Jfoster99 80 Posted May 3, 2015 I recently got an opportunity to work with a family friend doing reloading. He has shown me quite a lot... However, he does mostly precision shooting and has very little experience , equipment or desire to try and speed up the process. He also does not reload for .223/5.56. Which is what I am loading for now. I am thinking about getting one of the following case prep system. Option 1 is $99 Auto Lyman case prep and a $124 RCBS Manual case trimmer Option 2 is $319 Hornady case prep and trimmer in one. What percentage of cases need to be trimmed? Is the Manual case trimmer a hassle. I'd like to be reloading upwards of 500rounds per month. Eventually I'd like to be loading .45ACP, .38/357, and perhaps 9mm if I can do it for less then 0.25 per round. Or this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
effd27145 0 Posted May 3, 2015 You really dont have to trim handgun brass at all. ever. In your case you really only have to worry about the .223 brass.. I just came across the RCBS X-Dies. Supposedly you do a full length resize of your brass once. Then trim it to .020" under the maximum OAL and you never have to trim the brass again. The die actually limits the growth of the case on resizing if set up properly. I am probably going to order a .308 and .223 one later this week. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DargZ 5 Posted May 3, 2015 I was at Cabela's and was talking about case trimming. I've loaded handgun for quite some time but never really loaded rifle calibers. I was going to buy something like the RCBS but he suggested the Lee trimmers. For the price, it's great. Get one of each for each caliber. Of course, you'll need a drill to do these quickly. It's not as fast as some other solutions out there but it's fast enough for me. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/107333/lee-case-length-gage-and-shellholder-223-remington http://www.midwayusa.com/product/476992/lee-case-trimmer-cutter-and-lock-stud Below is a video on how to use it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIU7SoocY6Y For high speed, you'll probably want the Little Crow or something that works inline with your progressive press. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jfoster99 80 Posted May 3, 2015 I just saw this unit made by Frankford Arsenal for $169. It does both the case prep and the trim to length. I have no experience with it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carl_g 568 Posted May 3, 2015 I use the Little Crow Gunworks - Worlds Finest Trimmer chucked into a drill press and I am very happy with the results. http://www.littlecrowgunworks.com/wft%20usa.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old School 611 Posted May 3, 2015 http://www.lewilson.com/casegage.html http://www.lewilson.com/casetrimmer.html L E Wilson Best stuff on the market and you'll have them a lifetime. Measure each case with the gage. Maybe trim maybe not. Depends on your chamber and the load. If you need to trim, trim to minimum. And the manual cutter REALLY cuts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T Bill 649 Posted May 3, 2015 Get a WFT from Little Crow Gun Works easy peasy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
302w 83 Posted May 4, 2015 I own the LE Wilson setup. I found it to be slow and cumbersome. I never really used it because I inherited it. I now use the Lee setup. It is so cheap I should buy spares. I usually measure all my brass and seperate as too long and OK. I use the cheapo HF digital caliper. Then I chock the cutter in a hand drill and buzz through the brass. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old School 611 Posted May 4, 2015 I own the LE Wilson setup. I found it to be slow and cumbersome. I never really used it because I inherited it. I now use the Lee setup. It is so cheap I should buy spares. I usually measure all my brass and seperate as too long and OK. I use the cheapo HF digital caliper. Then I chock the cutter in a hand drill and buzz through the brass. Sorry can't get an accurate case measurement with calipers. OAL consists of two measurements. Datum line to case mouth and datum line to case head. A gage such as the LE Wilson is required. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob0115 1,105 Posted May 4, 2015 I buy the Wilson case gauges but use a Giraud power trimmer. It's the best money I've ever spent for trimming bottleneck brass. http://www.giraudtool.com/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MidwestPX 172 Posted May 4, 2015 I buy the Wilson case gauges but use a Giraud power trimmer. It's the best money I've ever spent for trimming bottleneck brass. http://www.giraudtool.com/ This is the way I'd go if I wasn't doing it on the press. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob0115 1,105 Posted May 4, 2015 This is the way I'd go if I wasn't doing it on the press. Yeah, you have a major league setup. I'm still in the minors. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raz-0 1,256 Posted May 5, 2015 Yeah, you have a major league setup. I'm still in the minors. With a giruad, you are int eh minors? You have a funny definition of minors. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob0115 1,105 Posted May 5, 2015 With a giruad, you are int eh minors? You have a funny definition of minors. I was just comparing to Midwest-PX awesome setup. Giraud tool is fantastic and I love it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kimber45 3 Posted May 16, 2015 +One on the Little Crow trimmer. Works awesome on trimming down my 300 blackout brass in a drill press..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BullzeyeNJ 104 Posted May 16, 2015 Im a big fan of the Giraud. Love that machine. Worth the money IMHO. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
medic2264 11 Posted May 19, 2015 I picked up a Giraud last year for trimming .308 win. and 300AAC Blackout. Will never go back, well worth the money spent.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites