Trimming Cases with the New Stainless L.E. Wilson Trimmer
How do you trim your cases? We use a variety of tools, including power case trimmers. But our go-to trimmer for Benchrest-type cartridges is the L.E. Wilson Trimmer unit, now available in a handsome and durable stainless assembly. This thing is slick. It trims very precisely with the use of Wilson case holders combined with a micrometer-type stop for length control. As sold complete with micrometer, quick clamp, and metal stand, this new Wilson Stainless Trimmer is $139.95 at Creedmoor Sports. We think that’s a fair price for a unit that can last a lifetime, trimming many thousands of cases.
In this video, Bill Gravatt demonstrates the new Stainless Wilson trimmer. Gravatt offers some smart tips so this video is worth watching even if you’ve used a Wilson trimmer before:
Tips for Trimming with Wilson SS Micrometer Trimmer:
1. After inserting brass in the case holder, tap the case lightly to ensure it seats fully.
2. When starting your case-trimming session, do one or two test cases to check cut length. Adjust length with micrometer, then test length again. If “good to go”, set length stop. NOTE: Release the Stop Screw to make major adjustments. Use the Micrometer to make fine adjustments, in .001″ increments.
3. After trimming operations, be sure to chamfer case mouth after cutting to remove burrs. NOTE: After you have made the chamfer, we recommend gently spinning the chamfer tool backwards a couple times in the case neck. This will burnish/smooth the newly-cut champing, which helps with bullet seating.
Features of Deluxe Wilson Stainless Case Trimmer with Micrometer
-
— Long lasting Stainless finish with Micrometer adjustment.
— New 304 Stainless Steel Handle included with Micrometer Trimmer.
— Rotary-style clamp swings to secure case-holder — quick and easy.
— Larger stop screw adjustment from 3/8″ (old) to 1/2″ (new) with increased width on stop nut. Coated with black oxide for a long lasting durable finish.
— Made in the USA with American Steel.
— Power Adaptor compatible.
Similar Posts:
- Gear Focus: L.E. Wilson Stainless Case Trimmer
- Case Trimmer “How-To” Videos from L.E. Wilson
- Save $20.00 on Sinclair Stainless Ultimate Case Trimmer
- Saturday Movies: The Art and Science of Case Trimming
- Add 3-Way Case Mouth Cutter to Your Forster Trimmer
Share the post "Trimming Cases with the New Stainless L.E. Wilson Trimmer"
Tags: Bill Gravatt, Brass Trimming, Case Trimming, Creedmoor Sports, Trimmer, Wilson Trimmer
WILSON ALL STAINLESS CASE TRIMMER CT-SSKIT
with micro-adjust and improved 1/2-20 black oxide stop screw
I own 2 L.E. Wilson case trimmers,non stainless and decided to purchase their new All Stainless trimmer CT-SSKIT and improved screw diameter and their micro-adjust barrel. Like many and over my 45 year reloading career rust has been a negative factor in machine tool steel. This new cutter is also a life time purchase. I use case trimmers daily in my reloading business and I own everything from a Lee hand trimmer to the Giraud super fast electric.
My older L.E. Wilson trimmers have accoutrements as made by Sinclair Int’l(now Brownell’s). One has Sinclair’s black anodized micrometer barrel graduated in exact .001″ delineations and 1/10 inch barrel scribe lines. The other Wilson-Sinclair trimmer of mine uses the Starrett 1″ micrometer fitted with a screw-on tip allowing precise 0-1″ adjustment with a broader surface tip.
Both of my older Wilson trimmers have the Sinclair proprietary 1″ stainless trimmer spacer their item # 749-002-094 or WX11 at $12.99 a definite investment as this allows you to cut cases that are nominally 1″ shorter than the Wilson trimmer or Sinclair version provides.
My learning of this new L.E. Wilson all stainless micro-adj trimmer was somewhat different from my direct-read micrometers discussed above. This newer tool uses as mentioned a larger stop screw which besides being a non-rust oxide finish, offers a better stop for the base of a case while trimming, a great improvement.
The micro-adjust on this new trimmer differs in that there is no direct dial-in for a desired case length trim length in my example a .243Win at 2.035″ trim-to length.
Wilson suggests setting up the barrel stop to a point about 2 scribe lines on the micro barrel then tighten the thump screw that keeps the micrometer barrel from turning. Wilson then suggests loosening the set screw on the barrel itself making sure the thumb screw is still tight and aligning the loosened barrel nut and setting it to “zero”. This is all done with an untrimmed case in the appropriate case holder. The cutter blade is then bottomed out on its stop nut resting on the right hand bearing, and the case holder with test case residing on this newly set micro adjusted micrometer. You are then instructed to make a trial cut and check the length,then loosen only the thumb screw and bring the large screw clock wise by increments of .001″ to attain correct case trim length. This new micrometer is only a reference number as the barrel has no direct micrometer read-out expressed in inches and decimals. This is only a point to start when doing one particular caliber (.243 in my case). If you set up for a .308 or other caliber, you cannot simply dial in the length, you have to make “trial cuts”again and establish a new micrometer reference setting.
I did the following to keep a micrometer as a micrometer as we know it. I took two Sinclair WX11 spacers back to back (now 2″ long exactly) and placed them in this new trimmer touching the cutter which is firmly against the right side bearing, and the other end of the spacers touching the advance screw stop. I then call this my 2″ reference. I then loosen the small set screw on the micro barrel and set the indicator at “ZERO” thus establishing zero as 2 ” exactly. A case length to be trimmed to 2.035″ in my .243 simply means turning the re-zeroed mike counter-clockwise only .035″ which now reads on the barrel the number .035″ which is only after turning my micrometer from my “Zero” setting of 2 inches.I I always return my micrometer to “0”, then I always know that 2.0″ exists between cutter bearing side to screw side and any case length longer means opening up the screw by how many thousands longer than 2.0 inches is required. Cases shorter that 2″ you can use one Sinclair spacer (1″) to narrow the zero gap to a minimum of 1.5″ which should be sufficient for all but a few small rifle or pistol trimmings. I suggest as well investing in the fine Sinclair-Brownell’s 749-003-706WB (054800) Trimmer Platform for a secure base with rubber feet and pre-drilled for the Wilson trimmer,screws included. The cost is $39.95.