I have been successfully using a LE WILSON micrometer case neck trimmer for the past 5-7 years. Primary use has be for 6mm and 30 caliber. Recently I added a 17 fireball to the fleet and attempted to trim several cases to length. After several failures with the case neck cutter that was supplied with the trimmer, I discover the cutter blades on the cutter do not extend close enough to the center to trim 17 caliber brass. When I initially ordered the product, there was no option for a 17 caliber trimmer. If the case trimmer had been designed with blades that extended closer to the center, there would not be a problem. When this trimmer was initially purchased I thought I was getting a quality product from a company that stands behind what they sell. When I asked customer service about this problem, they were insistent that I need to purchase an additional part. Seems like I am being asked to subsidize part redesign. In comparison, when I have had an opportunity to talk with other companies such as 21st century, RCBS, Dillon, Hornady, Giraud, they have all stepped up to the plate and made things right without asking for proof of purchase or other supporting data. Has anyone else had this experience with LE WilSON? I will stick with Giraud trimmer and put the LE WILSON back on the shelf only to be used as a last resort.
LE Wilson customer support
- Thread starter faster45432
- Start date
When the original Wilson trimmer was designed there wasn’t much call for a 17 cal trimmer. So Sam Wilson designed his cutters around tooling that was available. Center cutting endmills were uncommon in Sam Wilson’s day. 1950s. The trimmer was largely a copy of a spotfacer from that era. It was cheaper to make and keep sharp. When the 17 came out Wilson made a new cutter face, but the older design is still standard.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
I can assure you that if you bought a trimmer from wilson for a 17cal and it didnt work they would make it right 100%. you cant really expect them to give you a cutter that you didnt buy- its like buying a car and it wont pull your boat so the dealership should give you a new truck.
Dusty, I am not one to continually feed a negative thread, therefore I will rebut your reply and refrain from any further posts. When I originally bought the case trimmer from LE Wilson, it was not advertised with caveats. There was nothing said about needing a special cutter for 17 caliber. LE Wilson has traditionally been a quality company that could not have survived this long by making an inferior product. However let me address your points in turn. If I went to an automotive dealership with a requirement to pull a boat trailer and I purchased the vehicle they recommended for pulling a boat, I would be disappointed if it would not tow a boat. I think its only fair for a product to live up to its advertised capabilities. Even if my "new vehicle" would not pull the boat, I would do as I just did and discull alternatives with the customer service department. I would not ask for a new truck, I would ask the dealership to provide me with a solution to the originally stated requirements. To your second point "that you didn't buy" you may be new to this game, but other companies (RCBS, Dillon, Giraud, Hornady for example) have proven they are more concerned about fielding a quality product rather than fixating on if you can prove you are the original purchaser. And yes, I did purchase the product new. If you look at the cutter on a LE Wilson trimmer, it becomes obvious that a design that utilized a different cutter would have negated the problem before the problem manifested itself in terms of promised but undelivered capability. I am not bashing LE Wilson, I have several LE Wilson products and I consider each purchase to be the product of an appreciation for quality and extensive research. However, in this case, I do feel like the customer is being asked to subsidize the fix to a previous design defect. My complaint is with the customer service that I (not you) experienced and the perception that LE Wilson is more focused on supporting only the original owner (provided they keep all purchase records) rather than designing, fielding and supporting quality products via a no BS warranty/service program. For comparison, please try the customer service department at the aforementioned companies. I do not keep explicit purchase records because my purchases are the result of extensive research and the companies that I select are focused on consumer satisfaction and product reputation that transcends a lifetime of use. . Thank you taking the time to compose a sincere reply and I wish you the best.
Just out of curiosity, what is the part L.E. Wilson required that you need/buy? And the cost?
Is the issue the lack of "service"? ; and for the insistence, well - maybe they were insistent because that part would
solve the problem.
Maybe they missed the boat on the 17 cal. but they are helpful folks. Who need to make a reasonable profit, also. Here's hoping for a realistic resolution.
Is the issue the lack of "service"? ; and for the insistence, well - maybe they were insistent because that part would
solve the problem.
Maybe they missed the boat on the 17 cal. but they are helpful folks. Who need to make a reasonable profit, also. Here's hoping for a realistic resolution.
That part for $26.00 is cheap at twice the price. apportion/ amortize the cost of CNC, tooling, labor, insurance, 401k, health care, and yes, profit.
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When I decided to jump on the .17 cal bandwagon after reloading for normal calibers for some 20 years, I discovered many tools wouldn't work with the small necked case- funnels, neck brushes, flash hole deburrer, Lee neck chamfer tool, Wilson primer punches. I just bought the necessary tools. The .17 is an odd ball which is why Hornady, Foster,Redding, Lyman, and RCBS also do not include the necessary components to trim .17 cal. in their sets.Be advised the Wilson won't do 50 cal without buying special components either.
You might as well can the whining.
Forster has been selling their standard trimmer for more than 50 years. It will not trim 50 cal or .17 cal in standard form. You can buy a 17 cal cutter just like you can for a Wilson. I suggest you buy the 17 cal Wilson cutter. BTW the Wilson standard trimmer will not trim 50 cal either.
To trim 50 cal requires a new trimmer in either brand.
Forster has been selling their standard trimmer for more than 50 years. It will not trim 50 cal or .17 cal in standard form. You can buy a 17 cal cutter just like you can for a Wilson. I suggest you buy the 17 cal Wilson cutter. BTW the Wilson standard trimmer will not trim 50 cal either.
To trim 50 cal requires a new trimmer in either brand.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
I think you took my post wrong. I never inferred you werent the original owner- on the contrary actually- I assumed you bought it new and knew it didnt do the 17cal stuff. thats where i went with my post: you bought it knowing it didnt do 17cal then later you wanted it to do 17cal and expected wilson to fix that issue is what I got out of it. if im off base im sorry and I really dont even mean to come off as a d*ck. I have actually been doing this a very long time- im not a newbie by any means. people in all shooting disciplines know me and have known me for many many years from actually shaking my hand at matches or picking up their rifles or barrels from me. im not an internet champion and have been using wilson products for 30+yrs.
pirate ammo
Guaranteed to take the wind out of their sails
darn people talking about boats,,if you buy a truck without a hitch,you just go out and buy one,no fuss no muss,,35 years working on tugs and ships,I totally dislike the word BOAT 
Murray Brook
Silver $$ Contributor
I went through this when I bought my 30/378 Wea mag. Most of the standard tools wouldn't fit. I had to purchase some extras. The cost of having a non-typical cartridge.For example, I couldn't expect Forster to have their bullet puller,which I purchased 30 yrs ago, to fit a cartridge not yet on the market .JMO
pirate ammo
Guaranteed to take the wind out of their sails
B O A T
break out another thousand
pirate ammo
Guaranteed to take the wind out of their sails
only signed up Dec. but in the last month theres has been a lot of whining and crying about a whole lot of stuff
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