Best electric driven case trimmer??

[Exocet]

Tired of hand cranking my trimmer.

I'm looking for an electric driven trimmer that is durable, accurate, easy to use, and easy to switch between calibers.

I trim large volumes of 223 cases mostly, but often trim other calibers as well, 280 Rem, 7mm Rem Mag, 308 Win, 25-06, etc.

Thanks for the input, pics of your setup or links to the trimmer are appreciated.

 

[outlawsix]

Giraud. You didn't say cheapest you said best. Do some looking around and I believe you will find everyone agrees on this one.

http://www.giraudtool.com/prod02.htm

 

[Exocet]

I was thinking either Gracey or Giraud.

Any reason one is better than the other?

The Gracey looks like $250 and Giraud $375 on their websites.

 

[outlawsix]

I have the Giraud. Best thing I can again say is do some looking on the net. Those who first had a Gracey then went to Giraud are the best reson to go Giraud from the start. Thye will tell you the benefits of the Giraud over the Gracey.

One other thing somewhere on the net, youtube I think, there is video of someone using a Giraud. It sounds loud on the video. In person the Giraud is no where near that loud.

 

[Winchester69]

If you have a drill press,150-250 RPM), the Sinclair Possum Hollow trimmers are good. They don't chamfer, however.

 

[ronemus]

I've used the Dillon trimmer and found that it wasn't right for me. Since it's built on a full-length sizing die, you have no option but to use Dillon's and if you're loading for a bolt gun you can't neck size. It doesn't decap or expand, so those operations must be done separately. In addition, it trims but doesn't chamfer inside or out. The only trimmers that also chamfer in one step are the Gracey and the Giraud.

I own a Gracey and it works well once the 3-piece steel cutters are replaced with a Giraud carbide blade,easier to adjust, cleaner cut, VLD chamfer, essentially infinite life) and a stand is used to tip it back ~30 degrees,keeps the chips out of the shell holder). When I switch calibers, it take 5 minutes or so to change the shell holder and adjust the blade.

The Giraud has modules that plug in, allowing fast caliber changes, and can operate in a vertical position so the chips clear easily. That makes for smoother operation and fast caliber changes. I bought my Gracey before the Giraud was on the market and haven't seen the need to upgrade since I shoot primarily .223 and only occasionaly need to trim .284; however, if I were buying today I'd get the Giraud.

 

[chuckw2]

# 1 = Giraud....

 

[Raidman]

Buy the Giraud and don't look back. I have modules for 8 different calibers and it doesn't take more than 5 minutes to switch. If you are one of the unlucky that bought Gracey, Doug makes modules for them too.

 

[memilanuk]

+1 for Giraud.

Had a Gracey. It works, but the Giraud is better in just about every way possible. Sold my Gracey to someone who wanted a second one for a second caliber that he shot in volume. That should be a clue about how much of a PITA they are to setup and change cartridges on.

One Giraud = $375. Extra shell holder = $30. Extra cutter head w/ blade = $45

Total $450 for two different cartridges/calibers

Two Graceys = $500,unless you shop used from someone selling one to buy a Giraud)

Added bonus - you can get a meplat uniforming head and caliber specific holders and trim meplats like nobodies business!

 

[SlowpokeRodriguez]

My WIFE using the manual one----then I use the "cattle prod" on her to make it "electric"!!!!

 

[Raidman]

There is one big problem with both of these trimmers, and that is that they set the length from the shoulder, not the face of the head.

If your cases are fired from your rifle, it's no problemo... but if you get brass in bulk, like Milsurp .223 and 308, then the cases will vary up to maybe 20 thou in the datum line, plus there is enough difference in the shape of the shoulders that it will make it worse.
For example, I have a very expensive, custom .223 rifle, with a top of the line barrel, chambered by a well know builder.
The chamber takes new brass just fine... but I was given 600 pcs of once fired Lapua brass that would not fit, even when FL sized - not even close. I bought a Minimum Small base body die... no go. I had to take 23 thou off of a shell holder before the cases would fit the chamber. The problem was that the chamber of the original rifle had an odd curve at the neck/shoulder junction that both dies could not clean up.

The point of this being that the shoulder to head distance varies a lot and if you get bulk fired brass, and it's from many different firearms, you can wind up with trimmed brass that is all over the place in length.

There are other options... Lyman sells a power kit for a drill press that works well - I use it for 50BMG.

Catshooter what you say about indexing from the shoulder is true but I have put approximately 20,000 cases through my Giraud and have no problems holding +/- .002. When you consider the fact that you can do 500 cases in an hour, get concentric chamfers inside and out and square ends it makes the Giraud a valuable asset.

BTW: I don't use bulk fired brass

 

[Shelley]

I also love the Giraud. Bulk fired brass isn't something I use so the Giraud is perfect in my world. And, for a gadget freak it's a work of art!

Shelley

 

[Winchester69]

There are other options... Lyman sells a power kit for a drill press that works well

Does Lyman still offer this piece? I don't find it listed anywhere. Forster has a similar tool.