Want opinions on power case trimmers

[USMC87]

I was wanting to see what power case trimmers you use and if you would recommend it to someone looking to buy one?

[lightman]

I use a Giraud for my high volume stuff. It trims and deburrs inside and out. Every case is within .001 and I can trim 14 or 15 a minute. Its expensive but I would buy it again.

[Kevin Rohrer]

Girard, hands down. Pricey, but so worth it.

If you have lots of brass to trim, Girard is the way to go. I just got done doing 3k .30Carbine brass. Sat in front of the TV and did it in 10% of the time it would have taken if I had used any hand trimmer. The Girard also automatically deburs and chamfers at the same time.

[Waldog]

Concur with the Girard! I hated trimming cases until I got my Girard. It is simple to use and I trim my rifle cases each time they are fired. It is amazing how SOME cases will stretch after one firing. Most of the hi intensity 22cal rifle rounds stretch a lot each time they are fired; 223, 22-250, 220 Swift, etc.

[Yodogsandman]

I have the RCBS one. Works well but a little slow, I guess. I have never used any other or cared to investigate further. My elbow feel much better now, for a while I trimmed quite a bit by hand crank each year. I just kept upgrading my RCBS trimmer as I went along.

[wordsmith]

Speaking for those I own.... 1st choice - Giraud. I have one with about a dozen caliber adapters and use it extensively. 2nd choice - WFT / WFT2 trimmers. Distance 3rd - RCBS Trim Pro Power trimmer (*** really). 1 and 2 work on the same principle (space off shoulder), and *** is nearly as fast. If you only do a few hundred here and there, Option 2 is plenty good. Volume shooters and those who want the best should go Option 1. Option 3 is for masochists.

[kfarm]

Mounted a Forster base on my new mini mill, trimmed, cut out crimp and cleaned up flash hole 500 pieces of 308 in less than an hour. My RCBS motorized trimmer is now up for sale.

[1bluehorse]

Bought the Frankford Arsenal case prep center several months back. Haven't done 1,000s of cases on it but the several hundred I have done were right on...I did change the cutter head and primer pocket reamer to the RCBS ones (they're much better)....it also spaces of the shoulder (won't do straight wall cases) and comes with collets for just about any rifle caliber....motor has a lot of torque, it's fairly quiet, has some weight to it, easy to setup and use.....for 223 brass, to do all functions including primer pocket reaming is in the 15-20 second area per (my speed).....cost is in the 150 range complete....I won't give it a big endorsement because I have no idea of longevity as it's only been out a short while.....my short term impressions are very favorable though....some one has to be first guinea pig.....

[gnostic]

Do you have a photo? I'm thinking of doing the same with my drill press...

[troyboy]

I use the Lee system that uses spindle and shellholder. It can be used by hand or powered. Simple, inexpensive.

[EDG]

I have used a Forster since 1975. The thread on the cutter shank is 5/16"-24 (same as the old studs used for carburetors)
I put a nut on it and drive it with a battery powered drill.

Before buying a high priced high volume trimmer I would investigate a small bench top lathe to trim cases.
It might not be fast, fast, fast but while the fast, fast, fast, fast guys wonder where to get expanders and sizers and etc you can make your own with the little lathe once you learn how to run it.

[troyboy]

Excellent advice EDG. The Mini lathe is one of the best investments ever to grace my bench.

[country gent]

I made a foresster style base from rcbs collet and sleeve. Trim with it in my bench top drill press its fairly quick and is easy. The cutter is in the chuck so no waiting for it to stop to change cases. One thing on newer drill presses is the stops are plastic and have some flex to them. I made an all steel one that clamps to spindle and used the existing stop plate. much more solid and accurate. Even better would be a rod to hit on the collet base from the spindle plate as a dead length stop. I would like to make a simple plexi glass gaurd for around the cutter to contain chips also. Trimming at 1800 - 2000 rpms throws those fine chips everywhere.

[RickF]

Giraud is what I use and although a little pricey it is worth every penny for me and my setup. A mini lathe is one of the items on my eventual do get list.

[kfarm]

I made the adapter for the RCBS 3way cutter. Inch bar stock, drilled and tapped 3/8"x24 with a 3/8" shaft. Mounted the Forster base on a 4" aluminum plate slotted to bolt to the mills base. Was able to trim 500 308's in about an hour. Like other have said a lathe and mil have been the best money I've spent in a long time. Here is a shot of the base and cutter on my Mill.

[bbqncigars]

I am happy with my drill powered Wilson. It has the added advantage of being the best primer pocket crimp remover that I've tried. My mini-lathe was a great purchase, but be warned. The cost of accessories can easily add up to the cost of the lathe (and then some).

[rbt50]

I used them all at one time or another . the ones I have now are girand and Dillon.

[TheDoctor]

I have the RCBS power trim pro. It is good for what it is, but if you add the 3 way cutter with all the mandrels you will need, it starts getting somewhat pricey. I like that it trims to overall length, and NOT being dependent on the shoulder, but it is rather slow. And the 3 way cutter I bought for it has a LOT of runout.

[Maximumbob54]

I was about to spend Giraud money and someone told me to try a WFT first. I still have that WFT and no Giraud. I've done thousands of .223 cases in the WFT and the only reason I don't own one for every caliber is I don't shoot in volume enough to justify them. As long as you keep the cutter sharp in it then the case length is very repeatable. The one and only downside to them is there doesn't seem to be a three way cutter possible in them. But I reload with an M die before seating so I don't even bother chamfering the neck anymore. I did notice if I deprime and trim then tumble them that the square cut edge rounds down enough to not require chamfering before seating if you don't use the M die.

[03fatboy]

I'm agree with 1bluehorse in post #8 about the frankford,I bought mine to do.233/5.56 cases.
Haven't done but maybe 500 or so but like it so far,it's not a high end trimmer but it has done a good job .