I got this online and it is in good shape. I trimmed some cases Sunday with it and found I could not get a finer adjustment than around .005". Is that normal for this type trimmer? What tolerance is required for superior quality hand loads? Or, should I trim close to the minimum, and as long as they are all the same, call it good?
Redding 1400XT case trimmer
- Thread starter gary55
- Start date
Gary,
I've never run Redding's Case Trimmer, however, it is not exactly what comes to mind when you think of the ULTIMATE precision case trimmer. All that being said I find it hard to believe you can't manage better than .005" variance. If you had asked I would have suggested a Wilson on a Sinclair base or a Giraud if you want to trim, chamfer, and debur in volume. The Wilson is as accurate as it gets and is the darling of benchrest, however, no trimmer is really more accurate than it's operator. Consistency is key...
My .50 BMG Giraud Super Trimmer, no longer made or really needed, and this is a Wilson Micrometer Trimmer on a Sinclair Base. Don't buy a kit from Sinclair. You can get better trimmer parts directly from LE Wilson as part of their kit. The ONLY thing Sinclair makes that is a must have is the base. They also make a nice carbide cutter, however, I will give you a spare new cutter blade as most of mine have been swapped out for Wilson Ti plated units. You will need to order a fired cased holder(note FIRED versus UNFIRED) for each chambering you load for...
I am SURE I have a spare NEW Wilson Trimmer if you decide to go that route that I can get you into for cost. I'm paring mine back to the four you see behind the Sartorius to the rear right.
Regards, Matt Garrett
757-581-6270
Btw, Before you consider a new trimmer let's take a look at the one you have make certain nothing is obviously wrong. Redding DOES through junk out on occaision despite my early feelings to the contrary. The other manual trimmer to own is made by Forster, however, I greatly prefer the way the LE Wilson Trimmer's hold the case versus the Collet/Pilot on the Forster. This despite being a huge Forster Fan when it comes to the Press & Seating dies. In all truth I would take the Giraud to all of the rest of them... That being said if you are buying ONE manual trimmer it likely ought to be a Wilson...imho.
I've never run Redding's Case Trimmer, however, it is not exactly what comes to mind when you think of the ULTIMATE precision case trimmer. All that being said I find it hard to believe you can't manage better than .005" variance. If you had asked I would have suggested a Wilson on a Sinclair base or a Giraud if you want to trim, chamfer, and debur in volume. The Wilson is as accurate as it gets and is the darling of benchrest, however, no trimmer is really more accurate than it's operator. Consistency is key...
My .50 BMG Giraud Super Trimmer, no longer made or really needed, and this is a Wilson Micrometer Trimmer on a Sinclair Base. Don't buy a kit from Sinclair. You can get better trimmer parts directly from LE Wilson as part of their kit. The ONLY thing Sinclair makes that is a must have is the base. They also make a nice carbide cutter, however, I will give you a spare new cutter blade as most of mine have been swapped out for Wilson Ti plated units. You will need to order a fired cased holder(note FIRED versus UNFIRED) for each chambering you load for...
I am SURE I have a spare NEW Wilson Trimmer if you decide to go that route that I can get you into for cost. I'm paring mine back to the four you see behind the Sartorius to the rear right.
Regards, Matt Garrett
757-581-6270
Btw, Before you consider a new trimmer let's take a look at the one you have make certain nothing is obviously wrong. Redding DOES through junk out on occaision despite my early feelings to the contrary. The other manual trimmer to own is made by Forster, however, I greatly prefer the way the LE Wilson Trimmer's hold the case versus the Collet/Pilot on the Forster. This despite being a huge Forster Fan when it comes to the Press & Seating dies. In all truth I would take the Giraud to all of the rest of them... That being said if you are buying ONE manual trimmer it likely ought to be a Wilson...imho.
Gary I wouldn't be concerned with +/- .010 in case length differences, unless your shooting full on competition bench rest you cannot shoot the difference, I personally don't like case trimmers with pilots, keep it clean, any scratches on the inside of a case neck will negatively affect accuracy, as for trim length Sinclair sells a chamber length plug, I use them for all my bolt guns, and I trim .010 from the end of the chamber, less time reloading means more time shooting.
I trimmed some 308 with my Redding today. I was able to get them to 2.005 consistently. I still am not sold on the Redding as the trimmer for me but for now, since I'm new to reloading and have other expenses, it is what I have and use. Thank you gentlemen for your input and advise.
20 thousandths case length variance post trim? We are taking different roads to Rome. Case trimming, it should be noted, is not so much an accuracy issue as it as a safety issue. One can affect the other, however, primarily it is to avoid pressure spikes in the throat from forward brass flow. Anyone that cannot hit +/- .001" when trimming is either not trying or has an equipment issue. That may very well be irrelevant, however, I tend to find accuracy hides within consistency. More importantly safety also tends to reside within rigid adherence to consistent application of the same procedure. Improving procedure is permissible.
Regards, Matt Garrett
Chesapeake, Virginia
