RCBS universal case prep center

[seidersjoden]

I have the RCBS universal case prep center, looking to PM someone that has used it and ask a few questions. For starters I heard there’s a few things you have to know to get the most out of it based on reviews.

For example from reviews:
1.- Get the carbide tools!! The tools that come with it will wear out after a few hundred rounds. If you want to really speed things up get an RCBS three way cutter for the calibers you'll be trimming. 2.- Replace the plastic shell holder thumb screws with some brass thumb screws. It's very difficult to torque the plastic thumb screws enough to securely hold the shell holder in place. 3.- Adjust the shaft so that there is NO PLAY in it what-so-ever. Push it all the way towards the cutter guide carriage and make sure there is no gap between the cutter head and bushing. 4.- Using the fine adjustment micrometer, crank the shell holder carrier as far back as it will go. Try to put as much spring tension on the carrier as possible

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/135727/rcbs-universal-case-prep-center-110-volt

Any advice would be great.
Thanks
Joden

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Youre not going to be able to do much precision work with that. Its more of a toy than a serious machine.

 

[65CR Silver Bullet]

Youre not going to be able to do much precision work with that. Its more of a toy than a serious machine.

Dusty - I'm new to reloading after being gifted some of the basic RCBS loading tools... Rock Chucker, powder measure, lyman case trimmer. I just loaded my 1st 6.5CM 147gr ELDM's and after going through the process see my next large $ purchase being around case prep. I haven't looked much yet but had viewed the RCBS Universal case prep center as a good option. What about it is inferior and what options do you suggest?
For clarity... I'm not questioning your opinion only trying to learn.

Thanks,
Nathan

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Dusty - I'm new to reloading after being gifted some of the basic RCBS loading tools... Rock Chucker, powder measure, lyman case trimmer. I just loaded my 1st 6.5CM 147gr ELDM's and after going through the process see my next large $ purchase being around case prep. I haven't looked much yet but had viewed the RCBS Universal case prep center as a good option. What about it is inferior and what options do you suggest?
For clarity... I'm not questioning your opinion only trying to learn.

Thanks,
Nathan

first I gotta ask is what on there do you need- then we can get to the better options. a regular old rocketship case mouth deburring tool is a lot cheaper and it wont make cookie cutters out of your case mouths as easy. the primer pocket tool? 3 twists with a sinclair uniforming tool will clean your pockets. case trimmer? that rig aint gonna do a very good job you can get a pma style or wilson style. these options I list will outlast you and not take up near as much bench space on a tool you will quit using very soon and probably be cheaper in the end. of course this is only my opinion after buying cheezy tools and having to replace them later- often with more simple cheaper things that work better.

 

[Regnar]

Dusty offers good advise.

I was where you are 2 years ago. I started with a Ruger rpr in 6.5 creed and although I am shooting a full blown custom rig now, I have not had to upgrade any existing equipment, only add to what I have. The reason is because I knew where I wanted to end up which is with a very competitive f class rifle. I was told to decide on what I wanted to do by a fellow shooter and it was that decision that saved me lots of money. not only by once cry once but a lot of the stuff bbn oit there that new releases seem to buy are more expensive to better alternitives.

Figure out what you want to do and then buy equipment that will allow you to achieve that goal.

 

[seidersjoden]

first I gotta ask is what on there do you need- then we can get to the better options. a regular old rocketship case mouth deburring tool is a lot cheaper and it wont make cookie cutters out of your case mouths as easy. the primer pocket tool? 3 twists with a sinclair uniforming tool will clean your pockets. case trimmer? that rig aint gonna do a very good job you can get a pma style or wilson style. these options I list will outlast you and not take up near as much bench space on a tool you will quit using very soon and probably be cheaper in the end. of course this is only my opinion after buying cheezy tools and having to replace them later- often with more simple cheaper things that work better.

Thanks Dusty, could you expound on the trimmers that you would recommend? Like the entire name or the link so I can look it up, the case prep center is back ordered so I still have time to cancel it and order a quality trimmer. Thanks in advance!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Pma tool. Call pat and tell him i sent you.
http://www.pmatool.com/case-trimmers-and-accessories/
The little quick trimmer is nice but the micro adjust trimmer is real nice. Theres lots of tools there that are extreme high quality and will last generations. Tell him what tools you need and he’ll fix you up

 

[Richard Coody]

Dusty - I'm new to reloading after being gifted some of the basic RCBS loading tools... Rock Chucker, powder measure, lyman case trimmer. I just loaded my 1st 6.5CM 147gr ELDM's and after going through the process see my next large $ purchase being around case prep. I haven't looked much yet but had viewed the RCBS Universal case prep center as a good option. What about it is inferior and what options do you suggest?
For clarity... I'm not questioning your opinion only trying to learn.

Thanks,
Nathan

nothing on a case prep center is really needed unless you are bulk reloading AR plinking ammo. you will overdo everything with it.

need a tumbler, a trimmer, a hand chamfer tool, a hand primer pocket cleaner and a neck brush. lots of options for quality tools out there. lots less expensive than that useless case prep center and you will do a much better job.

 

[seidersjoden]

Pma tool. Call pat and tell him i sent you.
http://www.pmatool.com/case-trimmers-and-accessories/
The little quick trimmer is nice but the micro adjust trimmer is real nice. Theres lots of tools there that are extreme high quality and will last generations. Tell him what tools you need and he’ll fix you up

Thanks Dusty!

 

[Richard Coody]

Thanks Dusty!

i too have the PMA trimmer and like it very much.
http://www.pmatool.com/pma-micro-adjust-trimmer/

if you are just doing one cartridge the geraud tri-trim is nice. i have 2 of them.

i also have a forsters with the tri-trim head that i started with. Even with an electric screwdriver to power it obviously i retired it.

when you start neck turning the PMA is my favorite
http://www.pmatool.com/pma-neck-turning-tool-model-a-30-degree/

 

[spife7980]

If youre going to spend the money on the pma I would look into the trim it 2 for the 6.5 creed, costs just as much but it will also chamfer and deburr in the same step, something that the pma requires a second step to do.

 

[65CR Silver Bullet]

nothing on a case prep center is really needed unless you are bulk reloading AR plinking ammo. you will overdo everything with it.

need a tumbler, a trimmer, a hand chamfer tool, a hand primer pocket cleaner and a neck brush. lots of options for quality tools out there. lots less expensive than that useless case prep center and you will do a much better job.

Thanks Dusty - This was helpful and to provide insight... I'm unsure of my ultimate goal. Before being gifted the basic supplies my goal was to build a more accurate handload for my 6.5 creedmoor but shortly after (a few weeks) getting the basic reloading tools I came across a couple thousand .223/5.56 military cases. This is when I became interested in a case prep center. I purchased a $8 hornady reamer and attached it to my drill and made it through decrimping the primer pockets of a couple hundred cases in an hour maybe a little more... but it was rough on the hands and when loading primers about every 20th case my primer won't fit (usually gets stuck) and I have to take my priming tool apart and gingerly knock the half inserted primer out of the pocket. In the end I think I need to follow regnar's advice and focus on the 6.5. Maybe I get a case prep center someday when I get back to loading those 5.56's in bulk but right now those are so cheap and I'm not worried so much about accuracy with them.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Thanks Dusty - This was helpful and to provide insight... I'm unsure of my ultimate goal. Before being gifted the basic supplies my goal was to build a more accurate handload for my 6.5 creedmoor but shortly after (a few weeks) getting the basic reloading tools I came across a couple thousand .223/5.56 military cases. This is when I became interested in a case prep center. I purchased a $8 hornady reamer and attached it to my drill and made it through decrimping the primer pockets of a couple hundred cases in an hour maybe a little more... but it was rough on the hands and when loading primers about every 20th case my primer won't fit (usually gets stuck) and I have to take my priming tool apart and gingerly knock the half inserted primer out of the pocket. In the end I think I need to follow regnar's advice and focus on the 6.5. Maybe I get a case prep center someday when I get back to loading those 5.56's in bulk but right now those are so cheap and I'm not worried so much about accuracy with them.

how does the rcbs case prep center swage primer crimps? get a dillon primer pocket swager for that- you'll go thru 1000 cases in short order and they'll all fit like a glove

 

[65CR Silver Bullet]

how does the rcbs case prep center swage primer crimps? get a dillon primer pocket swager for that- you'll go thru 1000 cases in short order and they'll all fit like a glove

Do you have any cheaper alternatives? When it comes to the AR brass I'm not looking for perfection and $120 is more than I want to invest.

 

[Rsadams]

Sorry , I absolutely love my case prep center and will never be without one again... Am I shooting a 1000 yards ..? No...
I understand exactly what your saying , if I was shooting extremely long distance and useing premium brass then by hand would be the way to go for sure... As far as my AR platforms , there so hard on brass and I am useing iron sights I am not going to do them by hand... I did 200 by hand ONCE , removing crimps etc , never again... And I do agree the Dillon swagger is a great tool , once adjusted correctly it's pretty darn fast... Just FYI you can get the Lyman case prep center for under a hundred bucks when Cabela's puts them on sale...

 

[Gun Smith]

I have one of those units, but don't use it for reloading much anymore. It is very handy however for de-burring/chamfering holes and rod ends in Delrin and Aluminum items I manufacture. I replaced the cutters with the outside chamfer tool from Noga, and also the 60 degree hand countersink tool from Noga. I removed the cutter off of the Noga's and made a shaft with 8-32 threads to fit the tool and into the RCBS case prep. It would be nice if it ran faster for plastic de-burring, but works well enough.