Case Trimmer Recommendation

[Pete_Cambs]

I currently have Forster Original case trimmer that's been fine for .308 and .303 but having just had a variation approved for 7.62x54R I've discovered the trimmer won't cover that caliber, I also suspect it won't do 45-70 govt although I don't have the brass in hand for that as yet. I believe I would have to buy the Forstner classic trimmer to cover these and that would mean having to have 2 trimmers which is an issue with space.

I'm after a trimmer that will do all of the following calibers 6.5CM, 303 Brit, 308, 7.62x54r, 8x57 Mauser and 45-70 govt. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg on one so its going to have to be manual and ideally not need tons of additional chargeable extras (I'm looking at you LE Wilson!)

thoughts and recommendations appreciated.

 

[MarinePMI]

I currently have Forster Original case trimmer that's been fine for .308 and .303 but having just had a variation approved for 7.62x54R I've discovered the trimmer won't cover that caliber, I also suspect it won't do 45-70 govt although I don't have the brass in hand for that as yet. I believe I would have to buy the Forstner classic trimmer to cover these and that would mean having to have 2 trimmers which is an issue with space.

I'm after a trimmer that will do all of the following calibers 6.5CM, 303 Brit, 308, 7.62x54r, 8x57 Mauser and 45-70 govt. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg on one so its going to have to be manual and ideally not need tons of additional chargeable extras (I'm looking at you LE Wilson!)

thoughts and recommendations appreciated.

Probably should look at the Lee case specific trimmers. Cheap, repeatable, and durable. Just need a cordless drill (and the cutter head/case holder) and Bob's your uncle.

Lee Precision, Inc. - Case Trimming Tools

The quick trim dies, are another option as well, if you want some minor adjustability.

 

[Cottis]

Just buy a Lee case length gauge to attach to a cutter and use it in a drill. You can trim, chamfer and debur in 5 seconds per case.

The silly little lathe trimmers are accurate when set up correctly but they take ages. Lee makes some crap stuff but the case length gauges are great. The only problem with them is that you are bound by their length in terms of the trim length they will realise. If they do not trim enough, you can take them down a little using wet n dry paper until it bottoms out on the case holder where you want it to. Then forever and a day, it will always trim to the perfect length for you.

I have separate gauges and cutters for 4 different chamberings to make life easier. Each case length gauge is about 7 quid or something daft like that. If you only want to buy one cutter, they are cheap as chips as well you just need to unscrew them each time you want to change trim chambering etc. I am lazy so I just bought a cutter for each case length gauge. I think a cutter and a lock stud to attach to a cordless drill is about £15. So you would be looking at around £60 or so for the complete trim set up for all your chamberings.

 

[Cyres]

Lyman make very good case trimmers. I use them in preference to my Lee trimmers.
D

 

[Klenchblaize]

I purchased, in one of those less than fully thought through moments, a Wilson trimmer with micrometer adjustment and all the necessary case holders. Does the job just fine but there are definitely less involved and cheaper approaches.

K

 

[Pete_Cambs]

anyone used the Derraco SRT? I trust Derraco products but if I am understanding right it references of shoulders so I am guessing that becomes a problem if you're just bumping the shoulders on fire formed brass and not actually fully resizing back to factory specs?

 

[MTheaded but happy]

anyone used the Derraco SRT? I trust Derraco products but if I am understanding right it references of shoulders so I am guessing that becomes a problem if you're just bumping the shoulders on fire formed brass and not actually fully resizing back to factory specs?

The shoulder is the control , just set it up on a full length sized piece of brass if you're worried .

As Cottis said , the Lee case trimmers are brilliant , cheap and adjustable . You can spend a lot more money and gain nothing , equipment snobs may tell you different .

 

[MarinePMI]

The case trimmer from h#ll.

 

[enfieldspares]

I currently have Forster Original case trimmer that's been fine for .308 and .303 but having just had a variation approved for 7.62x54R I've discovered the trimmer won't cover that caliber, I also suspect it won't do 45-70 govt although I don't have the brass in hand for that as yet. I believe I would have to buy the Forstner classic trimmer to cover these and that would mean having to have 2 trimmers which is an issue with space.

I'm after a trimmer that will do all of the following calibers 6.5CM, 303 Brit, 308, 7.62x54r, 8x57 Mauser and 45-70 govt. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg on one so its going to have to be manual and ideally not need tons of additional chargeable extras (I'm looking at you LE Wilson!)

thoughts and recommendations appreciated.

I have a long base for a Forster, somewhere, if you give me time to look AND if I still have them some of the other sizes of collets. Give me until tomorrow. For sure I did .303 on my Forster with the correc collet. I may also have a .32 pilot. As I say give me until tomorrow.

 

[Pete_Cambs]

I have a long base for a Forster, somewhere, if you give me time to look AND if I still have them some of the other sizes of collets. Give me until tomorrow. For sure I did .303 on my Forster with the correc collet. I may also have a .32 pilot. As I say give me until tomorrow.

thanks mate, its not just the base that's the issue, the actually metal cylinder that holds the collet itself doesn't have a big enough opening for the 7.62x547 so I'd need to source one of those and then order a No5 collet as well as I understand it.

I'll give spud a call tomorrow to discuss but if you do find the bits please do let know.

 

[Pete_Cambs]

The shoulder is the control , just set it up on a full length sized piece of brass if you're worried .

As Cottis said , the Lee case trimmers are brilliant , cheap and adjustable . You can spend a lot more money and gain nothing , equipment snobs may tell you different .

Out of interest would your suggested setup for the SRT still work if I’m only neck sizing? For my Lee Enfield I only neck size as the chamber is pretty slack in terms of length and I suspect the soon to be Moisan Nagant and Kar98 will be the same to some degree.

The Lee set up looks good, just not as fast as the SRT I guess.

 

[enfieldspares]

Could not find the collets (yet) so may no longer have them. However did find Forster pilots marked 27, 32, 34, 35 and 351. £6.25 each including Royal Mail 2nd Class postage with a Certificate of Posting. Or £22.75 for ALL FIVE posted Royal Mail Tracked 48 Unsigned. I will look to see what bases I have tomorrow as at one time I had long, standard and for 9x19 aka 9mm Luger and also .45 ACP the "short" base.