Just a shout out to the Wilson Case Trimmer. I've had mine for about 20 years and it has worked absolutely flawless. The material and workmanship are top quality and the trimmer itself is stupid simple to use AND get extreme precision. Seriously, it's that good. I got the micro adjust. I recently ordered the shell holder for the 6.5 PRC to add to my 300 savage, 7mm magnum, 280 AI, 7mm-08, ...well you get the idea.
Wilson Case Trimmer
- Thread starter Migolito
- Start date
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
I have a multitude of them!… for my Br rifles I have a dedicated one I leave setup for each rifle and two with micro adjust and shark finn with stand for everything else. I’ve had and owned many others but I love my Wilson’s as well. I’ve had my first one at least 25 years
Wayne
Wayne
divingin
Gold $$ Contributor
I have one. Mine just has the threaded adjustment, no micrometer. Works very well.
My only gripe is that Midway often sends the wrong holder (I ordered 308 sized and fired holders, and got 2 of the sized holders. One got returned and they sent another new holder. Got the same thing with BR holders, returned but asked for a refund rather than replacement.)
Hmmm... "old" means that there's also a new.
My cutter shaft is .500" & the threaded shaft is .375". Is that old or new?
The trimmer is all steel, not one of the newer stainless ones. Got a couple about 30 years ago, but just dug one out to try recently. Results are better than my Redding trimmer. I especially like the cutter. The only drawback is the hassle of needing a pile of case holders for all the odd stuff.
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I use the Wilson trimmer, without any Sinclair accessories, and it is extremely consistent. It is easy to set up, but would be a bit easier with a micrometer head, so I could just record the setting and return to it later.
It is also quicker and easier to use than the trimmers that use a collet and pilot, since you have to put the case in the collet, advance the pilot into the neck, then tighten the collet in order to get them to be consistent.
With the Wilson, you just slip the case into the holder, bump the case head lightly on the bench to tighten it in the tapered holder, then slip the holder/case into the lathe up against the stop.
Since the case holder only engages the case body, and there is no pilot for the neck, one holder works for all the different variants of the same parent cartridge (so long as the body taper and length are the same). For example, 25-06, 270win, 280rem, 30-06, 338-06 and 35 whelen all use the same holder.
I hold the trimmer in a small vise on my reloading bench (handy for a lot of other things too), so I don't need a stand. I never have figured out why people would use a clamp to hold the case/holder on these trimmers; I just hold in place it by hand. The trimmer body needs to be held above or over the end of the bench (vise, wooden block, etc.) so that the handle swing will avoid contact with the bench.
For all its accuracy and consistency, the Wilson is also one of the least expensive lathe type trimmers available. It is an elegantly designed, simple system that really works.
It is also quicker and easier to use than the trimmers that use a collet and pilot, since you have to put the case in the collet, advance the pilot into the neck, then tighten the collet in order to get them to be consistent.
With the Wilson, you just slip the case into the holder, bump the case head lightly on the bench to tighten it in the tapered holder, then slip the holder/case into the lathe up against the stop.
Since the case holder only engages the case body, and there is no pilot for the neck, one holder works for all the different variants of the same parent cartridge (so long as the body taper and length are the same). For example, 25-06, 270win, 280rem, 30-06, 338-06 and 35 whelen all use the same holder.
I hold the trimmer in a small vise on my reloading bench (handy for a lot of other things too), so I don't need a stand. I never have figured out why people would use a clamp to hold the case/holder on these trimmers; I just hold in place it by hand. The trimmer body needs to be held above or over the end of the bench (vise, wooden block, etc.) so that the handle swing will avoid contact with the bench.
For all its accuracy and consistency, the Wilson is also one of the least expensive lathe type trimmers available. It is an elegantly designed, simple system that really works.
The Wilson case trimmer I had (including its carbide cutter, see pic below) was really a nice and well made tool and I really did liked it for the precision and ease of use. But, it was collecting dust after I began using a 3-way trimmer as the 3-way was saving me a lot of time and improved on consistency results (the chamfer cuts). I held onto the Wilson trimmer for a while as I do hate giving up a well made tool. Then someone said they were looking for a Wilson trimmer and I decided to give them a good deal and sold it. I haven't really missed it as my 3-way trimmer(s) do very well for me. . . . especially in saving time when trimming hundreds of cases. For someone doing a light amount of reloading, the Wilson Case Trimmer is an excellent tool to have.
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