RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

[cpatbay]

I was inching towards buying the Giraud Trimmer just because I got really tired of trimming and chamfer the mountain of rifle brass EVERYTIME I reload them.

Then I found the X Die ... If I only have to trim once, I am thinking I can tolerate not having the Giraud machine.

Does anyone have the X Die agree with this?

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

Yes.

I run the RCBS small base X-Dies for both my LR-308s and my AR-15.

With the X-die, the brass still grows, but not so much that it exceeds the trim to length. The brass that is trimmed to 2.000" may exceed the 2.015 limit, after multiple firings, but not by much. The key is to trim the brass to less than 2.000". I trim to about 1.996" and that's the end of that.

I have a possum hollow trimmer ($25) and an RCBS trimmate ($125) for case trimming. The possum hollow is much faster and comes with a tool to chamfer and de-burr the case mouth.

My investment in trimming is less than half of what owning a Giraud will run me...at $425 + $30 for each caliber i own, the cost of the Giraud adds up quickly.

I am told that the X-Die works the brass too much, but i am on my 3-4 firing on the brass i own, and haven't noticed even loose primer pockets...and my loads are not mild...47.5gr 2000MR + 175SMK or 178AMAX at 2,660ft/s from a 20" 308 AR.

 

[aloreman]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

Not a real graet die. I got alot of runout using them. If you dont want to trim alot just trim them short to begin with and you wont have to trim them again for several loadings. I do it that way for my M1s and by the time they need trimmed again its time for the scrap bucket

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

aloreman,

how much runout are you measuring?

Has this translated into inconsistency at the range?

 

[cpatbay]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: aloreman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not a real graet die. I got alot of runout using them. If you dont want to trim alot just trim them short to begin with and you wont have to trim them again for several loadings. I do it that way for my M1s and by the time they need trimmed again its time for the scrap bucket </div></div>

I thought the run out only happens on the first resize?

 

[aloreman]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

got .004 to 008 with the xdie and yes they really work the brass alot. Just my personal opinion. But em try for yourself. How does a die cause Loose primer pockets?

 

[aloreman]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

I get .001 to .002 with the redding die

 

[jagged77]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

I've used a couple of sets, in my opinion they are ok but nothing to write home about - my go to method of body sizing then neck sizing doesn't make the cases grow that much faster but with the added plus of straighter ammo. I'd rather go with the Giraud.

If you were making hunting or plinking ammo in volume I'd say it'd be worth a look - precision LR reloading might benefit from better dies and the extra step or two in the reloading process.

 

[jagged77]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1kOrBust</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: aloreman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not a real graet die. I got alot of runout using them. If you dont want to trim alot just trim them short to begin with and you wont have to trim them again for several loadings. I do it that way for my M1s and by the time they need trimmed again its time for the scrap bucket </div></div>

I thought the run out only happens on the first resize? </div></div>

If you have dies / press or technique that causes runout you're going to see it every time you resize.

 

[aloreman]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

What he said

 

[mtrmn]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

I use the X dies on 223 and 308 and they do exactly what they advertise to do. Trim once and forget it from then on out. I do not measure or worry about runout, but manage to load sub MOA ammo for my ARs (out to 300 yds). I would love to shoot bugholes, but for my purposes, it's not worth all the extra fuss that seems to be required.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

If you're having to trim after every firing you're doing something wrong. I think.

The instructions for X dies say to trim back 30 thou from max before using the die. Any of my cases that stretches that much gets tossed before a head seperation occurs so the costly die wouldn't make any difference for me; before the die could do anything useful that case would be gone!

 

[You-Two]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

Fuzzball - just FYI. The instructions for my X-Die states to trim 20 thou back from max.

Example: I trimmed my .223 to 1.740 (1.760 max)

I am using it to size brass for a WOA SR and a RRA plinker. They seem to shoot just fine.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

'Fuzzball - just FYI. The instructions for my X-Die states to trim 20 thou back from max."

Read it again, see if it doesn't actually say to trim 20 thou from the normal 'trim to' length, which is 10 thou under max.

 

[turbo54]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tx_Flyboy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

My investment in trimming is less than half of what owning a Giraud will run me...at $425 + $30 for each caliber i own, the cost of the Giraud adds up quickly.

</div></div>

not seeing the logic here. The Giraud machine is nearly free to own. They sell for 90% of new, like Dillon does. As retail goes up, so too will your used machine. Each cartridge family is indeed another $30, but that covers a family (243, 260, 708 308 etc etc), whereas you'd have to buy the x die for each individual cartridge.

Also, the giraud puts a beautiful vld-type inside chamfer and outside chamfer on the brass, that x die obviously doesn't.

 

[You-Two]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">'Fuzzball - just FYI. The instructions for my X-Die states to trim 20 thou back from max."

Read it again, see if it doesn't actually say to trim 20 thou from the normal 'trim to' length, which is 10 thou under max.
</div></div>

Double checked...it says "full-length resize each case and trim to .020" under maximum case length". Bought my die about a year ago, maybe they changed from either before or after.

I have a Giraud and love it. Started trimming about 4k of .223 back to 1.740" as stated above with a RCBS Trimmer Pro and decided to get the Giraud to finish the lot. Definitely a good investment if you have the means.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: RCBS X die reduces my urge for a Giraud Trimmer

"Bought my die about a year ago, maybe they changed from either before or after."

Apparantly so.