Are Case Prep Centers Worth It?

[Phil3]

I will be reloading a few rifle rounds (223, 6BR, 6.5x47 Lapua) and some pistol/revolver rounds (9mm, 45 ACP, 45 Colt). I am wondering if one of these power case prep centers (i.e., Hornady) are accurate, work well, and worth it. Right now, I have a Wilson hand crank trimmer, but before I invest in more case holders and other accessories, I am thinking about one of these all-in-one units. I am fussy about ammo quality, so any such center will have to be accurate and consistent. Comments?

Phil

 

[R.Morehouse]

I use the RCBS case prep unit for a 6.5-06 variant ( LR-BR ) and it works fine for me. I just prepped 300 Lapua cases with the unit running the whole time and it didn't get hot at all.

 

[BP1]

I use the RCBS prep center also,BUT I am to the point now that the Giraud is looking better and better everyday.

 

[UltraBR30]

Have a Hornady and a RCBS and use them all the time. The prep centers take a lot of work out of the equation and speed things up. Very few preps that I do by hand instead.
Philip

 

[NWnewguy]

I use a Giraud for most of my case trimming. Before that I was using a small 9" drill press and swapping out tools as needed. The Lee case trimmers work great in a drill press and you just need something hard for the case to sit on so that it doesn't drill a hole in the softer case iron work top of the drill press.

 

[Archis]

I like the Frankford Arsenal Platinum trimmer / prep center. Plenty consistent (+\- .001, usually dead on) once adjusted. I use it to prep .223, .243, .308, 6.5 Grendel and 6.5x47. No need to buy different bushings or case holders. I can run through 50 cases (trim, chamfer, deburr, clean primer pockets) in less than 15min.

Sure as hell beats doing it all by hand.

 

[Twoboxer]

Holding the case for trimming wore my hand out, and adjusting the early Giraud and WFT trimmers that lacked a micrometer was a PITA. Then there was chamfer & deburr (at least "often"), pocket clean, and neck clean . . . and sometimes pocket reaming.

For me the answer was the RCBS Universal Case Prep Center. The universal chuck holds the case for trimming and the micrometer allows easy adjustment of length. While the next case is trimming, the case just trimmed can be put through whatever post-processing steps you choose (up to 5).

Drawbacks? Because it combines trimmer and case prep center, it's big. Because you operate a lever to insert a case in the trimmer, it must be secured to the bench. (A plywood mount and a c-clamp can work fine, and Inline Fabrication made me a custom plate to use the quick mount system, so Dan has the pattern.)

 

[Liven The Dream]

Old Guy Here!
Gracey Power trimer, K&M tools and a Battery Drill
May not be fast and compact ? turns out quality brass . ( retired have more time)

I am a long Range shooter, 1100 to 1800 rounds a year.

 

[BigBlueandGoldie]

I trim on a Forster and use drill mounted Sinclair tools for uniforming primer pockets and inside/outside chamfering and deburring. The 4v drill and Sinclair tools are the best money I've spent on reloading tools. The case prep "stations" all look really low quality and slow to me. The Giraurd looks awesome, but I shoot too many calibers too make it financially reasonable.

 

[LHSmith]

I like the Frankford Arsenal Platinum trimmer / prep center. Plenty consistent (+\- .001, usually dead on) once adjusted. I use it to prep .223, .243, .308, 6.5 Grendel and 6.5x47. No need to buy different bushings or case holders. I can run through 50 cases (trim, chamfer, deburr, clean primer pockets) in less than 15min.

Sure as hell beats doing it all by hand.

I've seen one in operation and am impressed by the quality. May just have to rethink about it being a tool I can do without.

 

[Shynloco]

.....I am fussy about ammo quality, so any such center will have to be accurate and consistent. Comments?

Phil

Phil,
I have a Lyman that I bought last year thinking it would make life easier and faster. But quite to the contrary because I too am very "fussy" about detail and consistency. I was left unimpressed with the results, except ammo I was producing for my son who PLINKS and for his hunting rifles(s). So I went back to my "attention to detail" for maintaining accuracy over speed, which to me, isn't worth giving up. Bottom line, the serious shooters (competition grade short and long distance) seeking best results, at least the ones I know, don't use those lesser expensive units and the ones that do, use the top of the line models for every aspect of case prep.

Alex

P.S. Phil3,
I'm not sure how much you are considering spending and the quality of the Case Center(s) you are talking about. If you are talking about spending less than $200, IMHO they aren't worth the investment. But if you are talking the top quality equipment (that provides true consistency) that'll run you in the high hundreds, low thousands, that might be worth it. Just my .02 worth.

 

[Sniper338]

Im too picky. I like a good hand tool for each step. Ive had a prep center and ruined brass on it before. Bought the good stuff instead.

 

[ND shooter]

RCBS. Use it and like it. Not retired so time counts It saves me time and doesn't show enough difference on targets or pdogs,yotes... to go back to hands -on tools yet! I use the outside/inside chamfer and primer pocket cleaners and pocket uniformer. Have not tried any others.

 

[SaulGoodman]

I use the Lyman universal trimmer with the power drill attachment and also the Lyman prep center. Best upgrades I've made to my bench. The trimmer works well to within a couple thousandths variation- good enough for me at my skill level

 

[Shynloco]

.... The trimmer works well to within a couple thousandths variation- good enough for me at my skill level

And therein lies the problem, "a couple thousands variation....." I'm glad Saul is happy with his results. But for precision shooting, that result or variation cannot be tolerated if you want the best possible results. A couple thousands here or there (results in inconsistency) make a difference on your target and score downrange.

Alex

 

[Bill3508]

I've got the Sinclair power center and like it for case prep work. Use the Sinclair trimmer and Giraud for actual trimming.

 

[Shynloco]

I've got the Sinclair power center and like it for case prep work. Use the Sinclair trimmer and Giraud for actual trimming.

Now your talkin some good quality equipment.

 

[bulwaagh]

I've seen one in operation and am impressed by the quality. May just have to rethink about it being a tool I can do without.

I purchased one for my bulk 223/308 loadings and I've got to agree its a very high quality piece of kit. The rub that it is only good to +/- 0.001 like Archis said. If I am doing my precision stuff, I'll take a bit more care. However, banging out .223 range fodder, this thing can't be beat as long as you also pony up for the RCBS carbide cutter. The one included with the FA is junk, going dull after 500 or so rounds. Once I put the RCBS carbide cutter on it, its terrific again. I can trim/chamfer/debur hundreds of cases in a sitting, and my hands aren't killing me.

 

[Barlow]

I used to use an RCBS case prep center but quit because I can't hear Merle Haggard on my stereo system when it's running. Barlow

 

[rardoin]

I set up a Wilson trimmer to have the cutters powered by a gearmotor and I would not go back to manual work. However, I run about 150 cases a month through it. That is not a lot by many standards but enough to save me beaucoup time. If I was loading 25-30 cases a month, give or take a few, the time saving would not be worth the cost. The only thing that is not as fast as I would like on the powered Wilson set up is case length trimming on reformed case...where I am cutting off about .050-.080"....that is where a Giraud would shine (or if I was trimming a couple of hundred at a time).