The Lee Case trimmer pilots are really an excellent value and are very versatile. The pilot shaft itself can be adapted easily to other cartridges that fall within the length of the particular pilot shaft. For instance, I have taken a pilot for the 30/30 Winchester, chucked it in a drill press and filed it down to the diameter needed to fit the neck of a sized 7-30 Waters case. As you know the Waters case runs the same length as the 30/30. My latest modification has been a pilot for trimming a wildcat based on the 444 Marlin case. Called the 358 Bellm, it’s based on a necked down Marlin case with a longish neck which is nicely suitable for cast bullets. I simply chucked a pilot for the Parent Marlin case into the trusty drill press and filed away until I reached the proper diameter for the case neck of the sized Bellm case. I also have a slightly shorter trim to length on this case so, I simply stoned the guide pin down on a sharpening stone as this pin is hardened steel. Now it is a simple matter after case forming to trim all cases to the proper length.

The beauty of these trimmers is that they are very fast to use relative to a lathe type trimmer as the length is already preset. No trial and error as with a lathe type trimmer. They also provide a quick check for case length. The base can be either chucked into a cordless screwdriver or a cordless drill, set on slow speed for increased production rates.
A drop of light oil on the pilot shaft also helps when using this method every 5th case or so. Then simply deburr and toss the cases in the tumbler to clean for an hour to remove all oil residue.

As a handgunner, I no longer look at trimming new cases to square up case mouths as an excersize in masochism. You would be surprised how lengths vary on new brass also. Helps with crimping uniformity to boot.

Lathe type trimmers have their place on the bench but, for the majority of my case trimming, I find I'm grabbing for these Lee Trimmer pilots more and more for case trimming chores.

At about ŭ for a pilot *and shellholder, they are certainly reasonable enough to try. The cutter and base are interchangeable and only purchased once for about ŭ.


Regards,
Ray


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(Edited by Contender at 12:37 pm on Feb. 24, 2001)

Hi, Contender. I see you posted this back in February, so I hope you get to respond to my question.  I like your idea about the Lee trimmers.  I took a look at them on Lee's site.  I saw that you hold the trimmer itself in your hand.  Have you had any problems with cases being square?  What holds the case square as you trim...the case length gauge?  I also saw the Lee zip trim. What do you think of that?  It has good portability...no electric necessary.

Hello Southpaw,

The pilot has a pin in the end that goes through the primer pocket hole and rests against the hardened base surface. This is your case length guage. Granted, the pin is not the exact diameter as the primer hole but it has enough precision to not really make any difference. As a matter of fact, I have trimmed new cases with this trimmer and it has squared up the case mouths by removing metal from one side. So that tells me it works fine. Also the pilot is sized to just fit into the case mouth with a slip fit thus holding the cutter head in alignment. Just make sure that you screw the pilot into the cutter head firmly by hand only, so it makes contact evenly.

Crimping cases trimmed with this unit has proven to me that it does cut square and true as evidenced by a uniform crimp around the case. I even trim/check case length on a new lot of pistol cases and from then on have nice uniform crimps.

I normally for light trimming use the unit with hand power only. When you feel the unit ease up and no longer cutting, you are done. For cases that need a lot of metal removed, I'll chuck the base in a cordless drill and go. Fast and easy. I do have a Zip trim but must confess have yet to use it. Like my other ways better for now.


Regards

:cool:





(Edited by Contender at 10:39 am on May 15, 2001)