Wilson versus Forster case trimmer

[Raythemanroe]

I'm sold on the little crow gun works world's finest trimmer.

Love mine, does an excellent job.. I only wish I got it sooner

Ray

 

[LHSmith]

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Just a jab . Smile. Tom

A groin shot by Tom? I don't want to visualize the other possibility

 

[22DASHER]

View attachment 974565

Just a jab . Smile. Tom

Bromance is definitely a possibility?!



It's been turning into quite a show

 

[Sniper338]

Another vote for the wilson.. its as accurate as you can make it. I have the chamfer mandrels too..

 

[BigBlueandGoldie]

I've never used the Wilson, but I've always had great results with my Forster. I find the collet quick and easy. I really don't think either style is better than the other when your cases are properly sized before cutting.

 

[WindSurgeon]

Go Wilson +. You can trim and neck ream and never take your case out of the saddle between functions. I find the Wilson precise and faster.

 

[Endyo]

Re: consistent case trim length -what difference does it really make? Benchrest HOF member Jack Neary states in his Tuning seminar on YouTube that in a blind test it was proven that cases that are consistent in trim length yielded the best accuracy and noticeably so. He recommends 0.002 -0.003 max. deviation. IMHO tools that allow trim lengths to 0.001" is a huge confidence builder when prepping for competition.

That's an awesome share. I've been shooting "match" brass and got lazy basically just giving it a chamfer and run through a mandrel prior to first loading. I got curious and measured OAL between brass and was surprised to find lengths ranging from 2.158" - 2.165". I've been more diligent trimming/deburring/chamferring and my ES has dropped significantly.

 

[stork]

I've got all three, but only use the Forster & WFT,depends on the caliber needing trimming. I've used the Forster for over 35 years and still prefer it. Bought the Wilson 20+ years ago, tried it, got no better results than with the Forster. I found it was slower to use and no more accurate, at least for me.

The WFT is really nice & fast & accurate enough for the AR's & bolt guns I have in 223/5.56. I did over 500 rds with the Forster before I decided to try the WFT after reading a few reports. Didn't take me 20 min to do the first 500 after I figured out how to set the trim length. Really liked the production speed on that one. As it's the only high volume caliber I shoot (Hi Power & Prairie dogs), having a dedicate one isn't too hard to live with.
al

 

[timeout]

I've never used the Wilson, but I've always had great results with my Forster. I find the collet quick and easy. I really don't think either style is better than the other when your cases are properly sized before cutting.

I too have used both and my Forster has set idle on the bench for several years. I vote the Wilson. Now the op is really confused!

 

[barrowsr]

I too have used both and my Forster has set idle on the bench for several years. I vote the Wilson. Now the op is really confused!

Not at all -I really appreciate all the responses. I've decided to purchase the Wison trimmer from BenPerfected. Thanks to all who have offered their experience with both trimmers. I would like to know what case holders folks prefer; new brass or resized.

 

[LHSmith]

Fired- N/S only or for forming wildcats and want to trim non-FL cases
New- FLS or new cases
Standard -works for both new or fired

 

[hogan]

Trim many new cases? Before sizing them? Once you size them, can't you use the FIRED case holder???

Wilson is a fine product. All the mini lathe type multi-purpose "trimmers" sold by the big name loading tool mfrs are just a waste of your time. Might be some better ones out there from uppitiest scale benchrest toolmakers, but the Wilson is a standard of excellence.

 

[LHSmith]

Trim many new cases? Before sizing them? Once you size them, can't you use the FIRED case holder???

That info is from Wilson's website.

 

[Danattherock]

I've got all three, but only use the Forster & WFT,depends on the caliber needing trimming. I've used the Forster for over 35 years and still prefer it. Bought the Wilson 20+ years ago, tried it, got no better results than with the Forster. I found it was slower to use and no more accurate, at least for me.

The WFT is really nice & fast & accurate enough for the AR's & bolt guns I have in 223/5.56. I did over 500 rds with the Forster before I decided to try the WFT after reading a few reports. Didn't take me 20 min to do the first 500 after I figured out how to set the trim length. Really liked the production speed on that one. As it's the only high volume caliber I shoot (Hi Power & Prairie dogs), having a dedicate one isn't too hard to live with.
al

Same here. Love my WFT for 223 and 50 BMG. Planned on buying one for 6.5 Creedmoor. But today used my Forster original for 100 cases and was reminded what a great trimmer it is. Attached my drill adapter for first time. Worked like a charm with cordless drill. Never used Wilson, but can't see how Forster Original could be improved. Accurate to a thou, fast and easy to setup, and machined to a high standard.

Dan

 

[kountryboy2]

I use a hardeing tool room lathe. I made special collets for the different calibers that I load. My lenghts are with in .0001

 

[Lightload]

Never used the Wilson. I load four calibers and have separate Forster trimmers for each one. Each trimmer has a Forster 3 in 1 trimmer installed. Trims, chamfers and deburrs all at the same time.

 

[ireload2]

I have both the Wilson (4) and the Forster (5). Both are easy to find used at discounted prices.
The Forster will trim almost anything if you have a full set of collets. However it takes a larger model for the .50 BMG and the cartridges larger than the .45-70.

I really don't like the Wilson tool for trimming. It does not offer many advantages and as it comes from the factory requires both hands since it will not hold a case holder without adding a clamp. I am not sure why but I managed to dull a Wilson cutter squaring up the heads of some cases.
I have used a drill motor to power trim thousands of cases on a Forster without dulling the cutter. This included trimming 300 .30-06 cases back .400 each. That is turning 120 inches of case neck into shavings.

The Wilson holders have to be made for some calibers or you will have to order specials at about $20 a pop. If you have some large odd ball it may be easier to set up a Wilson for it.

However the Wilson holders are excellent for holding cases in a 1" 5C collet for machining the heads, rims and extractor grooves. They are also good for making short cases out of long cases by parting off the excess in a lathe. It is easy to make cases such as .350 Rem mag out of .300 Win mag. when they can be cut off so easily.

 

[LHSmith]

I am not sure why but I managed to dull a Wilson cutter squaring up the heads of some cases.

I don't believe it was designed to work on the hard end. Case heads are hard brass -not annealed. IMHO if after a few firings the case head is not square, you better check your bolt face or S/H to die interface.

 

[ireload2]

70-30 cartridge brass is more easily machined the harder it is. I know that from about 10,000 hours on an engine lathe. So that part of your statement is incorrect. Even the hardest brass is still soft compared to the RC 62 HSS cutter. Perhaps you missed the part where I abused a Forster cutter by trimming 300 cases .400 each and it is still sharp.

Case heads from machine gun fired brass are all over the place so it has nothing to do with my rifle and my bolt face. I was salvaging a large lot of machine gun fired brass. The Wilson cutter dulled after cutting about 50 case heads.

I don't believe it was designed to work on the hard end. Case heads are hard brass -not annealed. IMHO if after a few firings the case head is not square, you better check your bolt face or S/H to die interface.