Lee Quick Trim deluxe & rifle die

[deeangeo]

I got fed up re-setting my RCBS case trimmer each time I want to trim different cartridge cases, so I decided to buy one of these Lee rascals and see how it goes.
I chose the Quick Trim deluxe and 6.5x55 case die....my RCBS trimmer is set for .25-06 and I had to adjust it for 6.5x54 MSch & 6.5x55.
Lee don’t make a 6.5x54 MSch case die for the Quick Trim so 6.5x55 was chosen.

I haven’t yet tested this properly as my cases had already been done, but I took a good look at the cutting blade when it arrived yesterday and thought it looked a bit flimsy.
Does anyone out there use one of these Quick Trims?
I’d appreciate some comments on what you think of it.

Are replacement cutting blades available?
Does it generate much shaving mess around the press (ram in particular)?
Does the tiny shaving tray really catch the brass?
Instructions say ‘maintain tension on the ram while trimming’ .. I guess that’s going to vary in tension depending on inconsistent pressure being applied, so HOW much variation in trim length do you get?
Does it/Can it trim to a close tolerance?
Thoughts from you guys welcome.

 

[deeangeo]

View attachment 126733

 

[ashray]

good morning,i use the deluxe trimmer by lee,mine is used with a cordless drill and the press.never had a problem with the cutter and it is eight years old and has trimmed 308/6.5/243/223 x1000,s .some cases are soft and it seems to trim these slightly shorter but nothing major.manly usa brass.norma and lapua trim to the length i set .the little tray catches a lot of the swarf but a lot gets left in the die. for my use <i dont target shoot but see no reason they would not be good enough for that>.

 

[malmick]

^^ ditto banus

I use one with a cordless driver and having just started reloading (150+ .308's) I'm re-measuring everything in a belt and braces approach in order to achieve consistency. For trimming and case length I use my verniers locked to what I want and check each trimmed case for a tolerance fit. I'm finding negligible variation and getting sub-mod groups.

Haven't checked on replacement blades but can't see why they wouldn't be, Lee seem to be good at that type of thing, as are a lot of US manufacturers.
Not much mess, easily cleaned up and the tray catches most of the spill anyway, cases easily tapped out. I guess this depends on your starting point with resized cases.

Cheers

 

[Cottis]

I personally hate using reloading presses for anything other than depriming, sizing, seating etc.

Priming, trimming etc I do away from the press.

I think I am split 50/50 on Lee products in terms of what I like and don't like, similar to many manufacturers but one of the Lee products I do like is the Zip Trim. Using a case length gauge (which you can slowly make shorter with wet/dry paper to suit your desired length) and a ball cutter it trims perfectly to the gauge length everytime without fail. Whilst the case is in the jaws, you can chamfer and deburr perfect edges the same everytime as well with the same pull on the spindle. I also give a couple of spins on it while holding XXXX wire wool around the case and neck to really polish the case which saves me faffing with excessive tumbling or wet pin tumbling. I just give me them a quick blast in the ultrasonic cleaner for 10mins or so.

Admittedly I only do 100 cases at a time as I get properly bored but I reload a coupla thousand cases a year and find this is the best compromise for me without spending mega money on prep stations. I also have the zip trim attached to a mobile piece of wood with a powder dropped as well which can be g-clamped to the small mobile table that my press is mounted to. Means I can reload anywhere in very small spaces.

The only limitation to Lee case length gauges is that you have only one length choice that is governed by how long the gauge is. Generally speaking, they are a touch shorter than the max trim length I have found but, as long as all cases are the same, then you are good to go.

At only a fiver, you can buy spares and adapt them with wet/dry paper to give you shorter trim lengths if you so desire.

That is how I do it. No mess on the press and you can do a few jobs at the same time in one go and more importantly, get them all done the same.

 

[Sharpie]

I like the basic Lee trim tools. Cutter, lockstud and calibre-specific case length gauge and shellholder. (They have one for 6.5x55, is that the same head size ?) but I guess you could grind down the end of the pin by 1mm, or whatever suits you).

Cheap as chips and always trim to exactly the same (fixed) length. Chuck it in a cordless drill or screwdriver and cut away. No bits of brass shavings getting into your press or messing up your bench if you do it over your lap, with something to catch the bits (old tea towel etc).

I've looked at the Quick Trim Deluxe but couldn't see much advantage. By the time you have bought the tool, maybe the drill adapter, and a selection of dies it adds up to quite a cost. I prefer to do the chamfering separately too with hand feel, rather than trust the tool to do it in 1. I expect it is a fine tool, but I don't need adjustment capability, and turning that handle manually could get wearisome.

Best to just buy the powered version I think.

Power Quick Trim - Lee Precision

Ultimate in Case Trimming Speed and Convenience with Power Quick TrimDeluxe Power Quick Trimallows you to trim and chamfer in a matter of seconds.Hex shank snaps in to cordless screwdriver or drill (sold separately).

leeprecision.com

PS: the basic Lee cutter seems sharp and hard, hasn't become blunt after thousands of uses, even if it did its only a few £ for a new one. Guessing that the new version will be similarly good.

The new cutter is available as a spare part if required. Lee Precision: Deluxe Cutter Assembly

Lots of reviews on youtube, this chap didn't reckon much to the accuracy or the chamfering. 7/1000" variation.



I get better than that with the basic Lee system, and it's cheap enough to keep a cutter/stud/gauge/shellholder assembled in each of my die boxes, rather than screwing on the gauges individually, though that's hardly a chore. I really can't see how the (fixed) lengths could vary at all, whereas with the Quick Trim there are multiple places where things could vary or go out of adjustment. Fast though, if that's important. Maybe useful if churning out rounds by the hundred, and you insist on trimming every time. I can't see the point of the hand-cranked version, not quick, not particularly precise.

 

[Cooter]

I had to buy one of these to trim the cases for my .17 Hornet, so I bought case holders for all my other cals at the same time.
As others have written I also (read that as always) use mine with a cordless drill, and it has seen some heavy use, especially when resizing hornet cases, and it still works consistently.

I still use the Lee case trimmer and lock stud a lot, and I also have a wilson micrometer case trimming lathe but it never gets used.

 

[paul o']

I got one and use set it up in a spare press with power driver as I have 600 used .243 case, I also removed the large ball and change it for a small one so it cut better with less force ,the others cases I use the lee stud cutter .

 

[Muir]

I have a quick trim deluxe. Works fine. I also have a few Forster trimmers and i use the QTD when I'm set up for something else on the Forsters ~Muir

 

[Sharpie]

Point of information:

From what I have read, the QT adjuster has 10 clicks, each about 1/1000". Meaning using a 55 mm die, for a 54mm cartridge won't have enough adjustment to bring it into spec. (Only -0.254 mm on max. adjustment). Might work, probably not, if you are fussy, depending on your chamber.

TBH I don't think that case trimming need be complicated or require fancy tools. As long as you do it consistently when necessary, and it does keep the end of the neck absolutely square, which I think might be important if you aren't e.g neck sizing with a collet die. FL size, or using a bushing die and you are squidging the brass neck around each time.

Well, that's my theory.

Now here is another theory, systems that spin the case into the cutter will cut dead square. Particularly when the case is cranked down into e.g. a Lee lockstud and has a well fitting mandrel into the neck (Lee gauge), and located into the flash hole, keeping everything in line.

Systems where the case is fixed, maybe into a sloppy standard shellholder, no mandrel through the neck, just relying on a closely (?) fitting die around the outside (how tight are they (?), perhaps with an un-noticed bit of swarf in the shellholder messing things up, and the cutter rotated, may not be quite as precise. That's assuming that the press always loads true and straight, and the case fits the die perfectly and doesn't wobble about, and nor does the cutter, be it hand cranked or powered.

Just a thought.

 

[deeangeo]

Point of information:

From what I have read, the QT adjuster has 10 clicks, each about 1/1000". Meaning using a 55 mm die, for a 54mm cartridge won't have enough adjustment to bring it into spec. (Only -0.254 mm on max. adjustment). Might work, probably not, if you are fussy, depending on your chamber.

TBH I don't think that case trimming need be complicated or require fancy tools. As long as you do it consistently when necessary, and it does keep the end of the neck absolutely square, which I think might be important if you aren't e.g neck sizing with a collet die. FL size, or using a bushing die and you are squidging the brass neck around each time.

Well, that's my theory.

Now here is another theory, systems that spin the case into the cutter will cut dead square. Particularly when the case is cranked down into e.g. a Lee lockstud and has a well fitting mandrel into the neck (Lee gauge), and located into the flash hole, keeping everything in line.

Systems where the case is fixed, maybe into a sloppy standard shellholder, no mandrel through the neck, just relying on a closely (?) fitting die around the outside (how tight are they (?), perhaps with an un-noticed bit of swarf in the shellholder messing things up, and the cutter rotated, may not be quite as precise. That's assuming that the press always loads true and straight, and the case fits the die perfectly and doesn't wobble about, and nor does the cutter, be it hand cranked or powered.

Just a thought.

Thanks Sharpie, but I have no intention of utilising the QT for MSch 6.5x54 cases or .25-06Rem.
Only for the 6.5x55.
The others will be trimmed on the RCBS trimmer.
It’s just a pain resetting it for three or four other cases, so elimination of at least one setting up is helpful.

I was simply curious in the OP as to how other users of this tool found its performance.

 

[Sharpie]

Thanks Sharpie, but I have no intention of utilising the QT for MSch 6.5x54 cases or .25-06Rem.
Only for the 6.5x55.
The others will be trimmed on the RCBS trimmer.
It’s just a pain resetting it for three or four other cases, so elimination of at least one setting up is helpful.

I was simply curious in the OP as to how other users of this tool found its performance.

Sorry I miss-understood you when you said "Lee don’t make a 6.5x54 MSch case die for the Quick Trim so 6.5x55 was chosen."

I thought that you were hoping to use it on the Mannlicher case.

Since not, why not give the basic Lee stuff a try, and keep your RCBS set-up for the MS case ? I can think of many good reasons why the cutter/gauge/lockstud/shellholder arrangement is mechanically superior, not least the way the thing lines up at inside the neck, and at the flash hole. Dead straight.

If you are in a hurry and have a drill-press you don't even need to bother with the lockstud/shellholder, just put the cutter and gauge into the drill and let it bottom out on a flat part of the vise.

Hold the case firmly, rubber gloves, padded pliers or whatever, and you could race through them, if you have lots to do. And have barely measurable length variations. If that actually matters (arguable).

 

[Woodlander]

I found QT delux left the case mouth a little ragged,think I preferred the standard QT and deburr and chamfer by hand. I have a little gunworks trimmer for my 6br,love it,but you still need to chamfer and deburr.

 

[deeangeo]

I found QT delux left the case mouth a little ragged,think I preferred the standard QT and deburr and chamfer by hand. I have a little gunworks trimmer for my 6br,love it,but you still need to chamfer and deburr.

Thanks Woodlander. Not bothered about chamfer/de-burr .. if it needs it, it’ll get done.
I use a VLD chamfer anyway.

 

[Sharpie]

I found QT delux left the case mouth a little ragged,think I preferred the standard QT and deburr and chamfer by hand. I have a little gunworks trimmer for my 6br,love it,but you still need to chamfer and deburr.

Agreed, the chamfering on the deluxe works on the inside only and is no more sophisticated than twisting around a blunt penknife (though that might give a better shallower angle). Keep on twisting the thing after it has stopped cutting and it will keep on chamfering and chattering, far more than desirable. The blade can be removed. Best do the chamfering, inside and out, with a decent hand tool at a better angle, maybe even finish with a pad of steel wool. All just part of the basic Lee stud system process and only takes a few seconds (I know, sounding like a stuck record).

Now some still use simple file-trim dies, and I can understand that, though it's not for me.

 

[16mattye]

I use one in my 6.5 x55 and 223. Claims accuracy of 0.001 like the rest of them. And boy does it do what it says on the tin. Plus is chambers/burrs at the same time all in 5 quick turns of the handle . No brainier for me and won’t Be looking back

 

[Cris]

Just picked up a Lee Quick Trim and Die for my 6.5 x 55 and on trying to push by finger a case into the die, it will only go about half way. There is a plastic insert that reduces in diameter internally and is very tight. Not tried it in my press yet as it just feels like it might damage the case.
Anyone had this issue or can confirm it’s supposed to be very tight?