Re: Gracey Case Trimmer
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rafael</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If it will do the same, that's cheap.
Maybe someone will chime in with knowledge of both? </div></div>
The Gracey vs. Giraud thing has been hashed over a fair bit on here... but apparently more than 2yrs back, or else my search-fu is weak tonight
Long story made very short - Giraud motor is faster, has an on/off switch, has a one-piece carbide blade that is easier to adjust, the whole cutter head is designed to be easily removed (so you can leave one cutter set for .30 cal and another for 6mm), the chip containment is generally better (less chance of it getting into the shell holder area, uses sealed bearings, and in general is much higher quality in construction (in my opinion). My only gripe with the Giraud is the cheap Dillon lockrings that come with the shell holders - I much prefer split rings with set screws like the Hornady or Forster, and have replaced all mine with Hornady rings (because I can still fit a wrench on them if they tighten up too much).
The Gracey... has to be plugged/unplugged to start/stop, uses oil-bath bushings instead of proper bearings, uses a piece of rubber hose and hose clamps for a shaft coupler, uses a lower speed motor, has a two-piece HSS blade that is a PITA to set, the cutter head is physically removable so you can have different ones for each caliber (although I've only ever heard of *one* person who actually went to the trouble of doing so). My Gracey ran hot - too hot in my opinion as a former motor-control electrician, and when I ordered an extra shell holder from Gracey, I had to spend more time cleaning up the very poor threads with a needle file to be able to even screw the die into the machine.
My Gracey got traded off to someone who wanted a second machine due to the pain in the a$$ factor of setting up / changing calibers. I save the money, and a fair bit more thereafter, and got a Giraud. I have setups for .223 Rem, 6mm BR, .243 Win, 6-6.5x47L, and .308 Winchester - three cutter heads (.224, 6mm, & .30 cal) and five shell holders, plus a meplat uniformer setup (another cutter head and holder die). I like it very, very much.
YMMV,
Monte
