Is the Giraud still the Cadillac of trimmers?

[rijndael]

Die lock ring and Skips die shims?

I want a jig/tool to adjust the cutter blade left and right. Once you loosen the set screw, it's pretty hard to move it left or right a hair. Yes, I've tried to use a piece of brass to nudge it, while installed in the machine.

I already use a die lock ring for making brass length changes easier.

 

[lawrence97]

I want a jig/tool to adjust the cutter blade left and right. Once you loosen the set screw, it's pretty hard to move it left or right a hair. Yes, I've tried to use a piece of brass to nudge it, while installed in the machine.

I already use a die lock ring for making brass length changes easier.

I agree. Sometimes during setup for a new case/caliber the cutter can potentially cut too much on either side of neck wall leaving too much chamfer or not enough. I found that using a case to center the cutter is the best way and I use a small screwdriver or wooden dowel to push/tug on the cutter to get it right.

 

[rijndael]

I have a simple cutter adjuster design in my head, I'm just waiting to pull the trigger on my 3d printer before I model it.

 

[stavey]

No matter what I did the results weren’t on par with the giraud. I think the nature of a collet forces the case slightly off center causing the uneven chamfers. As far as a pilot. Even polished like a mirror , it still marred up the inside of the necks. Believe me I tried everything. Just couldn’t get the consistent quality that I did with the giraud.

 

[Hoser]

I had a Giraud, saw the Henderson and bought one.

Used them side by side for a while.

Kept the Henderson and am very happy.

It gives a much more consistent and concentric cut. A million times easier to do short stubby cases as an added bonus.

 

[drop_point]

I've been looking hard at these two trimmers. I've been using the RCBS powered unit with the tri-way cutter to trim/chamfer/deburr in one step. It does a fantastic job with my only complaint is that it is a little slow and there is no repeatability when switching out cartridges. I have found a workaround to measure the case and use a feeler gauge between the collar and the stop. I can usually get within two or three thousandths this way.

The RCBS takes around 5 seconds per piece of brass.

I also have the WFTs for a couple rounds to make faster work of bulk .223s. It takes about one squeeze of the drill's trigger and comes out to length, but it is often harder on the hands. I have thought about upgrading to the tri-way version Giraud makes. Are those worthwhile?

I load about a dozen rounds, so the Giraud seems like it would price me out of it needing to buy so many cutters.

Is the Henderson a big improvement over the RCBS? How long does it typically take per round?

 

[1K6BRA]

Here is how important in my life my Giraud trimmer is to me.
1-accepting Jesus Christ as my savior.
2-the birth of my two wonderful children.
3-my health and my children’s health.
4-getting rid of television garbage pumped into my house.
5-and this is a tossup,my Giraud trimmer and my amp annealer!

 

[Straightshooter1]

Not want to derail the thread at all. Just a question for users of either machine. When you are done trimming, do you find it necessary to run some fine steel wool over the freshly trimmed case mouth for any potential micro burrs?

Only if the cutter blade is not cutting properly (like the blade is dull or wasn't ground properly to a sharp edge). I have a Trim It II that uses the same kind of cutting blade as the Giraud and was having an issue with burrs. After making all kinds of adjustments and not getting rid of the burrs, I ordered and installed a new Giraud blade and problem solved.

Is there any risk of either trimmer bringing the case mouth to a sharp edge if the cutter comes out of adjustment through use?......Thank You

Regards
Rick

Not that I've experienced.

 

[Shooter13]

I want a jig/tool to adjust the cutter blade left and right. Once you loosen the set screw, it's pretty hard to move it left or right a hair. Yes, I've tried to use a piece of brass to nudge it, while installed in the machine.

I already use a die lock ring for making brass length changes easier.

What I have found useful in this instance is to do the adjustment while having a case inserted into the holder and holding down on it, that puts a small amount of pressure on it so it doesn't slide around. If this doesn't make sense let me know and I'll take a picture of it. (may take 3 hands).

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I have been using a Giraud trimmer for about 10 years now. I can do 100 cases in about 5 minutes. I use a Mechanix glove on my right hand to help hold the cases, and yes, arthritis is something I live with.

 

[Shooter13]

Only if the cutter blade is not cutting properly (like the blade is dull or wasn't ground properly to a sharp edge). I have a Trim It II that uses the same kind of cutting blade as the Giraud and was having an issue the burrs. After making all kinds of adjustments and not getting rid of the burrs, I ordered and installed a new Giraud blade and problem solved.



Not that I've experienced.

You know that there are 3 cutters on each blade of the tringle?

 

[Shooter13]

I have been using a Giraud trimmer for about 10 years now. I can do 100 cases in about 5 minutes. I use a Mechanix glove on my right hand to help hold the cases, and yes, arthritis is something I live with.

Me too! (both)

 

[jpx2rk]

I've been looking hard at these two trimmers. I've been using the RCBS powered unit with the tri-way cutter to trim/chamfer/deburr in one step. It does a fantastic job with my only complaint is that it is a little slow and there is no repeatability when switching out cartridges. I have found a workaround to measure the case and use a feeler gauge between the collar and the stop. I can usually get within two or three thousandths this way.

The RCBS takes around 5 seconds per piece of brass.

I also have the WFTs for a couple rounds to make faster work of bulk .223s. It takes about one squeeze of the drill's trigger and comes out to length, but it is often harder on the hands. I have thought about upgrading to the tri-way version Giraud makes. Are those worthwhile?

I load about a dozen rounds, so the Giraud seems like it would price me out of it needing to buy so many cutters.

Is the Henderson a big improvement over the RCBS? How long does it typically take per round?

I have one tri-way for 223 which was my primary round when I first got it since I had 3 or 4 223 varmint rifles. I"ve expanded my inventory of calibers to include the 204R and 20P (two of each) so I'm considering getting one tri-way for 204R and one for 20P, so I don't have to make any adjustments to them after getting them set for each. These are my high volume calibers for varmints, so after a varmint trip, I've got lots of brass in 223/204R/20P to process, and the tri-way is a time saver since you handle the brass just 1x to get 3 tasks done. Having the brass the same length for 2 different rifles in the same caliber doesn't seem to affect my accuracy for my rifles.

 

[shoot4fun]

Die lock ring and Skips die shims?

I use Hornady lock rings on the Giraud shell holders and do any fine adjustments using arbor shims I bought from WW Grainger some years ago.

 

[rijndael]

What I have found useful in this instance is to do the adjustment while having a case inserted into the holder and holding down on it, that puts a small amount of pressure on it so it doesn't slide around. If this doesn't make sense let me know and I'll take a picture of it. (may take 3 hands).

That's what I was describing. It doesn't work well enough for me.

 

[jimmymac]

Lots of good info in this thread. Thank you all.

 

[Straightshooter1]

You know that there are 3 cutters on each blade of the tringle?

Yup. I tried the other cutters on the blade and got the same results. My conclusion was that something about how the cutters were ground for that particular blade didn't work, since the new blade worked just fine.

 

[Ned Ludd]

For Giraud users, do any of you guys trim your brass prior to running it through your sizing die? To me, this seems like it would produce the most consistent result since the shoulder on each freshly fired piece of brass is very consistent with the next.

I do not, but I suppose you could. I find the base-to-shoulder dimension to be one of the most consistent case measurements I take, both before and after sizing, so I'm not sure how much advantage doing so would provide. My main concern about trimming with the Giraud prior to sizing is that I process hundreds of cases at a time and some of the steps in the process that come after sizing increase the chances of damaging the case mouth/chamfer area. Trimming with the Giraud is the very last step in my process largely to prevent that from ever happening.

 

[Shooter13]

For Giraud users, do any of you guys trim your brass prior to running it through your sizing die? To me, this seems like it would produce the most consistent result since the shoulder on each freshly fired piece of brass is very consistent with the next.

My brass with not trim, chamfer or debur UNLESS it is sized. Easy to tell if I missed sizing one.

 

[fx77]

I want a jig/tool to adjust the cutter blade left and right. Once you loosen the set screw, it's pretty hard to move it left or right a hair. Yes, I've tried to use a piece of brass to nudge it, while installed in the machine.

I already use a die lock ring for making brass length changes easier.

Do not know much about machining, but thought a screw- worm gear for the cutter blade to move in the base, would be helpful.