brass prep..faster ?

[cjmac]

So is there anyway to speed up brass prep? I need some ideas is the rcbs case prep center any good

 

[Dos XX]

Giraud trimmer.

 

[Savage99]

$369.07

Here is a picture of an RCBS prep machine.

It looks complicated and expensive to me. It may depend on the volume of your case work.

I am a RCBS fan and have their presses etc. I don't use this item.

 

[brian427cobra]

Giraud Trimmer and a Dewalt is all you need

 

[ronemus]

To prep new brass I lube (Imperial wax), size (Hornady New Dimension dies with expander), neck turn (Gracey Neck Shaver), size (the shaver alters neck diameter), tumble in cob, trim/chamfer (Gracey Trimmer with Giraud blade), primer pocket uniform (Sinclair), deburr flash hole (RCBS), and select a 0.5 gr range of case weight for long range (the rest are used for short range).

With fired brass I tumble in walnut, lube, size, tumble in cob, uniform (to clean the pocket), and trim/chamfer. Since I use the expander when sizing, any donut will be moved to the outside. If a donut is visible or the necks have thickened from repeated sizing, I add a pass through the shaver. Neck turning goes much smoother with the sizing lube left on the case; much less heat is generated and the cut is smoother. I lube the outside of the case with my fingers and inside the neck with a cotton swab.

I try to use power tools when possible and minimize handling to make processing go faster. For instance, I use a FL sizing die and decap at the same time, seeing no advantage in using 2 or 3 steps to accomplish the same thing. Similarly, the Gracey Trimmer does the inside and outside chamfers while trimming, so 2 steps are eliminated; the Dillon would actually be much slower since the chamfers would still have to be done. At one time I had the trimmer and shaver set up side by side and used them back to back, but found that the shaver worked better with the lube on, but the trimmer got fouled relatively quickly, even when tilted back ~30 degrees.

I try to have ~4000 cases fully prepped at the start of the season so I can defer processing until Winter sets in. I tumble the fired brass in walnut when I get back from the range, then set it aside until free time is available; in the meantime, I spend as much time shooting as possible.

 

[Steve Blair]

I agree with Brian and Russel, a Giraud is not only excellent but saves lots of time. I also use a Harbor Freight mini-lathe with a 21st Century neck turning tool. Saves time and wear on hands.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Get something with a 40 degree shoulder and you wont have any brass prep to do.

 

[Steve Blair]

Get something with a 40 degree shoulder and you wont have any brass prep to do.

[br]
How does a 40° shoulder eliminate brass prep? Do all cases with 40° shoulders come fully prepped or are they just so awesome that they don't need it?

 

[jonbearman]

It is by design.The 40 degree cases don't stretch much during the firing cycle hence they don't grow much if any depending on the cartridge.

 

[Steve Blair]

It is by design.The 40 degree cases don't stretch much during the firing cycle hence they don't grow much if any depending on the cartridge.

[br]
I get that part. Two of my competition cartridges have 35° shoulders and don't grow much. But, "prep" is short for preparation. How does a 40° shoulder eliminate preparation? Or didn't you bother to read the question?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I think the op was smart enough to get what I was saying. Thats all that matters.
You guys that shoot f-class just use range pick up brass I thought? ;D

 

[Steve Blair]

I think the op was smart enough to get what I was saying. Thats all that matters.
You guys that shoot f-class just use range pick up brass I thought? ;D

[br]
I seem to recall that Jim O'Hara does some diligent prep, anneals every firing, etc. We're not the only ones.

 

[Jeff Von Rosenberg]

You normally get out what you put in! I have 2 Girauds 1 for case trimming and one for bullet trimming, they are extremely fast ! Would not consider going back to another system! JMHO!!

 

[stool]

case prep for what ??
you need to list what and how you shoot...
i clean the brass for my 45 acp and i am done...that will not fly for my br rifles....

 

[Taildrag15X]

Size, decap and trim in one operation.......

 

[artbosco]

Go with the new RCBS combined neck trimmer and case prep center. At least that way you'll be indexing off the bottom of the case [vice the shoulder] when trimming. Faster for some things isn't necessarily better. If your prepping brass for later spraying the side of a barn it's OK, but if it's accuracy you're after, slowing things down gives a much better product.

 

[jonbearman]

No matter the machine's it still just take's time to do all the prep. When starting with new brass,you go through each step carefully and then load and shoot. After the first firing you check the length to make sure nothing grew or whatever ,clean primer pockets if necessary, size (full length or neck) anneal if needed and you are ready to go again.The first time around is the time eater of reloading. One tip is right after shooting wipe the necks off as the light carbon will wipe right off.The rcbs case center will help you move along as it has everything you need to do in one machine. In away I am surprised I haven't bought one myself. As far as chamfering and primer pockets go I made adaptors to hold my vld tool and regular chamfering tool and primer pocket uniformer to be used with a cordless drill. I have 2 graceys set up for the cartridge's that I primarily shoot otherwise I use a Wilson case trimmer for my benchrest stuff for accuracy and it is powered by my drill as well. What I meant by the 40 degree comment is it save's a step once you initially trim. You cant improve every cartridge but for the .243 and 22-250 it sure save's a lot of trimming. Now neck turning is another subject that is on the article section which will explain how it is done.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Go with the new RCBS combined neck trimmer and case prep center. At least that way you'll be indexing off the bottom of the case [vice the shoulder] when trimming. Faster for some things isn't necessarily better. If your prepping brass for later spraying the side of a barn it's OK, but if it's accuracy you're after, slowing things down gives a much better product.

This made me LOL.

Please tell us, what's wrong with a trimmer that indexes off the shoulder?

 

[artbosco]

Go with the new RCBS combined neck trimmer and case prep center. At least that way you'll be indexing off the bottom of the case [vice the shoulder] when trimming. Faster for some things isn't necessarily better. If your prepping brass for later spraying the side of a barn it's OK, but if it's accuracy you're after, slowing things down gives a much better product.

This made me LOL.

Please tell us, what's wrong with a trimmer that indexes off the shoulder?

I've done my research/due diligence, time to do yours. Call the Engineers at RCBS, Forster, Wilson, Sinclair, Hornady, Lyman, Redding, and ask why they designed, engineered and manufacture their trimmers to index off the bottom of the case. It's only seven [7] calls. The customer service departments won't have the answer. The engineers will.

 

[Steve Blair]

I've done my research/due diligence, time to do yours. Call the Engineers at RCBS, Forster, Wilson, Sinclair, Hornady, Lyman, Redding, and ask why they designed, engineered and manufacture their trimmers to index off the bottom of the case. It's only seven [7] calls. The customer service departments won't have the answer. The engineers will.

[br]
That is an absurd statement. What do you think the folks at Giraud, Gracey or Little Crow would say? It is demonstrable that precision ammunition can be produced with any trimmer. They can also be misused to produce crap. [br]
As to "Engineers"; they are as diverse a group as any in society. I've worked at a number of applied science and aerospace companies with many engineers and physicists. God did not make them equal. They range from incompetent to brilliant.