 am

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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Hinky » 10 Apr 2014, 7:24 pm

Can you adjust the speed on that thing VK? How fast does it ream/trim?
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Zilla » 10 Apr 2014, 7:26 pm

von_klitzing wrote:Lock-N-Load-Case-Prep-Trio


Good they're all facing the same direction.

Flipping those double sided hand chamfers round and round is a pain :lol:
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by von_klitzing » 19 Apr 2014, 11:00 pm

Hinky wrote:Can you adjust the speed on that thing VK? How fast does it ream/trim?


Sorry for the late reply, this one slipped by me somehow... Anyway, I don't have one of these... It's just something I came across. Will let you know of I get one though ;)
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Hinky » 21 Apr 2014, 8:29 am

No problem :)
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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Guff » 23 Apr 2014, 4:14 pm

great tip Chronos ...

yep the Wilson is definately worth every cent ...

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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Chronos » 23 Apr 2014, 4:48 pm

so clean guff, must go clean mine now LOL

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Re: All case trimmer results equal?

Post by Warrigul » 23 Apr 2014, 5:03 pm

Guff wrote:great tip Chronos ...

yep the Wilson is definately worth every cent...


I just can't believe how clean your bench is...
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