Case trimmer setup?

[6.5grendel]

I currently use the Lee case length gauge and shell holder style case trimmers and it is very time consuming and you can only trim to the one set length. I am looking for something to make my brass trimming and prep much faster and the ability to trim at different lengths. I have been looking at the Giraud, Trim It 2, and PMA trimmers but don't want to have to buy separate trimmers or adapters for each caliber that I have. I have also been looking at the Lyman Trim Xpress, Frankford Arsenal Universal case trimmer, and the Frankford Arsenal case trim and prep center. They all 3 appear to trim using the same concept as the other 3 mentioned earlier by trimming off the shoulder and they look like they come with everything for multiple calibers. Does anyone have any experience with the Lyman or either Frankford Arsenal trimmers? I would also get a simple case prep center with chamfer, debur, and primer pocket cleaner if I went with the Lyman or FA universal trimmer. Thank you for any advise.

 

[quest450]

Giraud, buy nice or buy twice

 

[topclass2017]

I recently switched from using an RCBS Trim mate II powered by a drill using three-way trimmer heads (an improvement over the original trim mate IMO based on the spring loaded case holder) to the Lyman Trim Express. Even with the three-way heads I found it was still necessary to chamfer and deburr separately to insure completeness and uniformity. What I like about the Lyman is it comes with caliber specific inserts to index off the shoulder, is easy to adjust in more-or-less .001" increments, and is self-contained and powered. Trimming goes quicker than with the Trim Mate, also a plus. You can, but I have not, mount it to your bench. I find it just as easy to rest my non-case holding hand on top of it to help provide leverage. Chamfering and deburring is still a separate operation (I have a Lyman case prep center) so no change there. It takes a little trial and error to figure out how to hold the cases against the trimmer - short cases like the 6.5 Grendel or 6mm BR require a little more effort because they are short, while 308 or similar are easy because there is enough case to grasp between finger and thumb.

So far I've trimmed over 200 6.5 Grendel cases (bolt rifle) and about the same 6mm BR. My Trim Mate and its heads are likely to wind up being sold...

 

[NorCalMikie]

Consider switching to bushing bump dies. With those dies, trimming is cut to next to nothing. I have BR brass that hasn't needed trimming in 25+ resizes.
You're sizing the neck and pushing the shoulders back the amount YOU WANT. With regular resizing dies, every up stroke on the neck button pulls the case longer. And eventually that leads to case head separation. That longer brass has to come from somewhere? Think the body just above the case rim.
And remember, chambers are cut to about .020 longer than the listed max trim length. Watch your case OAL and you may not have to trim for a looong time. YMMV.

 

[6.5grendel]

NorCalMikie, that is one of the reasons I was wanting a different trimming system. I am planning on getting Sinclair's chamber length inserts and actually measuring how long my chambers are and trim my brass according to that so that I'm not just guessing anymore. The Lyman unit looks very high quality and easy to use but I really like the price of the FA units.

 

[B23]

Hands down the best brass trimmer I've personally used to date, is the Little Crow WFT2. It's fast, accurate, easy to use and does a great job. Prior to purchasing the WFT2 I hated trimming brass, now, I don't mind it at all.

 

[F Class John]

I’ll admit it. I’m a Giraud fanboy. Buy one cry once as they say but I can jam through brass like nobody’s business. Just did close to 900 getting ready for nationals in about an hour the other night. Silky smooth and dead on accurate every time. Plus it deburrs and chamfers at the same time. 3 processes for the price of one.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I’ll admit it. I’m a Giraud fanboy. Buy one cry once as they say but I can jam through brass like nobody’s business. Just did close to 900 getting ready for nationals in about an hour the other night. Silky smooth and dead on accurate every time.

I too like the Giraud trimmer(s) best of all for those very reasons.

And though I've never actually used a Henderson case trimmer, given it's design, I'd say it runs a close second.

 

[JFrank]

I’ll admit it. I’m a Giraud fanboy. Buy one cry once as they say but I can jam through brass like nobody’s business. Just did close to 900 getting ready for nationals in about an hour the other night. Silky smooth and dead on accurate every time. Plus it debuted and chamfers at the same time. 3 processes for the price of one.

Hard to complain about that.

 

[LGKLAS]

+1 for Topclass. Just got my Lyman Express and like it a lot. Been using and will keep my Lee Wilson trimmer. But real impressed with the new Lyman. Faster, less physical effort, and accurate as my LW, that I can tell.

 

[jthor]

I want to get a Henderson Precision Gen 2. However, their price point is an absolute killer.

 

[topclass2017]

I recently switched from using an RCBS Trim Pro II powered by a drill using three-way trimmer heads (an improvement over the original trim pro IMO based on the spring loaded case holder) to the Lyman Trim Express. Even with the three-way heads I found it was still necessary to chamfer and deburr separately to insure completeness and uniformity. What I like about the Lyman is it comes with caliber specific inserts to index off the shoulder, is easy to adjust in more-or-less .001" increments, and is self-contained and powered. Trimming goes quicker than with the Trim Mate, also a plus. You can, but I have not, mount it to your bench. I find it just as easy to rest my non-case holding hand on top of it to help provide leverage. Chamfering and deburring is still a separate operation (I have a Lyman case prep center) so no change there. It takes a little trial and error to figure out how to hold the cases against the trimmer - short cases like the 6.5 Grendel or 6mm BR require a little more effort because they are short, while 308 or similar are easy because there is enough case to grasp between finger and thumb.

So far I've trimmed over 200 6.5 Grendel cases (bolt rifle) and about the same 6mm BR. My Trim Pro and its heads are likely to wind up being sold...

Follow up: my RCBS Trim Pro and the three-way heads are being sold as I write...