Frankford Arsenal case prep center

Hidalgo

Hidalgo

Well-known member
Well, I'm getting old(er) and the arthritis in my hands makes it increasingly more difficult to use hand tools to trim and prep cases. I ordered this unit today for $165. Hope I'm not sorry. Although I have made it a habit of turning and running away anytime I see the Frankford name, the reviews I have read say it's a good unit. It trims off the shoulder so it's no good for trimming pistol cases, but I don't shoot my pistols that much anymore anyway. Anyone have any experience with this unit?

http://www.btibrands.com/product/platinum-series-case-trim-and-prep-system/

 
I've been eyeing this unit myself, please let us know how you like it. I have several ammo cases and some other odds and ends made by Frankford and I've been satisfied with all of them.
 
Any updates on this unit.. This was all I found from the search engine on here. I am thinking about getting one just for the purpose of the case trimmer.. Thanks all.. Dan
 
Never seen that particular unit...my RCBS trim mate is finally getting tired so I watched a couple of the youtube reviews and decided to order one. If it works half as good as folks claim it's gonna be a bargain. I already have the RCBS trimming head to swap into it and that seems to be the only complaint folks have with it, the trimming head that comes with it is crap seems to be the consensus
 
Read that also about the trimmer head.. It works off the shoulder so pistol brass wont work.. No biggie.. But it looks quite fast and accurate from what I seen and read about it.. It uses the same concept as the world's finest trimmer.. But for the price of 2 of them one can buy this for all their calibers and get a prep center also.. Might also grab one before the prices rise..
 
I got one a couple weeks ago and have trimmed a couple hundred cases with it. You are correct about the cutter head. RCBS carbide head is a lot better. I really don't have any complaints about the unit, it's easy to set up and operate.
 
Originally Posted By: bigtommyWill a rcbs 3 way trimmer head work in this. If so this is a great deal


There's not enough room for the triway in there from what I can see on the videos
 
I have had one for about 6 months now and its been flawless so far. It takes about 3 min to change from one caliber to another, once you get the hang of it. It's 100% repeatable and I end up trimming my brass much more frequently now that I have it. My only complaint is the cutter gets dull rather fast but I found a carbide replacement for it.

Also, use a small tray or paper towel to catch the shavings. A small brush helps to keep the cutting head and chamfer heads free of chips. I'd guess mine has trimmed 3500 rounds so far, it gots get warm if it runs for a while so I give mine a break every 50 rounds or so.

Have fun, happy trimming.
 
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Mine came today that I ordered from Amazon..
I just did 50 pieces of 204 ruger brass in about 10 minutes if that..
Set up wasn't that hard,but I did ruin my first piece of brass.. I cut way to short by looking thru the sight holes...
So what I did the next one was started the machine up and backed the cutter gauge off, then installed a already correct length brass and inserted it into the collet.. I slowly turned the cutter gauge in till it just touched the brass.. Quite easy to feel a knick in the brass.. Locked it down and was good to go.. I would really advise anyone who wants to speed up trimming and it is very accurate. It really is the cats meow as been said.. It is so sweet and fast.. You won't regret this piece of machine.. Dan
 
Yes. I just tried one.. It's a little hard to hold on to case. But it does work... Only have about 1/2 inch to grip after insert into Colet.. It works though...
 
Ok for the 17 hornet the bushing is not the idea seating position as can see in the pic below on the right..

It seats more to the non idea position on the right side picture.. But I have no trouble trimming cases seated in the not idea picture..

I am very positive that a machinist can make the idea bushing for the 17 hornet..

IMG_20160326_195724527_zpsjthafkqw.jpg


Below is how far the 17 HH case sticks out of the trimmer.. Enough to grab with finger tips..
Could use a lyman or lee case locking device that is used with the quick trim to hold the 17 hh case also while feed into the trimmer..

IMG_20160326_201832067_zpslrinvzxv.jpg
 
A rubber/latex/nitrile-faced glove on the brass-holding hand may help on your grip. The case holder option may be better, and can be fairly quick too.
 
having to hold on to cases while trimming is part of why i dumped the possum hollow trimmer system.. it required a similar type of hold on cases while trimming as the franklin does.

it was quick, but i've got back injuries that preclude me tasks that involve repetitive hand stuff for extended periods. my hands fatigue very quickly and cramp/lock up. especially when it involves holding firmly onto small stuff like brass.

so unfortunately it even prevents me from using something like a girard as well as the franklin system.

sucks, because it looks like its a nice tool.
 
I have a lot of the same issues myself Plant, including neck/upper back, and haven't gone power as yet. Anything that I do like that, I need to just do a little at a time, then walk away for a while. Thinking I'm gonna do a powered set-up and just a hit a hundred or so cases at a shot - what ever the pain gremlins allow for the day, then walk away till tomorrow.

This Frankford unit does look handy.
 
ive settled for trimming on press with a lee power quick trim chucked up in a one of my little bosch 12v's.

i can trim hundreds of cases per charge, and the hand fatigue is almost non existent since the press does all the holding. i do have to change my grip up here and there on the drill, but thats relatively minor. if i shot primarily one caliber i'd just go full on press with a dillon trimmer, but it would be cost prohibitive since i'm reloading over a dozen calibers and switching between calibers with that system seems fairly intensive. if someone could come up with a twist lock-quick change type die adapter for them, i bet they'd make a LOT of $$ with it.
 


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