Am I overthinking trimmers?

[twintips16]

So I'm looking to add a trimmer to my operation. I don't need powered options as I only do 50 and 100 case rounds. I have never had a trimmer and Been loading for 20 plus years but Im trying to get more precise and its a needed advancement.

I have looked into the big 3, RCBS, Hornady, and Lyman and it seems like they all have draw backs. Everywhere I read Wilson trimmers are the top. OK, then, I go to put it in my cart, and by the time I put the trimmer, stand, and the case holders I need, for 90% of the cases I reload for, I'm in it $450.

Is this the point I just Get a powered version? Seems like they are all $700 plus and Im not to far away from that?

I don't know what I want at this point and I have a sickness for buy once cry once. But really, I don't need power features, I don't think. I don't do any production or bulk loading. If I get to 200 cases that would be a big run and I have never done that. The largest run I have ever done was 150 and that was last week. So I am growing as the kids shoot more.

 

[BBob]

I have looked into the big 3, RCBS, Hornady, and Lyman and it seems like they all have draw backs.

What are these drawback's? I've owned a Forster for 40 ish years, it does the job perfectly fine. Is a Wilson nicer? Yeah probably, but as much as I've been tempted over the years I just keep using the Forster.

 

[Sinistram]

My love of reloading is basically limitless - except when it comes to case trimming. I bought the Lyman power trimmer last year and will never look back. Even with a power drill adapter for my RCBS, the Lyman blows it out of the water.

I highly recommend!

 

[MTBackroads]

Lee case length trimmer and a couple arbors for the rounds you load.

Chuck up the case holder in a drill and crank out 50-100 in no time, you can chamfer and debur while it is chucked up too.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012835597?pid=476992

Lee Case Length Ga Shellholder 223 Remington

The Lee Case Length Gauge is a precise and easy way to trim brass cases to length and square the case mouth. Requires a Lee Cutter and Lock Stud to...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[wind gypsy]

I’d disagree that a trimmer is needed to be “more precise”. I’d never trim if I didn’t need to to keep necks from jamming into the throat. Chamfer/debut, sure, but forget trimming if your cases aren’t too long.

 

[Matt5266]

I used the lee trimmers and a drill for years picked up the lyman and it sooo much better

Lyman Brass Smith Case Trim Xpress Case Trimmer

Lyman's Case Trim Xpress gives rifle reloaders the speed and accuracy that they have been looking for when trimming cases! The unit has its own power...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Shortschaf]

Very happy with this frankford for about 100 cases at a time

Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Prep Trim Center

The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Prep and Trim Center offers 4 work stations to quickly and easily prepare brass for reloading. The permanent...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[JFK]

OP how have you been reloading for 20 years and never trimmed brass?

I’ve got one of the hand crank jobs. It works. Faster would definitely be better though. For 50-100 pieces at a time it’s not horrible though.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Very happy with this frankford for about 100 cases at a time

Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Prep Trim Center

The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Case Prep and Trim Center offers 4 work stations to quickly and easily prepare brass for reloading. The permanent...

www.midwayusa.com

This is what I bought. Case trim and prep was exhaustingly mundane and time consuming. It still is but only about 10% the time now.
Edit: Worth noting is the trim head from an RCBS hand trimmer fits so you can have a trim head with a pilot bit to keep the brass perfectly aligned. I do downsize one pilot so it's not causing a lot of friction in the case neck..

 

[Matt5266]

Ill add that the Lyman trimmer I listed i use in conjunction with a RCBS prep station. I went with those 2 because I got them both used and about 50% of what they are new