Giraud trimmer set up help

[Luky]

Last year before I got my Giuraud trimmer, when I was researching them, I remember reading about using die lock rings to make a "stop" on the neck collar. I have been looking for those posts but cannot find them... I have only been using it for .308 but I am about ready to switch to try some .223 and wanted to get the collars so I can easily put it back to trim the same length when switching calibers... (got extra collars/trim knifes for swapping calibers.) Can someone please let me know the preferred collars? Was it Hornady? Any other "tricks" I should know about to get the most out of my trimmer?

Hornady Sure-Loc Die Locking Ring 7/8-14 Thread

Forster Cross Bolt Die Locking Ring 7/8-14 Thread


I have run about 500-600 pieces of my "prepped" brass through it to "uniform" them and love it. So much easier than trim, deburr, chamfer... with the ultrasonic cleaner, tumbler, power prep center for uniforming the primer pockets/deburring the flash hole, and Chargemaster all I really want is to get a Fosters Co-Ax to replace my old Lee 3-up turret press (which still works great) and I'll be set.

 

[fw707]

The Forster lock rings work fine.
Once you do the initial set up for the case length and lock it in, you're done. Just change cutters and case holders when needed and rock on.

 

[FLIGHT762]

The Hornady lock rings are great, but on my Giraud, I use the extra lock rings I've accumulated over the years since the rings are turned in only finger tight. I use the steel RCBS lock rings and old RCBS aluminum lock rings, and they work fine. So If you have to buy them, The Hornady rings are the best (the Sinclair rings are good too, they are $5.00 ea. in a 3 pack) over the Forster rings.

I don't know why Doug doesn't supply a cheap lock ring with his case holders since most of us toss the supplied ring and replace it with a regular die lock ring.

 

[Cornholeo]

Sumbitch! I had not even considered doing this on the trimmer, thanks for the info. I have several RCBS that I replaced with the Hornady on my dies, glad I stuck them in the box.

 

[427Cobra]

You need the clamp type lock rings, the brass set screw ones are all useless

 

[oldfudd]

Guys -- I use a neoprene o-ring at the base of my locking ring. If you set the locking ring in the general place which gives you the trim length you want, it's pretty easy to just screw it down for another couple of thousandths by just "squishing" the o-ring. If I remember right, the marks on the Giraud indicate about .008" between. With the o-ring, it's pretty easy to screw it tighter without much effort to gain a little shorter trim length. This way you don't have to readjust the locking ring for a relative minor adjustment. Also the o-ring dampens any vibration which might allow the shoulder guide to back off it it isn't screwed down tight.

 

[Powermac]

And the back side of that is that with unevenly applied pressure your trim lengths will vary even more when using a O ring.
I do not believe it is a good solution myself, consistent trim length is one of the things that affects neck tension.
And what about when the rubber gets old and stiff? it will not react the exact same way as it tends to get brittle with time.

Set the trim length, witch should be the exact same every time as long as it is the same chamber you fit the brass to.
Tighten the lock ring and screw it in with a torque wrench to the same setting each time and results are repeatable and consistent.

With case holders and cutter heads for each caliber the setup is fast and easy really.
And it is one of the few tools i would never get rid of as it makes trimming brass so much more efficient and i'd almost say enjoyable.

Clamp style lock rings are the only way to go for any lock ring, the brass screw types are junk.
I use Sinclair lock rings for everything i need them for.
Prefer them over Hornady as i know the contact flats have been ground to consistent dimensions.

 

[oldfudd]

Powermac -- I concede to your stronger logic, and think I'll change and go your route. Thanks.