Case prep centers

[Freediver111]

In the market for a case prep center at some point in the coming months. Tired of using a drill and by hand.

Basically for around $100-$120 range it seems like my choices are the RCBS or the Lyman.

Lyman seems to have more tools. Is there a reason the RCBS is better, or is it splitting hairs?

 

[pmclaine]

I have a Hornady case prep center. The medium sized one has three tool heads for cleaning primer pockets and outside debur and inside chamfer.

Running brass through the center is the worst part of my loading process as it is so tedious.

Still I think it matters to perform those steps so I do it.

I usually hold a single case on each tool head for a One onethousand, Two onethousand, Three onethousand count than move on. So 9 onethousands to do each damn case. I prep on a Dillon S1050 and load on an S1050 so its is the worst part of prep.

I think they go for just about $100 and it has done what I ask of it.

 

[Freediver111]

That's basically what I'm after. Chamfer, de-burr, brush the inside neck, and clean primer pockets.

 

[pmclaine]

The Hornady Lock and Load would require one more spinning station to brush the necks. I suppose you could add it as an after step by removing one of the tool accessories and running all your brass again.

I dont think brushing the necks really that beneficial as the carbon is probably a useful lubricant.

If you use pins and water though brushing with mica may return what was lost when the carbon was removed.

 

[flyer]

I got a case prep trio for about $63 ($70-10%) I think.

I was expecting it to be bigger but it seems to do the job.

I got a Lee 8-32 threaded cutter and a case gague for doing case length trim, a Lyman VLD inside neck deburring tool and the included Hornady piloted outside neck deburring tool installed with my primer reamers and uniformers screwed in to the nuts in the case track.

A few twists on the uniformer seems to get the primer pocket about 75% clean. I'll finish them up with a brush in a drill.

I think it will consolidate a lot of the prep and the price was decent and you can get some free bullets with it too (selection isn't great).

 

[Sheldon N]

I have the Lyman, works good for my purposes and goes fast enough. For my match brass I do primer pocket clean, chamfer, debur, neck brush in that order working around the machince clockwise left side to right side. I start the primer pocket cleaning with the left hand while I'm finishing the neck brushing with the right hand, so I can keep a piece of brass on the prep station the entire time. Takes me about 4 to 5 seconds per case.

 

[padom]

I have the Frankford Arsenal Platinum case prep center and its built like a tank. Super heavy and works great. I couldnt be more happy. They have 2 models, case trimmer and 3 prep tools or 4 prep tools and no case trimmer. I have the case trimmer version which is like $155 but the 4 tools version is only $107

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/9...ng+Equipment+(Not+Presses)&utm_content=997534

https://gnarlygorilla.com/frankford...kU4MyK0T2MLhrxMVw4MmlNYxVNRSLBwgaAlrHEALw_wcB

 

[TAMU20]

Another thumbs up for the Lyman it has worked great for me!

 

[Painless300]

+3 for the Lyman

 

[Rhed]

I have a Lyman’s prep center. It does a good job speeding things up. But when I bought a Giraud power case trimmer it was a whole game changer for me. Trim, debur, chamfer in one setting. I run my brass through a wet tumbler, so I don’t really clean the primer pockets

 

[Bradu]

I have the rcbs mos et l and use it for new brass. I bought it before I ponied up for the giraud and it is a nice piece of equipment to have

 

[lightman]

My case prep center is a cordless drill, a hospital puch bowel and a handful of Sinclair tools. A friend has the RCBS and its a nice tool. I saw him run it all afternoon once and it never got hot. I do these chores in front of the tv.

 

[M77]

I have a Hornady case prep center. The medium sized one has three tool heads for cleaning primer pockets and outside debur and inside chamfer.

Running brass through the center is the worst part of my loading process as it is so tedious.

Still I think it matters to perform those steps so I do it.

I usually hold a single case on each tool head for a One onethousand, Two onethousand, Three onethousand count than move on. So 9 onethousands to do each damn case. I prep on a Dillon S1050 and load on an S1050 so its is the worst part of prep.

I think they go for just about $100 and it has done what I ask of it.

bought a set of them for myself and a mate ,
used it the last day or so for a couple hundred pieces of brass , worked a treat . IMO 3 stations is all you need , chamfer , deburr , primer pocket
i made a little L bracket from some plyboard and mounted the centre vertical works even better

 

[dannySH]

Anothe vote for the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series.

 

[pmclaine]

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/wts-rcbs-trim-mate-case-prep-center-80-shipped.6894117/

 

[ruebarb]

Lyman here , find an open box warehouse deal on Amazon

 

[gnatmm]

Lyman

 

[redneckbmxer24]

If you’re already looking to spend $100 on just a case prep center, there’s no good reason not to spend a few more bucks and get the Frankford trimmer setup. The trimmer is excellent and topped only by the Giraud IMO, plus it has the power stations for other tasks that you’re looking for. It also has some weight and size to it so you don’t have to hold it while you process brass.

I have the small Hornady (trio?) and it works well for what it is, but it’s still worth the extra cash to get the Frankford. I bought it when it was one of the few on the market, but I wouldn’t buy it again today.

 

[Yellowhammer]

The hornady one comes up semi-regularly on amazon for ~$55 FWIW. I have one on my bench.

 

[Yondering]

My case prep center is a drill press, with all the appropriate tools to mount in the chuck. Trimming, chamfer, deburr, case neck brush, primer pocket uniforming, crimp remover, etc all gets done right there, and with variable speed and more horsepower than any of those jobs need, it can go as fast or slow as I want. Of course, having a drill press is the most important part of that, but you can buy one for the cost of some of these case prep centers.

 

[MarinePMI]

I have a Lyman’s prep center. It does a good job speeding things up. But when I bought a Giraud power case trimmer it was a whole game changer for me. Trim, debur, chamfer in one setting. I run my brass through a wet tumbler, so I don’t really clean the primer pockets

This. ^^^^ Yes, it's pricey, an dit isn't really a "case prep center". But if you SS tumble your brass, the Giraud way to go. I can process 100 cases in about 15 mins easily; trim, chamfer and deburr. It's akin to an AMP. Once you have one, you realize you should have gotten one sooner, and saved yourself a lot of time and effort.

 

[Sheldon N]

I can process 100 cases in about 15 mins easily; trim, chamfer and deburr.

Dang, you need to pick up the pace with that Giraud! I can do about 450 cases with mine in 15 minutes.

 

[padom]

My case prep center is a drill press, with all the appropriate tools to mount in the chuck. Trimming, chamfer, deburr, case neck brush, primer pocket uniforming, crimp remover, etc all gets done right there, and with variable speed and more horsepower than any of those jobs need, it can go as fast or slow as I want. Of course, having a drill press is the most important part of that, but you can buy one for the cost of some of these case prep centers.

A drill press is big and only allows you to perform one task at once. That defeats the purpose of buying an actual case prep center if you ask me. I would much rather put 1 case through chamfer, debur, primer pocket clean up, neck brush at once then handling the case 4 times having to change the tool in the chuck 4 times.

 

[MarinePMI]

Dang, you need to pick up the pace with that Giraud! I can do about 450 cases with mine in 15 minutes.

Yeah, I'm old and slow...but consistent.

 

[Afkirby]

If I was doing it again I’d get a motor and set it up to take case prep accessories. I like the higher RPM’s for cutting crimped primer pockets.

 

[MarinePMI]

Dillion Super Swager. Crimps are a non-issue, and the swager is fast.

 

[Afkirby]

Dillion Super Swager. Crimps are a non-issue, and the swager is fast.

I’ve got a super swage and find that it’s not very consistent, even using same headstamp. A quick buzz with a cutter tool at high speed seems to do the trick.

 

[MarinePMI]

I’ve got a super swage and find that it’s not very consistent, even using same headstamp. A quick buzz with a cutter tool at high speed seems to do the trick.

The inconsistency comes from not deburring the flash hole. LC brass has some horrendous burrs around the flash holes, which the mandrel in the swager butts up against, so the swaging head can remove the crimp. Excess burrs change how far the mandrel can get inside the case, hence changing how far/deep the swager goes. Removing the burrs makes the swager much more consistent.