RCBS Power Trimmer not cutting square

fpchief · May 30, 2010, 09:51 PM

My power trimmer (which i love), is not cutting my .308 square. Anyone had this trouble? It is roughly .005 off between opposing sides. Or is it to be expected and should i just shut up and keep trimming???

cryogenic419 · May 31, 2010, 06:35 AM

I had a similiar issue with .223 with my non-powered trimmer. Best fix I could come up with was to spin the brass around in the clamp once or twice and trim. This gave me more evenness on the trims.

So I gotta ask, is that power unit really a huge timesaver? Been considering getting one.

crimsondave · May 31, 2010, 06:39 AM

I've got the RCBS power trimmer, and, IMO, it's not worth the money. It saves a little time over using a power drill, but not much.

fpchief · May 31, 2010, 08:30 AM

It is absolutely worth the money. Having my doubts with it not cutting square on the bigger rounds, but it has to be something small. it will do a 5.56 round about one every 5-7 seconds. That is trimming-deburr-chamfer all in one step. everyone will have their opinion on it though. I like it, and the wife will sit there and use it while i am swaging or doing something else. We have done 1500 rds in one short sitting before. For me that is alot of ammo. Best thing about it is you set it and of course check one every once in a while, but the first and last are the same length.

reloader28 · May 31, 2010, 08:32 AM

I also spin the brass.
My brother has the power unit, but my Dewalt drill is much faster.

James R. Burke · May 31, 2010, 12:18 PM

I believe the power trimmer is worth the money. It may not be the fastest out there but mine works good, and never had a problem. I dont do high volume reloading or thay may change my mind, but for what I am doing it works great.

fpchief · June 4, 2010, 11:32 PM

IT turns out that the base that hte clamp is mounted on was originally cast. Now they CNC them. RCBS will send you the new one for free.

DANNY-L · June 5, 2010, 08:45 AM

Be sure to remove the primer and if you dont have any burrs on the head it should come out sqaure. Sometimes the shell holder isnt firmly in place especially when doing alot of cases and you get into a routine and simple things just slip your mind.

May 30, 2010, 09:51 PM	#1
fpchief Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2010 Posts: 122	RCBS Power Trimmer not cutting square My power trimmer (which i love), is not cutting my .308 square. Anyone had this trouble? It is roughly .005 off between opposing sides. Or is it to be expected and should i just shut up and keep trimming???

May 31, 2010, 06:35 AM	#2
cryogenic419 Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2009 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 569	I had a similiar issue with .223 with my non-powered trimmer. Best fix I could come up with was to spin the brass around in the clamp once or twice and trim. This gave me more evenness on the trims. So I gotta ask, is that power unit really a huge timesaver? Been considering getting one.

May 31, 2010, 06:39 AM	#3
crimsondave Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Location: North Augusta, SC Posts: 490	I've got the RCBS power trimmer, and, IMO, it's not worth the money. It saves a little time over using a power drill, but not much.

May 31, 2010, 08:30 AM	#4
fpchief Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2010 Posts: 122	It is absolutely worth the money. Having my doubts with it not cutting square on the bigger rounds, but it has to be something small. it will do a 5.56 round about one every 5-7 seconds. That is trimming-deburr-chamfer all in one step. everyone will have their opinion on it though. I like it, and the wife will sit there and use it while i am swaging or doing something else. We have done 1500 rds in one short sitting before. For me that is alot of ammo. Best thing about it is you set it and of course check one every once in a while, but the first and last are the same length.

May 31, 2010, 08:32 AM	#5
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	I also spin the brass. My brother has the power unit, but my Dewalt drill is much faster.

May 31, 2010, 12:18 PM	#6
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	I believe the power trimmer is worth the money. It may not be the fastest out there but mine works good, and never had a problem. I dont do high volume reloading or thay may change my mind, but for what I am doing it works great.

June 4, 2010, 11:32 PM	#7
fpchief Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2010 Posts: 122	IT turns out that the base that hte clamp is mounted on was originally cast. Now they CNC them. RCBS will send you the new one for free.

June 5, 2010, 08:45 AM	#8
DANNY-L Member Join Date: April 1, 2010 Location: way upstate ny Posts: 71	Be sure to remove the primer and if you dont have any burrs on the head it should come out sqaure. Sometimes the shell holder isnt firmly in place especially when doing alot of cases and you get into a routine and simple things just slip your mind.