Hornady Power Case Prep Centre

[Triple G]

Hi Guys,

Hoping there are some users of this m/c out there, and looking for some advice please.

I purchased a Hornady Power Case Prep Centre a short while ago, after seeing some good reviews and videos online. After a period of familiarity, I began to achieve some really good results with the machine, both in terms of repeatability and throughput.
However, after around 1000 .223 cases had been trimmed, I began to notice that the cutter wasn’t working very well. Upon closer examination, the cutter is clearly not as sharp as I would expect.
After contacting Hornady direct, they confirmed that the cutter is steel, and that a carbide version is not available. Replacement cutters are available in the U.K., at a cost of around $40, but i think that is a little steep for a m/c that has trimmed around 1000 cases (removing around 5 thou), especially for a machine that costs the equivalent of around $800.

I cannot see a carbide cutter option anywhere online, but assume that other users must have come across this problem before and may have found a way around this.

 

[Ned Ludd]

The easiest and best solution to your problem is to buy a Giraud trimmer. However, it is not the least expensive solution .

I used the Lyman Case Prep Center for many years and have purchased different chamfer tools for it, all steel. In my case, it was not because the original cutter ever wore out, I was simply looking for cutters that had a different chamfer angle. The original cutter that came with my Lyman was not very expensive, and still works just fine after many tens of thousands of rounds. I'm surprised to hear yours seems to have dulled after only 1000 rounds. I understand any edge can dull with enough use, but I would think a carbide cutter is not really necessary with brass.

To be honest, I don't even remember now exactly where I purchased the other cutter heads. I searched various reloading tool outfits online until I found what I was looking for. K and M may have been one of them. One thing I can tell you is that most of the ones I purchased were absolutely useless; here's why: the screws (8/32 thread???) welded into the back of the cutter heads that allowed them to attach to the case prep spindle were not centered/concentric. For that reason, the cutter head slightly wobbled back and forth as it spun, rendering it unusable IMO. For reason that are not clear to me, the original cutter head spins absolutely concentric. So just be careful if you order new cutter heads and they wobble as they spin; they will not do a good job chamfering the case necks.

 

[Davidb187]

Just check if you can replace the cutter with the Redding carbide one. I changed mine on a Frankford Arsenal.

 

[rwj]

Most steel cutting tools can be resharpened. Tool life is a function of speed and feed... evaluate different settings to extend.