Anybody near Nashville have a Giraud and one-time sympathy for a guy who *PASSIONATELY* hates trimming brass?

[theTastyCat]

Hey all.  I'm signed up for a rifle class in mid-June, and I actually, by the grace of God, managed to acquire all the reloading components necessary to show up with 700 rounds of 223.  Because I so strongly despise trimming brass, a while back I purchased the motorized Lyman brass trimmer, but it sure does take me 30 seconds to a minute to do every case.  I got X-dies so I'd only have to do it once, but I seriously think I'm too stupid to keep proper track of everything to make those work for me.

 

The thought of trimming 700 cases makes me want to go hang myself, but if it's the only way, it's the only way.  I'd DEFINITELY buy a Giraud if I hadn't just bought a house, which apparently exceeds even a boat in being a money pit.

 

Is there anybody near Nashville that might be so kind as to let me run some .223 cases on their Giraud?  This would be a ONE-TIME THING, I promise!!  The last thing I would do to reward your kindness would be to invite myself over all the time to trim brass.

 

I sure appreciate the heck out of anybody even CONSIDERING this.  I figured this would be the safe place to ask...if I asked on arfcom I'd probably end up talking to this guy

 

 

or more likely this guy

 

 

and Lord I hope not this guy

 

 

Castboolits would probably get me this guy

 

 

who would be hecka nice but in the end wouldn't actually have a Giraud.  Or a .223.  But he would for sure be able to cast some pretty boolits for a .45-70.

 

Thanks, all - I owe somebody in advance.

[JeffL]

No, but I've got a model train set and some imitation crab meat.

[theTastyCat]

K, I did have to google that, and WOW.  I'm not sure humanity is worth it - at all.  Yay for Philly!  Wow.  Wow.  Remind me never to use Craigslist again ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever.

 

 

 

 

Never ever.

[RED333]

First off, did you measure every case and do they have to be trimmed?

I reload rifle and pistol and only trim when needed.

The beveling get old as well.

[theTastyCat]

Well now, that's a good question, Red.  Maybe tomorrow afternoon if I can get into the reloading cave I can see how things are looking.

[Poor_Dog]

Google is not your friend on this folks...

[theTastyCat]

Nope.  Let me go ahead and recommend that, if like me, you didn't understand at first, just go to bed.

[serbu50]

That is so true about AR15.com... They would rather give you a smart a$$ answer than to provide you with any useful knowledge at all. Now... Having never reloaded in my life, but reading a lot lately, guys only have to trim the long brass... not every case needs it. 

[mikegideon]

70 bucks

 

http://www.littlecrowgunworks.com/wft.html

[RED333]

Great link, just might pick one up, thanks.

[Lumber_Jack]

70 bucks

http://www.littlecrowgunworks.com/wft.html

This, and if you don't have a drill get one of the old corded versions from a pawn shop for cheap

[JeffL]

Nope.  Let me go ahead and recommend that, if like me, you didn't understand at first, just go to bed.

 

Sorry, thought everyone on ARFCOM knew about that. The guys in the TN hometown forum all seem pretty normal, even if a lot of them are from Memphis.

[smopoim86]

70 bucks

 

http://www.littlecrowgunworks.com/wft.html

I was going to recommend the same. I have one for 223 and 300blk. The only problem I have with them is if you have a lot to remove the brass chipps stop up in the trimmer. Keep a pair of tweezers handy to pull the longer chips out(this may have only been a problem because I rough cut my 300blk too long). Other than that, I strapped a drill to a chunk of wood and clamp it to the table. I can trim 20+ cases a min with it. 

Edited April 14, 2013 by smopoim86

[Guest TN.Frank]

I feel your pain. I have 1000 rounds of 9x19mm on order that I'm going to have to turn into 9x18mm Mak brass. I not only have to trim it but before I can trim it I have to run it through the expander then size/deprime each case. I'll be using a Lee trimmer set up which I'll chuck in a drill motor(google the set up and you'll see what's involved) so I've got my work cut out for me.
The way I approach reloading tasks is to break it into 100 round lots. I'll size/deprime 100 rounds at a time until it's all done, then I'll expand 100 rounds at a time, prime 100 rounds at a time(nice because primers come in 100 primer lots) then load with powder and bullet 100 rounds at a time.
I find that I can normally do 100 without even breaking a sweat. Just work on it a bit at a time until you get done with each step then move to the next step. Sure, it can take me a week to load 1000 rounds from raw once fired brass to finished product but at least I keep my sanity(or what little of it I have left) so just break it into lots of 100 and get busy. That brass ain't going to trim it's self.LOL.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Or this and a drill press. You can fly on this one.

http://www.forsterproducts.com/store.asp?pid=37222 86 bucks

[Guest TN.Frank]

LOL, sure, we all have a Drill Press sitting around in our garage collecting dust,LOL.
The Lee set up isn't all that bad and it's dirt cheap. Chuck the collet part that holds the brass into a drill motor then install the trim gage into the cutter and have at it. IIRC the entire set up is under $20 bucks(although I got the cutter and collet holder that goes into the drill motor a few years ago). Just like the old saying we have in the Hot Rod business, Speed Costs, How Fast Do You Want To Go?

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Well, actually a lot of folks do, but only a suggestion. :D You'd be surprised of the things around

the house you can use.

Edited April 14, 2013 by 6.8 AR

[Hershmeister]

Lebanon Gun Shop has one in the store and I think he either rents it or let's you use it if you buy some components. Give them a call as i can't recall

[theTastyCat]

Ok, so since I spent over $250 on THIS

 

 

it should so be doing a better job than a $70 chuck.  It just takes so long - I just looked at one youtube of a guy who had just taken the thing out of the box, and it was super easy to tell when the thing was cutting and when it was done, and it took like <5 sec each.  SO - I've got to be doing something wrong, or the thing is screwed up.  I'm going to take it by maybe A&H in Nashville and have him look at it.

 

THERE HAS to be a way.

 

And you guys are awesome for all the responses - fantastic ideas here.

 

Whoosh, I need to go lay down - too much crabmeat  :yuck:

[RED333]

I have that in hand powered, is rotating the right way?

[theTastyCat]

Man, I have no idea - I just plugged it in and started it up.  I've done about a billion cases of 223 on it, and it's real hard to tell when it's cutting and when it can't.  It sounds *slightly* different when it's not cutting, but it's really hard to tell, and I have excellent hearing.  I did have to get a replacement holder since I must have over-torqued the one that came with it.  So hmm...I didn't know it could turn the wrong way, but that would seem to actually be a logical explanation!!  It can't be this hard...nobody would ever buy anything but a Giraud if it were!!

[RED333]

Look at the cutter, you should be able to see what direction it should turn.

" I've done about a billion cases of 223 on it"

I know that is a bit of a tall tale, but the cutter might be worn out.

[theTastyCat]

I actually have gone to the second cutter.  Maybe done 1500 cases on it - but believe me, it took FOREVER.  Like forever.  I will definitely look at it ASAP.

[173rdABN]

If i was home you could use my trimmer. I have a milling machine thats pretty fast (great for 300 BLK) and a second case trimmer attached to a drill. takes about 6-7 seconds max to trimmer and swap in a new case. goes really fast. and a LnL electric ream and chamfer tool with primer pocket cleaner attachment. wish i was home to help you out! sorry man.

[theTastyCat]

173rd, you are a gent and a scholar.  You overseas for Uncle Sam?