RCBS case prep center - Is now the time?

T

The Famous Grouse

New member
OK, I just started working through all the cases from the June P-Dog expedition. All told, I have over 500 cases that are over OAL spec (accordign to Lymann go/no go gage)and need to be trimmed. Yikes!

In my own defense, I will state that it SHOULD never have gotten to this point. My father kind of slacked off on checking all his .22-250 brass for a while and so suddenly I was noticing a lot of tight-fits and I finally asked him, are you checking case length every time... You can see where this is headed.

But regardlessl, the reality is I'm in for a freaking buttload of chamfering and deburring. I'm sonic cleaning, so most primer pockets are pretty good, but still there's 1 in 20 that is a little too dirty, so there's that too.

Is now the time to pull the trigger on the RCBS or Lymann case prep center? If so, which one?

Or am I just adding another bench hog that doesn't really save that much time?

Currently, I'm using the Lee trimming systems with the pilot for each cartridge and then I keep them in the drill chuck to deburr, but then I have to chamfer by hand. Which, granted, isn't that hard, but still...I feel like I have enough volume to justify the purchase, but only if it's really going to make a big difference. My dream is a way to cut this trimming task by 50% or more. Is this the way?

Grouse
 
Catskinner,

Do you still have to chamfer with the WFT? I saw on their website that they state you "might" have to. I've been meaning to order a few but have been putting it off.



Travis
 
Originally Posted By: deflavePeople still clean primer pockets?



Travis

I can't stop myself when the whole pocket is black. I have a Lymann sonic case cleaner, so that takes care of 90% of the gunk. Bottom line is pocket cleaning would be a minor bounus.


Originally Posted By: deflaveCatskinner,

Do you still have to chamfer with the WFT? I saw on their website that they state you "might" have to. I've been meaning to order a few but have been putting it off.

Travis

[beeep] is WFT?

Sorry, couldn't resist, but I have no idea what WFT refers to.

I'm really trying hard to cut down on my loading cycle time. Back when I was young, single, and there were no little rugrats running around, it didn't matter. Nowdays I just don't have the time to slog away for hours doing something where there's an option to do it in minutes. Case prep seems to me to be the fattest target for really cutting some time.

I only have a single stage press, but if you just count the resize/decap and the Prime/fill/seat steps, I can crank out a couple of hundred rpunds a night on my own. It's all the dang case prep that's taking the time.

Grouse
 
Hmmmm. From the WFT site:

The razor sharp high-speed cutters and the sealed ball bearing we incorporate into our trimmer produce an extremely smooth cut. In most cases it will only be necessary to slightly chamfer the inner edge of the case mouth.

How slight is slightly? I like the idea of 6 or more cases a minute, but if I still have to chamfer every round by hand, then I'm spending on a new trimming system AND still looking at the RCBS prep center just for the chamfering. I'm going to have to get a bigger shop to house all this extra gear.

Dang this is complicated.

Grouse
 

I set my prep center up to trim by putting the lee trimmer on the rcbs chamfer tool with some JB weld and it works just fine ,i have trimmed thousands with it so far and its pretty fast once i get in the groove .
 
Originally Posted By: The Famous GrouseHmmmm. From the WFT site:

The razor sharp high-speed cutters and the sealed ball bearing we incorporate into our trimmer produce an extremely smooth cut. In most cases it will only be necessary to slightly chamfer the inner edge of the case mouth.

How slight is slightly? I like the idea of 6 or more cases a minute, but if I still have to chamfer every round by hand, then I'm spending on a new trimming system AND still looking at the RCBS prep center just for the chamfering. I'm going to have to get a bigger shop to house all this extra gear.

Dang this is complicated.

Grouse


That's my question as well.

Why don't you chamfer with the case still in the chuck?

I use the Lee as well and I find it to be pretty quick but I still rank trimming lots of brass right up there with chlamydia.



Travis
 


I set my Trim Mate up like the guy in the above video did.

It would be easier to do the JB Weld than it is to drill and tap the cutter. You can't drill a hole into the bottom of the Lee cutter without annealing it first.
 
Sorry deflave I didn't notice this earlier. It does do a pretty good job chamfering and trimming all in one. I have them for a couple calibers, and they make trimming so fast. Well worth it I think.
 
. If its just blaster I just deburr. It kinda depends on the bullets too. I've been going with the heavies so I'm chamfering a little more than the WFT does.
 
The WFT doesn't chamfer at all. The razor sharp cutter they talk about is nothing more than a 2 flute end mill. When you put the case in the end of the trimmer you basically push it against the end mill and the guide to keep your straight and stop is in the bearing. It cuts the case mouth flat. They are simple in design and work very well. You still have to debur and chamfer after using it. That said they work very well. I run mine in my lathe at about 1200 rpm and can go thru brass like goose chit thru a tin horn (read way more than 6 a minute) then debur and chamfer in e RCBS case prep center which after owning one, I wouldn't be without it.
 
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