Best case trimmer ?

K

keppler

Guest
I have been reading this forum for a long time now and decided to ask what I hope is a simple question. I have used the search feature without finding what I need.
I am gathering up reloading equipment to start reloading and cannot decide on which case trimmer. Mostly it will be used for 25-60 Rem. loads for hunting and informal target shooting.
Of course when I do actually start I'm sure I'll be loading a lot of different rifle loads for relatives and friends. All for hunting using factory rifles and barrels. I have decided on the Wilson trimmer from what I've been reading but was wondering if something else might work as well and cheaper, considering what I'll be loading and what I'll be loading for. All opinions are truly appreciated.
I got lucky and picked up a set of Redding comp. 3 die set at a gun show at a price no one would pass up so I'll be using these for the 25-06 Rem. The rifle is a Winchester M-70 sporter purchased new in 2002 with no work other than I lightened up the trigger pull a little.
 
Stick with the Redding. I know they are lots of bucks but you do get what you pay for. Do NOT do the orange one..
 
There is certainly nothing wrong with one of the oldest case trimmers out there... I bought my first Forester Case Trimmer about 50 years ago. I added the neck turning accessory many years later and I now use the adapter for use in a drill press.

Trim to length and neck turn if you wish to ... all in a drill press. Very quick to do once it is set up.

trimmer4.JPG
 
The Wilson trimmer as modified by Sinclare I have found to be just the last word in all the many trimmers I've ever owned.
 
I've got one of the Sinclair/Wilson setups... stand, micrometer head, case holder clamp, etc. As far as I'm concerned, so long as speed isn't the primary concern, thats about as close to ultimate as I've found.

*If* speed is a concern i.e. you've got a bucket full of brass lookin' back at ya that needs prepped for another season of High Power Rifle or just prairie doggin'... the Giraud motorized trimmer is as good as it gets, in my opinion. Trim/chamfer/deburr in one fell swoop. Takes about as long to read this sentence as it does to trim a case with that thing.

Dennis,

I'm curious about that setup with the Forster in the drill press. I'd been kind of warned away from that route by some folks citing too much slop in the quill stop of the average home shop drill press, resulting in too much variation in case length. I take it thats not a problem you've encountered?

I'm also curious about that cutter head... where did you find it?


Monte
 
milanuk said:
Dennis,

I'm curious about that setup with the Forster in the drill press. I'd been kind of warned away from that route by some folks citing too much slop in the quill stop of the average home shop drill press, resulting in too much variation in case length. I take it thats not a problem you've encountered?

I'm also curious about that cutter head... where did you find it?


Monte
Click to expand...

I have a very positive stop on my drill press... adjustable by about 2 thou at a time. It is a Rockwell drill press I bought about 1970. I altered the drive slowing the drill press speeds in half.

The cutter is a Forester neck turner on the drill press trimmer shaft. It's a little tricky getting the length of cut to match the case length but once you have it you can do hundreds of cases quickly.
 
The Wilson trimmer with the Sinclair goodies. It is expensive, but very repeatable and accurate. Once you get in a rhythm you can trim quite a few cases at a time.

Tony
 
taxman said:
The Wilson trimmer with the Sinclair goodies. It is expensive, but very repeatable and accurate.
Click to expand...
... and you need the chassis for your Whidden meplat trimmer that goes with the repointer.

Historically, my Hornady trimmer had the best ever cutter of that type I ever used, but the case lockup sustem meant that I couldn't trim brass when I belatedly found that I needed to after I had primed the cases.
 
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Keppler...

The Wilson trimmer will work fine.

I have owned a Lyman, RCBS, Lyman Power trimmer and Forester as well as a few of the cheap hand held units. All work, all have +'s and -'s.

I reload for numerous cartridges and the Wilson with the micrometer attachment is the easiest for me to go from one cartridge to another in the setup department. May not be the best out there but for me it works.

The meplat chassis is unnecessary;)

Tony
 
Wilson

The Wilson trimmer with a stand and case holder clamp is pretty cool. My stand is equipped with a sheet metal "toggle" clamp which is better than any other I've seen. "Better" being subjective.....
 
Thanks for all the idea's. I'll probably go with the Wilson or Sinclair trimmer. Speed is of really no concern, what I'm wanting to do is learn the right way to do things and I always did like good tools. Hammers, shovels or reloading, good tools are just that...good. Whats that old saying..buy once, scream once. I know no one personally that reloads in the manner I want to so if you guy's don't mind I'll probably have a lot more questions.
Once again, Thanks for the Ideas.
 
Keppler...

for those of us who don't make theri own stuff, it's hard to beat the Wilson case trimmer. They are cost effective, and do the job well in a small, unobtrusive package. They beat the Lyman, Redding, etc. designs hands down imo. --Greg
 
Best case trimmer...

Ya know, I sometimes think that Lee stuff works so well, nobody wants to mention it for fear someone else might find out.

Lee Zip Trim.
 
Wilbur said:
The Wilson trimmer with a stand and case holder clamp is pretty cool. My stand is equipped with a sheet metal "toggle" clamp which is better than any other I've seen. "Better" being subjective.....
Click to expand...


Just got the toggle clamp to go with my wilson....it's the schzizzil....makes life nice.

Hovis
 
Once again, Thanks for all the replies.
I've never done any reloading and am still gathering parts and pieces.
Does anyone know anything about the CH Tool and Die brand. I have an old press of this brand, and a new Lee turret press. The Lee will not work with the 25-06 case with the automatic indexing, it will start to turn before the case clears the die. Had to remove the actuator rod and it seems to work fine. My guess is it's probably made for pistol shells.
The old CH press seems to be well made and I've noticed they make a case trimmer that works like the Wilson, at least the same shell holder type. Anyone familiar with these?
 
Have had 3 trimmers and have found the wilson to be the best by far.
 
Dennis Sorensen said:
I have a very positive stop on my drill press... adjustable by about 2 thou at a time. It is a Rockwell drill press I bought about 1970.
Click to expand...
I'm more curious about aligning the Forster base with the quill such that neck turning is effective.
 
keppler said:
Once again, Thanks for all the replies.
Does anyone know anything about the CH Tool and Die brand. I have an old press of this brand, and a new Lee turret press.
Click to expand...
I don't know anything about CH4D's turning tool, but that press will be around for a long time. Is it one of the earlier H-designs? Here's CH4D's link if you don't have it:

www.ch4d.com/
.
 
Winchester 69 said:
I'm more curious about aligning the Forster base with the quill such that neck turning is effective.
Click to expand...


A mandrel goes in the chuck... and into the base... it self aligns and then you tighten the base onto the table. then remove the mandrel and install the cutter. Simple as can be...

after that procedure there is no side force on the quill at all and the job at hand actually helps keep the quill where it should be.
 
Winchester69, I would have to call it a "C" type press. Not sure how old it is, it's one of those belonged to a friend of a friend of a friend kinda deals.
 
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