Recommend a manual case trimmer

[hornadylnl]

Please recommend a good manual case trimmer. I currently have a Giraud and used lee trimmers before that so I never bought a manual case trimmer. This will be used for low volume bench rest type shooting. It will do mostly 17 fireball and 223. I don't want to spend a fortune but I think I'd like to find one with a micrometer adjustment. TIA.

 

[NIFT]

Sinclair International offers the finest in precision reloading equipment and supplies. Here is the link to Sinclair's page on case trimmers. Wilson is the best according to the lead reloading technician at Sinclair.

Sinclair Search : Reloading Equipment : Case Preparation : Case Trimming -

 

[42769vette]

i use a old le wilson, its slow but extreamly accurate

 

[bstewrat3]

I use an RCBS and have been very happy with it.

 

[Aszerigan]

+1 for the RCBS Trim Pro.

 

[walker]

RCBS Trim Pro

 

[kwatters]

i use a old le wilson, its slow but extreamly accurate

My Wilson works great and very accurate.

 

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

Wilson is good to go, I've used it for years.

 

[jlm223]

RCBS trim pro, the only one I have used it gets the job done and I like it.

 

[Yeah]

Prior to settling on a GTC I tried a half dozen crank trimmers. Wilson was as fast as any of them, and easiest to set up. Most all the decent ones nail COAL every time.

 

[Slapstick]

+1 for the Wilson. Easy setup, easy to use and does a great job.

 

[hornadylnl]

I'll look into Wilson trimmers. Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice!

 

[Slapstick]

I'll look into Wilson trimmers. Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice!

If you go with a Wilson be aware that you really do need a base for it. You can buy one just for it or use a vise. I went with a small portable vise. This is the one I use 4inch VISE and DRILL CLAMP at Menards . It's about $12 and has rubber covers over the jaws. One of the best buys I've made, not only does it hold the trimmer perfectly but with the rotating vise it's perfect for holding smaller objects at the right angle to work on them.

 

[lon]

Can't really say which one is the best because I've only used a Forester. Had it for a long time and am happy with it. It trims accurately(repeatable) and cuts em square, but takes a little practice in adjusting (length and collet pressure on the case's base) to arrive at the desired dimension. If I were to buy another it would be a Wilson with Micrometer adjustment.

 

[Leo]

There is a problem with some of the collet holding trimmers. The diameter of the case rim will be a little different so the collet will pull the case into the holder at different depths. With that happening, the cutter stop only references the trimmer chassis, not the actual case, so the trim length wil vary a little. I added the spring loaded trim pro clamp system to my old RCBS trimmer, eliminating the collet. It trims accurately now.

 

[hornadylnl]

I have the trim pro in my midway shopping cart now. I'll probably place the order in the next day or so.

 

[thescrambler]

I like the lee lock stud trimmer. I put it in my drill and I trim, chamfer, deburr and polish with #0 steel wool in 10-20 seconds per case

 

[sakima]

Trimmers

I've used the Lee trimmers and the seem to work alright. Not really knowing what I was doing, I picked up a Hornady trimmer on one of the for sale forums because the price was right. It works pretty good, but is a pain to set up and you have to use Hornady shell plates. I see why the previous owner got rid of it...

 

[sloughfoot]

Please recommend a good manual case trimmer. I currently have a Giraud and used lee trimmers before that so I never bought a manual case trimmer. This will be used for low volume bench rest type shooting. It will do mostly 17 fireball and 223. I don't want to spend a fortune but I think I'd like to find one with a micrometer adjustment. TIA.

Ahem, you might think me a heathen, but length of the case/neck has no impact on the accuracy on the cartridge for benchrest shooting. As long as it is in between min and max dimensions.

You are neck sizing, correct? Once you get the less than maximum case length with a trimmer, any kind, there is nothing else to do but neck size the fired cases and shoot them.

I don't know what you would do with a micrometer adjustment.??