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Case trimmer for large rim diameters? (Read 191 times)

Rafter Newbie Offline Posts: 6 Location: North Central Kansas Joined: Jun 29^th, 2026	Case trimmer for large rim diameters? Yesterday at 10:54pm	Print Post
	What is a decent case trimmer for use with larger rim diameter cases, mainly 45-70 family, 50-110, 44-77, etc. (0.600"+ diameter) I have an old Redding that works great but I had to make a crude adaptor to fit 45-70 and up cases. I like the pilots that share the same cutter, but the handle that you push with the palm of your hand gets old very quick. I was looking at the Lyman trimmer but noticed it only accept up to 458 Win Mag (0.532" base diameter). I haven't looked to hard for a suitable trimmer so maybe I am missing something obvious. TIA, Rafter (Reposted to the correct forum, my bad)

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joelpend Junior Member Online Posts: 78 Location: Central North Carolina Joined: Dec 29^th, 2015	Re: Case trimmer for large rim diameters? Reply #1 - Today at 12:05am	Print Post
	The Forster Products Classic Case Trimmer has some large collets available. All their trimmer stuff is on sale now direct from their website. I have used one for decades and have even machined some of the collets to better suit my needs. #5 .584 & .675 #6 .545 & .660 #7 .640 #8 .610


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cheatin_charlie Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 430 Location: ohio Joined: Jan 10^th, 2009	Re: Case trimmer for large rim diameters? Reply #2 - Today at 6:47am	Print Post
	RCBS case trimmers have you covered. I have used one for years. Charlie (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)


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nuclearcricket Oldtimer Offline Posts: 825 Joined: Oct 15^th, 2008	Re: Case trimmer for large rim diameters? Reply #3 - Today at 10:41am	Print Post
	The Wilson case trimmers will work with all sizes of rims as they use a separate bushing that holds the case body as opposed to holding by the rim. Sam


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Cat_Whisperer Frequent Elocutionist Offline No 1, 9.3x74R Posts: 3988 Location: Mountains of Virginia Joined: Apr 17^th, 2004	Re: Case trimmer for large rim diameters? Reply #4 - Today at 11:46am	Print Post
	nuclearcricket wrote Today at 10:41am: The Wilson case trimmers will work with all sizes of rims as they use a separate bushing that holds the case body as opposed to holding by the rim. Sam I have the Wilson - mounted it vertically in a small drill press to 'automate' the process a bit.

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JHand Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 259 Joined: Apr 15^th, 2024	Re: Case trimmer for large rim diameters? Reply #5 - Today at 1:33pm	Print Post
	I use the wilson from everything from 223, 45-70, 458 lott. The only downside is needing shell holders for each case body


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bpjack Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3833 Location: East Olympia, WA Joined: May 18^th, 2008	Re: Case trimmer for large rim diameters? Reply #6 - Today at 5:42pm	Print Post
	I have been experimenting with using a 3/4" endmill with a center coolant hole that I mount in a drill chuck on my lathe. I make custom inserts that fit into the hole in the endmill and the case mouth. I hold the rim in the small groove in my 3 jaw chuck. I need to perfect a way to accurately control how much metal is removed. My current method is to lock the tailstock quill and position the saddle to act as a stop and just slide the entire tailstock forward by hand. If I need to remove a lot of material, I pre-trim on my bandsaw.

	People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.
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GunBum Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 308 Location: SW Missouri Joined: Oct 30^th, 2021	Re: Case trimmer for large rim diameters? Reply #7 - Today at 5:58pm	Print Post
	bpjack wrote Today at 5:42pm: I have been experimenting with using a 3/4" endmill with a center coolant hole that I mount in a drill chuck on my lathe. I make custom inserts that fit into the hole in the endmill and the case mouth. I hold the rim in the small groove in my 3 jaw chuck. I need to perfect a way to accurately control how much metal is removed. My current method is to lock the tailstock quill and position the saddle to act as a stop and just slide the entire tailstock forward by hand. If I need to remove a lot of material, I pre-trim on my bandsaw. I’ve done similar with my small lathe (6x18) since it isn’t used much for real lathe work. Main exception is that I mount the cutter in the tool post. Setting up is a bit of a pain, but it sits there 99% of the time. The cutter was made by me and is 4 flutes/cutting edges with a center hole to hold caliber specific inserts. I made several holders that mount in the 3 jaw chuck to hold tapered brass. Straight body taper cases I usually hold in a collet. Using a carriage stop I can keep the case lengths within 0.001”. The whole setup is a bit fiddly, but for oddball cases that don’t trim easily by other methods, it works.


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 18121 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Case trimmer for large rim diameters? Reply #8 - Today at 6:51pm	Print Post
	When my Lyman trimmer with universal collet wouldn't work for very large rims, or very long brass I found an old Lyman Universal Drill Press trimmer. It does anything up to .50-140 easily, and smaller rims down to .25ACP too. Mine was new in box for $40 from a private party on the forum. I really like using my drill press to do all my cases as I can lock in the depth to set length and whip them out fast.

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joelpend Junior Member Online Posts: 78 Location: Central North Carolina Joined: Dec 29^th, 2015	Re: Case trimmer for large rim diameters? Reply #9 - Today at 7:51pm	Print Post
	If you have a Bridgeport or a Drill press, this method works really good and fast.


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Rafter Newbie Offline Posts: 6 Location: North Central Kansas Joined: Jun 29^th, 2026	Re: Case trimmer for large rim diameters? Reply #10 - Today at 8:27pm	Print Post
	Thank you for all the suggestions. I will look into a few of these. The drill press, lathe, and mill ideas are all very neat, I never really considered them as a substitute. Most of the time I get my mind sent on one way of doing things and I forget about all the other ways it could be done.

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bpjack Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3833 Location: East Olympia, WA Joined: May 18^th, 2008	Re: Case trimmer for large rim diameters? Reply #11 - Today at 8:48pm	Print Post
	We left out the Skalkaho (aka Pete) method he learned while logging in Alaska. Use a chainsaw! Funny story I heard early in my shooting single shots. A local shooter (not sure who) found out a friend had lead for sale. When he went to get it, it turned out to be in one large chunk. His friend pulled out a chainsaw and gloves and safety glasses and proceeded to cut a chunk off. Lead was flying all pave and when he was done he had multiple wounds that he just ignored.

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Oakdale Full Member Offline Posts: 112 Location: Maplewood, MN Joined: Jun 7^th, 2017	Re: Case trimmer for large rim diameters? Reply #12 - Today at 9:58pm	Print Post
	I prefer the L. E. Wilson set-up. It doesn’t use a pilot like a Forester. You do need a special case holder but the other attributes of the Wilson, including ease of use, make it my favorite tool for this use. Tom


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