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Couple questions about case prep stations

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April 09, 2025, 01:44 PM
OttoSig
Couple questions about case prep stations
1. Are they basically all the same? Quality wise?

2. I use a Lee manual trimmer and really like it so I mainly need a quicker deburr and chamfer tool.

3. I like that the Lyman doesn’t dump shavings everywhere but are there other benefits to one over the other?





10 years to retirement! Just waiting!
April 09, 2025, 04:46 PM
reflex/deflex 64
I’ll be following. I too am pretty satisfied with the Lee trimmer. Arthritis in my thumb joints is making case work troublesome.


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April 09, 2025, 05:29 PM
slosig
I’m glad that you posted it here as I’m interested, but you might get more/better responses in the reloading subforum.
April 09, 2025, 06:47 PM
400m
Lyman, RCBS, Hornady, and Frankfoed Arsenal all make case prep machines. I have not used any so I can’t vouch for their quality.
April 09, 2025, 06:52 PM
400m
RCBS also makes a 3 way cutter head that can be powered or manual. It will trim, chamfer, and deburr all in one step.
April 09, 2025, 06:58 PM
400m
Gracey, Giraud, Henderson, worlds finest trimmer, and Dillon rapid trim are all powered machines that will do all three steps quickly, but will not touch primer pockets.
I use an older Dillon rapid trim 1200 for rifle brass. It works well.
April 09, 2025, 08:27 PM
Bassamatic
I have the Lyman Case Prep Express. Had it for a few years now and I don't what I would do without. Well, I do but this is so much faster. LINK



.....never marry a woman who is mean to your waitress.
April 09, 2025, 10:40 PM
PCWyoming
I use the Frankford Arsenal Reloading Tools Platinum Series Case Prep and Trim System.
Easy setup once you get the process. Trims, chamfers, and cleans primer pockets.

PC
April 10, 2025, 05:26 AM
pace40
Old school here. Lee trimmer and manual deburr and pocket clean. The zen-like experience of manually prepping a stack of brass is therapeutic. I'm sure there are better methods out there but I'm too old and set in my ways to care to look for them. I still prefer to load with a single stage press, too, although I'll jump to a turret if I need to get more done.


____________
Pace
April 11, 2025, 07:31 AM
mrvmax
I’m more in to loading accurate and repeatable rifle loads so I trim with the L.E. Wilson trimmer and prep and finish the brass with the RCBS brass boss. I also anneal all my rifle rounds with the AMP annealer. I have used the Lee, Lyman, RCBS, Redding and WFT (worlds finest trimmer) trimmers. There are obvious reasons why the L.E.Wilson perfoms the task more accurately (like it has a micrometer) but they all serve their purpose, you need to buy according to what you want out of it. The L.E. Wilson is slow but accurate, the RCBS manual trimmers offers a three way cutting head to do multiple tasks at once.

If you are loading to plink, then the quickest way would be best. The WFT can be placed in a drill press to make lots of trimming quick. The manual trimmers can be bought with motors too. Lee is always lower quality as far as I have experienced. It works and is cheaper, but plastic parts versus all metal in others. Over the last 20 years I have probably used all the major brands.
April 11, 2025, 09:59 AM
gjgalligan
I have a Lyman that I use for pistol caliber cases to just de-burr, chamfer, and clean primer pockets. I have never found any pistol cases that needed trimming and I hardly ever check them anymore.
The only rifle caliber I have reloaded is .223 and I use the Little crow (worlds finest trimmer) for them.


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