Lyman Brass Smith Case Trim Xpress Case Trimmer

[TommyD11730]

So, I had the chance to try the express trimmer. Very happy. Trimmed quickly and accurately. I'm thinking about buying one. Before I drop the coin are there any other trimmers I should consider?
Thanks

 

[drew_235]

An army of people are going to show up pretty soon and tell you to buy a Giraud. They're pretty expensive. Someone else will probably tell you that your kids don't really need braces till after you've paid for a Giraud.
Having said that, I'm in the same boat as you and was looking at this very same trimmer. I like the reviews, the adjustment seems simple and precise. I would also have to get a brass prep station (probably also Lyman, so now we're pushing $300). The other option for us budget minded folks is the Frankford Arsenal Platinum trim/prep center (~$150). It trims, chamfers, deburrs. I've watched a bunch of reviews and videos on that unit as well, and the adjustments don't look as simple, the plastic guides look flimsy, everyone seems to replace the supplied cutting head with an RCBS cutter that is sold out everywhere, and the engineer in me watches the rotating chamfer bit wobble and wonders if the entire unit is built to such low standards (likely yes).

So there are your 2 budget minded options and I don't have a really good answer on which one to get.

 

[TheOfficeT-Rex]

Depends on how many different calibres you need to trim, and how many you trim in a session.

I prefer something that trims/chamfers/deburs all at once. Some people prefer that it indexes off the shoulder and some prefer that it indexes off OAL. If you're not doing many calibres, a giraud tri way is one of the best options.

I got a Henderson about a month ago. It's a lot more comfortable to use than a WFT in a drill press, and faster too, not only in loading and trimming, but in the fact it does the chamfer and debur at once. Eventually you get crab claw when you're trimming 150-200 cases with the WFT.

 

[drew_235]

Depends on how many different calibres you need to trim, and how many you trim in a session.

I prefer something that trims/chamfers/deburs all at once. Some people prefer that it indexes off the shoulder and some prefer that it indexes off OAL. If you're not doing many calibres, a giraud tri way is one of the best options.

I got a Henderson about a month ago. It's a lot more comfortable to use than a WFT in a drill press, and faster too, not only in loading and trimming, but in the fact it does the chamfer and debur at once. Eventually you get crab claw when you're trimming 150-200 cases with the WFT.

I currently reload for 4 calibers and see that morphing to 5 or 6 in the next few years. How many calibers is your Henderson set up for and what was your all-in cost on the setup?
I have seen a few Henderson videos and they are remarkable in their speed.

 

[TheOfficeT-Rex]

I currently reload for 4 calibers and see that morphing to 5 or 6 in the next few years. How many calibers is your Henderson set up for and what was your all-in cost on the setup?
I have seen a few Henderson videos and they are remarkable in their speed.

Im set up for 22 cal, 6mm, and 6.5. It comes with one caliber setup, and the cutter heads are 70 from Henderson. I went Non motorized and just run it with an old hand drill, putting me in at 550. You’re probably in about the same with thegiraud setup, but I don’t know how much pilots or cutters cost on that side.

It takes me four minutes or so to swap calibers (change cutter head and length stop bolt).