Case trimming advise
 

I have a RCBS case trimmer. I really never liked the way it trims. It seems it puts pressure on one side or another of the brass while trimming. Seems that the case never did align good with the pilot. I have to push down on the pressure bar(that loosens the shells) and then push the cutter into the case, then start cutting. Called RCBS years ago, and they said they don' t guarantee an exact fit with the tolerances of the shell holders and all and to loosen the hex screw underneath. But if I do that, I get large variations of cut lengths, not within the 1mil that I like. Some cases come out 2.005" , some 2.010, some 2.000. But mostly, I am worried about runout. I don' t have anything to measure runout and would hate to fall into another attribute to drive me crazy. It would seem that pressure of being off center might push the neck off a little. Anybody else see this? Any other cutters that you would recommend?

RE: Case trimming advise
 

In my experience Wilson is the best case trimmer. Necks come out perfectly square and all cases measure precisely the same length.

RE: Case trimming advise
 

Bigcountry,

I think I have tried all of the case trimming systems out there and until now I’ve been disappointed. The snipers on our department all use and rave about the Lee case trimming system. So I thought I would give it a try. I can’t believe I didn’t buy this a long time ago, perfect case trimming and fast. Each and every case turns out to be the same length every time. Hey for about $6.00 give it a try I think you’ll like it. Sure surprised me.

RE: Case trimming advise
 

I called RCBS about this once again. Figured I would go that route first. She really didn' t want to diagnose the problem. She said they were going to send me a new shaft, cutter, and head assembly. Only thing left was frame. Don' t know why they just don' t go and send me whole new unit. But I won' t complain. I will give this a try. I hate to fork out money for a new trimmer. But this might explain problems I have had for a long time.

RE: Case trimming advise
 

Bigcountry:

I have the same case trimmer, but now I have the Power Case Trimmer due to carpel tunnel syndrome. I have had the same problem with both trimmers. When I would insert the pilot in to the case mouth, it some times would not enter the case mouth stright because the case is not level with the shaft/pilot. What I do is hold the lever down and insert the shaft/pilot into the case mouth, and the pilot would center the case in the shell holder. I am doing the same thing as you to square up the case, this is the only way I could get around it also. I always thought inconstancy in the case-head/rim may cause this. :eek:
Good luck.

RE: Case trimming advise
 

I agree handloader, but am concerned with runout cause by the extra pressure against one side of the neck. I think I might invest in that wilson trimmer. Looks really nice and would be independent of the base not being perfectly square. Another 100 dollars in reloading equipment.

RE: Case trimming advise
 

Bigcountry:

The way I check runout is with a RCBS Casemaster Gauging Tool; another $67.00. Good luck.

RE: Case trimming advise
 

bigcountry, if you invest (and I do mean invest) in the Wilson trimmer I know you' ll be happy. It may not be as fast as some of the others, but it is very precise. I have mine mounted on the Sinclair stand, which I recommend also. The Sinclair micrometer adjustment would be a nice addition also, but it' s not totally necessary. I don' t have it myself, but I might add it in the future.

RE: Case trimming advise
 

Problem is finding the wilson? What about pilots for the 300 Ultra? Can they be found?

RE: Case trimming advise
 

I use the Lee trimmers chucked in a drill. Perfect case trimming in a fraction of the time it takes on the others. The lee is so simple that the others look like rube goldberg contraptions. Why complicate simple tasks?

RE: Case trimming advise
 

I don' t much like my RCBS case trimmer. Like others said, it doesn' t trim squarely, when I trim with it, I need to take a little metal off, then rotate the case about 180 degress and retrim. I' v had the cutter set up for the same lenght for about the last year and now that I' ve tried to change the lenght for a different cartridge, the adjustment collar has seized up on me. I can move the entire adjustment assembly by loosening and retightening the set screw, but I can no longer make fine adjustments:( I' m going to give the lee system a try next.

RE: Case trimming advise
 

Well, RCBS made good on there promise, sent me a new head assembly, new cutter, and shaft. And I am shocked, but now the pilot fits in straight and cuts evenly. They must have known they had a tolerance problem.

RE: Case trimming advise
 

I also use the Lee system, with the shell holder chucked in a cordless screwgun. Works like a charm every time at a fraction of the cost.

RE: Case trimming advise
 

I have two case trimmers that I dearly love.....one is for small lots of hunting ammo.....it' s a wilson

The other is for high volumes for prairie dogs....it' s a Forester that stands vertically and the cutter is driven by a drill press.....it can do many thousand cases in a few hours.....a great tool.

BTW, I' m not among the fraternity that believes that case lengths have to be uniform to .001 for accuracy.....but they must be short enough to avoid interference with the lands of the rifling and creating elevated pressures.

RE: Case trimming advise
 

The operation is highly involved, a simple aproach to its solution, such as Lee, can never be acceptable. Also, you must spend more than 10 bucks for high tech equipment [>:]


Keep it simple, all you are doing is using a length guide to stop a cutter at a predetermined length. Load the case in a drill chuck once to cut and without reloading clean and lightly chamfer the end is the way to go. I then spin it between steel wool to shine the case up before removing it from the holder. Three operations without moving the object, efficiency!!!

Or, someone could complicate the issue, sell you another electrical motor that you need to plug in and take up space on your bench .....

RE: Case trimming advise
 

Hmm, isn' t that what the Lee case length gauge does for you?????? I guess all you guys that spend big bucks are just getting so much better handloaded ammo. I guess someone forgot to tell the ammo that I load which is sub moa out of my 06, 257, 6.5x55 and 223 that. Now I' m not saying I' m the best shot out there but when I do my part 95% of the time it' s inside of an inch. Oh wait there' s another $400 I can spend to get the same results.

RE: Case trimming advise
 

The Wilson trimmer is not that expensive. Besides being accurate and precise, it' s very simple and utterly reliable. I doubt it' ll ever break unless you hit it with a sledge hammer or something.