Case length trimmer

[brandon327]

I have some .280 ai brass I need to trim.( Max length according to the book 2.525 and mine is at 2.530) What is a good case length trimmer?

 

[Frog4aday]

I have tried the 'lathe'-style cutters in the past but they won't 'hold' the set length for me no matter how much I tighten the set screw, so cases get shorter and shorter as I trimmed. Drove me nuts. Tried two different brands (Forster and Lyman) with same results. I needed something more consistent and repeatable.

Then I found the LEE system and my problems were solved.

You get the "Cutter and Lock Stud" (SKU #90110) and you use these two pieces over and over for any brass you want to trim (i.e., you only buy this once.)

Than you get the "Gage-Holder" specific to the cartridge you have. I checked and they have one for the .280 AI (SKU #91295). The beauty is affordability, repeatability and it cuts SQUARE to the case mouth in relation to the cartridge case head. Every time I buy a set of reloading dies for a new cartridge, I order the Lee "gage-holder" at the same time and put it in with the dies, so everything is easy to find later.

 

[aushunter1]

I have an original RCBS trim pro that came with my kit.
Works fine & has all the pilots & holders in the kit.

I have looked at Little crow & think now the #2 version you can change the internals for each cartridge?
The original you had to but the whole unit for each cartridge which mate it exxy if you own 1/2 dozen different cartridges!

 

[hornet112]

+1 What Frog4aday said. I have mine to fit my RCBS case prep center.

 

[Kansaswoodguy]

I have a Limon and Hornady lathe style trimmer I would say I think I like the Honady better but mostly I use those Lee cutters as Frogy stated.

 

[Laelkhunter]

I only use the Lee case trimmer now for numerous calibers. Chuck it in a cordless drill, cheap, effective, and easy to use. You can't trim too much off, and end up with cases too short. You buy one cutter and lock stud then the individual pilots/shell holder for all the calibers you need.

 

[bob4]

Lymans worked fine for me for yrs, and still does. For some I use WFT. Fast and easy.
https://gatortradingpost.com/collec...works-products/products/worlds-finest-trimmer

 

[Frog4aday]

Using a trimmer that 'indexes' off the case shoulder is fine, as long as you are using it ONLY on brass fired in YOUR gun, as we learned from the Frankford Arsenal case prep station thread. If you trim range picked up brass, they all end up at different lengths due to the different chamber dimensions and fired brass dimensions. Resizing first helps, but they will still vary slightly.

That's why the LEE system works so well. It makes all cases, regardless of what gun they were fired in, the same length.

Not bashing anyone else's 'favorite' method. Just wanted to point out the issues to keep in mind for those pondering the options.

 

[cape cove]

I use the Forster bench mounted trimmer.Works great for me. I also have several Lee case length trim gages with the cutter. They work good also.

 

[2Rope]

… Sinclair

 

[Deputy819]

I use the Forster bench mounted trimmer.Works great for me.

+1 on the Forster. Works well for me as well. Consistently trims to within a thousandth or better..

 

[Buzzsaw]

Arthritis forced me to a Guriard. VERY expensive, VERY good.

 

[dblizzard]

Forster & Wilson, Forster is my favorite. I fire form bottleneck cases before trimming to length.

 

[misterc01]

I use an RCBS case trimmer I and it works fine.