Giraud Case Trimmers ??

Hidalgo

Well-known member
Of all the things that I LOVE about reloading, I sincerely hate trimming cases. I am looking at an easier (although more expensive) way of getting this done quickly and accurately. A friend suggested this:

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

Does anyone have one of these trimmers? Are they what they are supposed to be?
 
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Of all the things that I LOVE about reloading, I sincerely hate trimming cases. I am looking at an easier (although more expensive) way of getting this done quickly and accurately. A friend suggested this:

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

Does anyone have one of these trimmers? Are they what they are supposed to be?



I have one. It's operation will remind you of an electric pencil sharpener. Insert the case, mouth first into the trimmmer hole, and press (it's spring loaded). Trims, chamfers, deburrs in one step.

You can trim as fast as your hands can make the movements, as long as your trimming say 1-2 thousandths. If you get to where you're trimming above that, I press the case easily into the trimmer, so as to take it easy on the cutting blade. That's just my way of doing it. I could trim faster with longer trims, just trying to take it easy on the trimmer.

It is a very simple trimmer. Easy to change trim lengths. I'm only trimming .223, so can't comment on the difficulty of a caliber change.

I am loading between 10-12K per year, and that Lee trimmer was causing me trouble with my hands swelling, so had to get something to eliminate that.

What else would you like to know about it?
 
Thanks hangtime. That pretty well summed it up. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Was just wondering if they were worth the big price tag ot not. Sounds like you're very pleased with yours.
 
You're more than welcome.

Yes, I'm pleased with the trimmer. As I said, with the arthritic hands, I really didn't have any choice.

I sure hated to turn loose of that $400.00, that's for sure!

When you see the trimmer, it doesn't look like a $400.00 dollar machine (very simple appearance), but it operates as advertised, so in the end, it is worth the money.
 
Giraud is a knock off the the Gracey. Either one should work well. I believe that Giraud makes a cutter that does inside and outside de-burr at the same time it trims. Can't remember but one of my shooting buddies was telling me about this at one time.
 
I almost stoped reloading ( well, almost) I was tired of turning that crank 0n my hand operated trimmer I now use a Geraud power trimmer and I couldn't be happier. I now load for 6 different calibers.

Emilio .. Pico Rivera, Ca.
 
There was a post somewhere about the Giraud trimmer. It had to do with how the Giraud indexes cases for trimming. IIRC, cases are indexed off the case shoulder, and that was questionable. Worth a look before you buy.

Martyn
 
I think that BOTH the Giraud and the Gracey index off the shoulder. Not a problem of you have the proper gauges and resize correctly before you trim, as I see it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
I got the Giraud trimmer about 3 months ago. I had it set for .223 and picked up a .204 and 22-250 conversion kits. Doug told me about some of his customers using both right and left hands to pick up cases to trim to increase the through put. I don't remember the actual numbers now but it probably took somewhere around an hour to do 1k 223 cases. If you plan on reloading a lot of ammo for your ARs Hidalgo I would recommend it.
 
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.....it probably took somewhere around an hour to do 1k 223 cases.



Jumpin' Jimminy! That's kinda quick. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'm not so much looking for speed (although it would be nice /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif) but rather trying to find a way that's not so boring and hard on the old hands. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I have a gracey, and I am not impressed with the trimmer blades. They are difficult to get set up properly to chamfer and debur when trimming.
 

I'm not so much looking for speed (although it would be nice /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif) but rather trying to find a way that's not so boring and hard on the old hands. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif



My hands at first did get cramped but once I learned how to hold the cases and get the 1/4 turn rotation down it got a whole lot better. When you get it you will trim everything you have and then look for more! I have a bin in front of the trimmer with the untrimmed cases and an empty one sitting behind it. Pick up, trim and toss over the top. It leaves a beautiful inside chamfer and cuts the outside at the same time. You can process a lot of brass in a short period of time.
 
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I have a gracey, and I am not impressed with the trimmer blades. They are difficult to get set up properly to chamfer and debur when trimming.


Throw the steel blades away and get the carbide cutter. It is one piece and fast and easy to set up.

Jack
 
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