Question about RCBS Trim Mate Case Prep Center.

[dlouie87]

So I came across one for a pretty good price but I have been seeing a lot of reloaders buy specific trimmers like the Possum Hollow, etc. Would the RCBS do just fine or am I over analyzing the process thinking I need to get a caliber specific trimmer?

 

[milo 2.0]

The trim mate doesn't really trim your brass, you need a trimmer.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

The trim mate doesn't really trim your brass, you need a trimmer.

I agree.

It's too slow to trim.

Forget buying the RCBS decrimping bits and pick up the Hornady decrimpers, if you're looking for that function, as they're better, cheaper and fit the RCBS TM.

Also, you can use any tool with the...what is it? 8/32 thread pitch found on most bore brushes.

I like my unit, but one of my RCBS decrimpers doesn't work all that well and at $20, they're not cheap.

The campher/deburr bits work pretty well.

I also use my TM to spin the cases (in a cigar tube end) when I anneal.

Chris

 

[dlouie87]

Okay, I misunderstood and thought it trimmed as well. I'll look into a trimmer (not a giraud since I can't afford that). At least I can use it to chamfur and deburring!

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Okay, I misunderstood and thought it trimmed as well. I'll look into a trimmer (not a giraud since I can't afford that). At least I can use it to chamfur and deburring!

I have a Lyman flash hole deburrer on mine, an older bore brush for whatever caliber, to quickly swirl out any gunk in the necks, I have a RCBS flash hole cleaner for the times I want to clean my PPs and then the campher and deburring bits, for when I've trimmed my brass.

One can also add the decrimping bits and use the TM, as I said and any other tool, like a VLD campher bit.

Chris

 

[dlouie87]

Thanks Chris.

I'll looking into the decrimping bit. It's this one right? http://www.midwayusa.com/product/25...et-reamer-cutter-head-small?cm_vc=subv1501588

So now I need a trimmer, any recommendations other than the possum hollow?

 

[Cproflow]

I would look into the WFT trimmers, they are caliber-specific (which may not be too big a deal based on how many calibers you load). They index off the shoulder, and are super quick and easy to use. Tolerances are impressive--or have been for me at least. Price isn't too bad, about $65 each. I have them in .223 and .308, and it is a good middle ground prior to dropping the (eventual) big $$$ on the Giraud. For other calibers, I just use the RCBS trimming tool, and a little part of me dies every time.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Thanks Chris.

I'll looking into the decrimping bit. It's this one right? http://www.midwayusa.com/product/25...et-reamer-cutter-head-small?cm_vc=subv1501588

So now I need a trimmer, any recommendations other than the possum hollow?

Yep, those are them, lol.

I got both the small and large with two handles and they cut amazingly well. 18yrs plus and while I haven't cut many out lately, they did yeoman's work way back when. They fit the RCBS TM, so you can run them on that and they have a built in 'stop', so you can't cut too deeply, which is always an issue with reaming.

Chris

 

[dlouie87]

Yep, those are them, lol.

I got both the small and large with two handles and they cut amazingly well. 18yrs plus and while I haven't cut many out lately, they did yeoman's work way back when. They fit the RCBS TM, so you can run them on that and they have a built in 'stop', so you can't cut too deeply, which is always an issue with reaming.

Chris

Sounds good chris, I'll order those soon.

So what are you trimming the brass with?

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Sounds good chris, I'll order those soon.

So what are you trimming the brass with?

I've used my Lyman Universal Chuck trimmer for 18 yrs and it's been fine. I got the power drill adapter bar in the beginning and I can trim about 10-12 cases a minute for 30 minute stretches, before I need a break.

I'm not loading up 1000 rounds at a time, so while a Giraud would be nice, for all the cartridges that I reload, it would be a $500-$600 proposition and I can't justify that expense right now.

Forster and RCBS are making 3 way cutting heads that will trim, campher and deburr with varying degress of success, so look into them and also the Dillon RT-1200 if you're pretty much doing only one cartridge, like the 223, or 308.

Chris

 

[Squid284]

For military crimp removers checkout the RCBS website for Part# 90386/90387. I bought the 223 version and it does the trick fairly well on a trim mate.