Have the Lyman Universal now and am not fond of it. Too much horsing around adjusting it; plus, the set screws suck.

Looking for an electric one (not off a powerdriver, but a built-in motor) that won't bankrupt me. I'm not a super high-volume rifle reloader; I'm just trying to reduce the hassle/fatigue factor. (Just did 200 '06 cases yesterday and burned way too much time. Did use my new RCBS Trim/Case Prep tool and loved it. Best $87 I've spent in awhile.)

About the only one I know of that doesn't cost a fortune is the RCBS electric drive trimmer.

I've been using the little Lee trimmers in either an electric drill or a drill press. No setting of anything and just excellent results. Got to say the best for the money I'vel used.

For 15 bucks and three once fired cases they will make one up for any case you send them if they already have a base that will fit the rim.

[QUOTE]I've been using the little Lee trimmers in either an electric drill or a drill press. No setting of anything and just excellent results. Got to say the best for the money I'vel used.

Ditto.
I know you are looking for a complete tool, and not something that needs a driver, but the Lee trimmer is pretty slick. You can use a power screwdriver, a variable speed drill, or a dril press. When I chcuk one on a drill press, I can trim an awful lot of brass in a very short time, and they are all identical, with no worries about moving out of adjustment.

I have a C&H Armory and it works nicely. I think they are still around.

Looked in my Lee catalog, and, sorry to be stupid, but I'm not 100% how you set the thing up. Especially for you guys mentioning drill presses. I can see the case in the shellholder chucked in the drill press, but what's holding the cutter & Lee case gauge pointing straight up?

Also, anybody seen or used the Lee Zip (pull handle) case trimmer?

If you set the drill press for its lowest speed, you just feed the cutter up into the case by hand. The tip of the cutter has a pin that goes through the flashhole and bottoms out on the shell holder. That's what sets the trim length. If you get one of those drill press vices with X-Y positioning screws, you can clamp the cutter in it and get it centered perfectly and use that setup. Your drill press has to have spindle stroke long enough to get the case over the cutter, then. Just wearing leather gloves and doing it by hand is actually quicker.

The above is the least expensive approach. The intermediate one is to buy the Wilson trimmer. You can get an electric screwdriver adapter for the cutter (http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=RECTAC&item=WSA&type=store) ($11.50). If you also get the clamping base ($52 bundled with the trimmer from Sinclair (http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=RECTAC&item=05-420&type=store)) you will do benchrest accurate trimming.

All the above approaches require chucking the case in some fashion, and that's what limits their speed. If you actually want to speed up dramatically, you have to get a Gracey (http://www.matchprep.com/trimmer.htm) or a Giraud (http://www.giraudtool.com/prod02.htm). You will then be out some money.

Hey, Nick......thanks for the great info.

Also, I'm looking hard at the RCBS electric model. For those who have experience with it, are pilots from, say, a Lyman interchangeable in the RCBS machine (pilot shaft diameter that goes into the cutting head)?

Also, do you have to buy special RCBS trimmer shellholders?

Also, I'm looking hard at the RCBS electric model. For those who have experience with it, are pilots from, say, a Lyman interchangeable in the RCBS machine (pilot shaft diameter that goes into the cutting head)?

Also, do you have to buy special RCBS trimmer shellholders?

The pilots are not interchangable between Lyman and RCBS :mad: .

FWIW, I have a Gracey trimmer. Mines only set up for one case, .223 Rem. I bought it because I had a several thousand cases to trim, and I'm not getting any younger. It does do an incredible job, but unless you're in to high volume reloading, I cannot recommend it or the Giraud. They're just too expensive for casual use. Unless you just love gadgets. :p