Case Trimmer Suggestions

[pat fulghum]

Wilson with micrometer adjustment!! Very precise, it takes about 10s per case to load, cut, unload.

 

[ireload2]

To answer the original poster I would recommend measuring your chamber length. Then trim only those cases that are within about .003 of the chamber length after they are FL sized. That way you trim as few cases as possible.


I have 4 Wilsons and 5 Foresters. Neither is a POS.
Wilson case holders are not very flexible so they get expensive if you have to trim several dozen different calibers. I have dulled one Wilson cutter very rapidly (about 100 cases) using a drill motor to turn the cutter. My last trimmer purchased was a Wilson 50 BMG that is used for the .50-70 Govt because it was a little less expensive than the larger Forster tool. All things equal I would rather use the Forster.
The Forester is some what more versatile for my applications because the 4 collets will permit trimming so many different cases. I have also used it to trim 2.494 USGI 30-06 cases to 2.100 for the 7.65 Mauser using a drill motor. That is about .400 trimmed off of each case times 400 cases = 157 (13 feet) inches of case necks turned to shavings. The 1975 Forster cutter is still sharp. That is on top of about 200 8X57 cases from 30-06 and about 200 30 Herrett cases from 30-30 plus about 40 years of everything from 45-70 down to .222. I could list many more cases trimmed by that one old Forster. The other Forsters permanently set up for turning a particular case neck.

No one mentioned the Wilson with micrometer adjustment. Sinclair sells a cutter for it which can be turned with a cordless drill. IMO the Forester is a POS.

 

[BillPa]

Speaking of trimmers, I just ordered one of these for my non-mic Wilson....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331840606240?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
For 21 bucks I figured I give one a look see.
Bill

 

[284driver]

It's only as accurate as your sizing. The last batch I did with my WFT for my BRX were mostly spot on to a handful that were .001"off out of 80 cases.

Do you have the wft 2 or original?

 

[swd]

Do you have the wft 2 or original?

The original, but I see a WTF2 in the future for the versatility. They make trimming painless.

 

[Hoosier]

The original, but I see a WTF2 in the future for the versatility. They make trimming painless.

I reload thousands of .223 just for shooting fun. So I am not very particular on how I trim these cases. I bought a Lee
case trimmer that includes the cutter, .223 trim length locater, and the case holder. I chuck the cutter with length locater in my lathe and lock the brass in the case holder, then slide the case on the moving locater. I have never kept track of the quantity per hour, but you can get pretty fast. However, for target ammo, I use a Forster trimmer.
Hoosier

 

[Bill3508]

If I was doing that many cases on a regular basis ID get the big Giraud. It's incredible. Fast and easy to use plus camfers inside and out.

 

[centershot]

I assume that you still have to chamfer the cases with the WFT. The WFT2 looks like a better investment.

 

[Comrade Terry]

If I was doing that many cases on a regular basis ID get the big Giraud.

+1.

I just used mine - fifty cases in less than five minutes. They're perfect.

Keep in mind that it indexes off the shoulder.

 

[lightman]

I've use a Giraud for high volume stuff. I can trim at a sustained rate of 14 to 16 cases a minute. Occasionally you will fumble something and break your rhythm but that rate is not to hard to maintain. Trimmed cases are usually within .001. It can be a little hard on your fingers.

 

[Shaggy357]

Years ago, when money was tight, I picked up 1000 military 5.56 cases and needed to size and trim them. I used the RCBS manual depriming tool (hammer and pin set up), the RCBS primer pocket swager, and then started trimming the brass with the Lee trimmer, by hand. My neighbor saw blisters on my hand and asked what happened. When I explained, he let me borrow a drill. That Lee trimmer finished off those brass the next evening. It is years later and I now have a box of probably 30 of those Lee trimmers. I also have a cordless screw driver and a little table that fits in front of the TV.

I have done 10s of thousand of brass. Many by hand on a manual crank RCBS trimmer, many with the added drill attachment for the RCBS (wore 2 out and on a 3rd), many thousand on my Lyman electric, and by far many more on my Lee trimmers. I still use the Lee trimmers when I have 100 or so cases to do. If I have several hundred, I will use the Lyman electric. Haven't used the RCBS in years. I even have a Forster that I use mainly for turning necks.

It is hard to beat the Lee trimmer and a cordless screwdriver/drill in price, quantity, and quality of normal shooting ammo.

Just another opinion from one of the old socks in the crowd.

Steve

 

[waldo1979]

I have a Giraud tri-way trimmer that I like a lot. I also started with a Forster but was frequently frustrated by set screw issues. Speaking of which I need to sell my Forster.

 

[PatMiles]

Have any of you gents tried the Henderson Precision trimmer?
http://www.hendersonprecision.com/

 

[5spd]

Don't overlook this one. Frankfort Arsenal.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HS7JEB4/?tag=accuratescom-20
*** UPDATED 5/5***
Received mine today and so far its been right on the money after I got it set up.

 

[centershot]

I ordered a WFT2. Let you know later my thoughts on it.

 

[Motoman006]

I got a Frankfort arsenal prep center

Works great for bulk reloading and way faster then a crank trimmer

I use it on everything

 

[Just Dave]

WFT for me.. They built one just for my 50BMG, so I got the WFT to do all the others.
.
As with any cutter that indexes off the shoulder, you could potentially have some variance in OAL when done.
For some reason I will get a case that "springs back" after sizing differently than others in the batch.
Overall , it's been a workhorse .. I mounted an old drill to my bench, and just turn away..