Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

[Sins4u33]

In the market for a trimmer, going to be reloading 223 now, and i have tons of brass laying around. I have doing some research on trimmers because i don't want to be hand cranking 1000 rounds every sitting. SO...

For people who have these units, thoughts inputs discuss please.
I am trying to make a decision here in the next few days. After i order that, the dillon will be ordered.

Regards,
Ben Y

 

[Deisel]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

If you search here for those trimmers you will see the majority use the Giraud including myself.

 

[Sins4u33]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: deisel</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you search here for those trimmers you will see the majority use the Giraud including myself.</div></div>

i saw most people like the giraud, just curious why they got the trimmers they did. and the advantages over one or the other. I am leaning more towards the giraud.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

Giraud has better parts, better engineered, and Giraud sells upgrades for the Gracey that are standard equipment on his trimmer, I know it's exspensive but it's one of those tools then when you get it you wonder why you waited so long.

 

[fx77]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

Giraud all the way
I trim 8 different cases. They all come out identical measuring of the shoulder of the case after I resize.Giraud is an excellent company and provides excellent service.
Buy once Cry once.

 

[John L]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

Had a Gracy. Sold it and bought a Giraud. Having owned both I would never go back to the Gracy. Doug makes great tools and he is a good businessman. Customer service is outstanding plus he shoots so he knows what we need.

Best advice in this thread so far: Buy once,cry once.

 

[Conrad]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

Giraud. Completely worth the price.

 

[Ltdshooter]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

Agree - Giraud - Get one you and you will wonder why you have not done it earlier...

 

[forsyth793]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

All of them are hard on your finger and thumb. Try some finger rubbers. Office depot has them for handling paper.............

 

[DevilWillCry]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

I got the Giraud based on what guys who had both had to say, and what I could learn off YouTube. Only thing I'm not hot on is the knife edge the Giraud leaves. They should offer more then one style cutter, and it wouldn't be all that difficult either. One of these days I'll order some extras to experiment with.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

Justin I keep some 0000 steel wool close to mine, a simple twist or two and the knife edge is gone

 

[Mudcat-NC]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

I have owned both....I only have one now, the Giraud. The guys have basically covered why its better than the Gracey. And we have have several other threads on point.

 

[Mike Sobr]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

Is the Giraud technique sensitive (like the little RCBS spaceship hand tool) or is the human element taken out of it and it's so simple even a caveman could do it?

 

[John L]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

It so simple I can do it. Did not want to offend any cavemen here on the site.

 

[Sins4u33]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: John L</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It so simple I can do it. Did not want to offend any cavemen here on the site.</div></div>

 

[Mike Sobr]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

Priceless-
thanks

 

[TexIndian]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

I have both and tend to use the Gracey more. I just hate those knife-edge case rims. The Gracey has two adjustable cutters that let you fine-tune your own chamfer and debur settings. With the Giraud, you get what you get with no adjustments possible. Isn't that the whole purpose of a high-dollar trimmer? To get the best result?

I've been talking to a machinist buddy about building a Gracey-type cutter head that will mount in a Giraud. That would be the best of both worlds. Especially if it were a little easier to adjust the cutter blades. Both machines use a trial-and-error approach to adjustments.

I've been promising for a month or more to take some serious pictures and post a comparative review of the two machines. Just too many other irons in the fire so far.

 

[digdugg33]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

I've had my Giraud for a couple of years and absolutely am impressed by it everytime I use it. Yes, the brass does come out slightly sharp, but I have found a solution for it. I took a small polishing wheel and smoothed the notch in the carbide blade to make a U shaped notch instead of a V shaped notch. Voila, the edges are chamfered and the edge of the case is no longer sharp...not that it was too sharp anyways.

Best,
Doug

 

[SuperXJeff]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

They can have a littleedge on them but I never even thought about it. I just loaded ammo and it has never been an issue. having owned a Gracey I find it hard to beleive that anybody who has owned and used both would even consider the Gracey over the Giraud. To each his own I guess but the vast majority of people wouldn't use a Gracey after having a Giraud. Jeff

 

[rdinak]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

+1 Giraud.. Love mine and wonder why I waited so long to buy one. Introduced a new shooter to trimming brass with the Giraud and all he could say was WOW.

If mine dies tomorrow I will order another one. Using it for .223,.243,.308 and 7mm-08. Satisfied customer.

 

[pmclaine]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

Is there any love for the Dillon Rapid Trim and a 650 or S1050 with a case feeder? Its practically hands free case prep.

I can understand it may not be the best thing for trying to make benchrest ammo but for the three gunner or "average" shooter it does a good job.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

I don't think the Dillon Rapid trim chamfers the in/out side of the neck, which should be considered a requirement for precision ammo loading.

 

[Mudcat-NC]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427Cobra</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't think the Dillon Rapid trim chamfers the in/out side of the neck, which should be considered a requirement for precision ammo loading. </div></div>

Correct. Exactly why I went with the Giraud rather than the Dillon. Besides, the Giraud is fast and while you have to handle the brass, even my 10 yr old can use it (he was using it at 7 yrs old, actually). Put a Giraud cutter in the Dillon and then we are talking some serious brass preppin'!

 

[pmclaine]

Re: Giraud vs Gracey?! Which One and WHY?

The Rapid Trim doesnt chamfer inside or out but it cuts so clean I had no issue loading .308 168 SMK's, Hornady Amax and Hornady BTHP for 30-06. I had to take one or two rounds apart and there was absolutely no jacket damage on the round after being pulled kinetically. Looked just like a brand new bullet from the box.

Is the chamfer for reasons other than protection of the jacket from burr cuts when being seated? The Dillon leaves the top of the brass sharp but I didnt see it affect the bullet in any way.

My trimmer is still pretty virgin though perhaps with some use/blade wear I should expect problems?