SPENT SOME $ ON A CASE TRIMMER

[Groucho]

I just couldn't pass up a new toy. I ordered a Giraud case trimmer that trims and chamfers the I.D. and O.D. all in one step. Yeah, I spent some bucks, but it came in today and I set it up tonight after work and I am really taken with the quality.

Oh, baby, is it nice. After about 10-minutes of adjusting, I was cranking out case after case of .308 at 2.005" +/- .001. Most of the cases were dead on or within half a thou. The speed was wonderful. Gads, I love getting new tools for my addiction .....er..... necessary hobby.

I'm planning to go whole hog on reloading so I can maintain a steady supply of ammunition for the rifles. Nice thing is, the accuracy is much better than mil surplus and better than the very expensive commercial stuff.

Looks like I'll be selling the RCBS case trimmer and the Trim Mate. They're good, but speed with accuracy is a real hoot!

Groucho

[fordruid]

How much?

[instr8]

I think there $365. another $30 per caliber change setup. I'm buying one this summer.

[fordruid]

Yep, found that price as well. But seeing as how Groucho is 'frugal' ;) I thought he might have found a sale somewhere.

[Groucho]

Originally posted by fordruid
Yep, found that price as well. But seeing as how Groucho is 'frugal' ;) I thought he might have found a sale somewhere.

Once in a great while, I can't find a deal and just go for the quality. This thing is most impressive. It's very accurate and super fast. Since I'm loading for the F.A.L. and an M1A, I can really burn through the ammo. With supplies drying up and prices going the way of gasoline, I thought I'd start loading for volume as well as accuracy. I've been "rolling my own" for about 10-years, but now I want to pick up the pace. I hope there's an electronic scale/powder measure in my near future and possibly a turret press as well.

Groucho

[ftierson]

The Giraud is the shit...

Once you use one, you'll never be happy with anything else.

Hell, not only will you not be happy with anything else, you won't be able to stand using anything else...

It's kind of like Loreal hair color (or whoever advertises it), I'm worth it...

Have fun, Groucho...

:)

Forrest

[Old Sarge]

I have never seen one. Is there a websight that explans the how and why on them?

Thanks
Old Sarge

[shootist87122]

Groucho,

Do you size in a different step or is it an all in one thingie?

Gary - Are you using the X-Die or staying with old Tried and True?


Joe

[mj2evans]

Power trim/chamfer/debur is AWSOME! No excuse not to trim everytime. I have a Gracey and really like it. The Giraud looks very impressive.

[Borsig]

Im looking awful hard at a giraud too... But they are very expensive...

My rcbs is nothing compared to that and I HATE trimming brass. Then again I dont know how many pcs I will be trimming, as Im using Xdies too

[shootist87122]

I only got 3 reloads from my initial batch of Aussie (possibly due to some going through an Ishapore once and a few being loaded too hot). I just uncovered a .308 trimmer die for the Dillon trimmer that I forgot I even had, so will probably stay with that. A trim and de-burr all-in-one machine sounds like the Cat's Meow, however.

[Groucho]

Originally posted by shootist87122
Groucho,

Do you size in a different step or is it an all in one thingie?

Gary - Are you using the X-Die or staying with old Tried and True?


Joe

Joe,

The Giraud (and Gracey, I think) do the whole thing in one shot. Trim, chamfer I.D. and O.D.

[Groucho]

Originally posted by Borsig
Im looking awful hard at a giraud too... But they are very expensive...

My rcbs is nothing compared to that and I HATE trimming brass. Then again I dont know how many pcs I will be trimming, as Im using Xdies too

Indeed, the Giraud is expensive. However, I talked to Doug Giraud before buying. He actually makes the things! I found out about the trimmer because the Gracey was mentioned in my Sierra loading manual and I did an Internet search. There was a comparison between the Gracey and Giraud, so I looked up the Giraud as well. I personally liked the Giraud after doing more research. All that said, it's a personal choice.

I decided to go all the way since I'm going to load for my .308's and forget about chasing the Mil-Surp train as it leaves the station. I am really stunned at the cost of commercial ammo. I've been loading for around 10 years just for grins and giggles. When cheap ammo was available, I'd "save time" and buy it and shoot big groups and have fun. Now, I make my own, shoot tight groups and have more fun. I'm just trying to speed up the process while staying in spec. and keeping things safe. My next purchase is going to be an electronic scale/powder measure. Most likely it will be the RCBS. It is supposed to be quick and accurate.

Man, I just love getting new tools. It's almost as much fun as getting a new rifle.

Groucho

[fordruid]

Originally posted by Groucho


Man, I just love getting new tools. It's almost as much fun as getting a new rifle.

Groucho
Almost as much fun as getting a new wife :wink:

[Groucho]

Originally posted by Old Sarge
I have never seen one. Is there a websight that explans the how and why on them?

Thanks
Old Sarge

Sarge,

Here ya go.

http://www.giraudtool.com/prod02.htm

HTH

Groucho

[Groucho]

Originally posted by fordruid

Almost as much fun as getting a new wife :wink:

Now, that can be expensive!!:rofl: :rofl:

[ftierson]

By the way, the Giraud can be set up like on the Giraud webpage that Groucho links above (cases inserted horizonally into the trimmer body), or vertically (so that you push the cases down into the trimmer body). The cartridge case is held in a die-like body that is spring loaded away from the cutter head. You just press the case in (or down, if set up vertically) against the spring loaded die body until it bottoms out at whatever you've set it for. It takes much less time to do it than it does to explain doing it...

I use the trimmer set up vertically, so that you're pushing down into the trimmer. I just prefer it that way...

When you are trimming a lot of 5.56x45mm (or any other case for that matter, but the 5.56mm case head is smaller and harder to hold in your fingers than, for example, a 7.62x51mm NATO case would be), it's a very good idea to wear a work glove on the hand that you're using to insert the cases into the trimmer. If you trim a couple of thousand cases at a time, you will wear the skin off the fingers that you're using to hold the case as it's trimmed in you don't wear a glove. I don't mean that as a negative comment about the trimmer, either, because it's just the nature of the beast.

The Giraud case trimmer is wonderful...

I've been lucky enough to use someone else's Giraud, but I'll be picking one up for myself too, and very soon...

Forrest

[granite]

The Giraud is a great time saver.